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If there is a question that you have been puzzling over why not suggest a faq. This page last updated 20 January 2009.
Q1. Where can I get advice on benefits?
Q2. How do I find out what I can claim?
Q3. How can I find out about a particular benefit?
Q4. How do I find out how to claim a particular benefit?
Q5. Where can I find out benefit rates?
Q6. What is the habitual residence test?
Q7. What happens to my benefits if I go into hospital?
Q8. Which benefits are taxable?
Q9. What is local housing allowance?
Q10. Does severe mental ill-health affect the amount of council tax benefit a person is entitled to?
Q11. What will happen when my disability living allowance (DLA) award ends?
Q12. How does my savings affect my benefits?
Q13. What is voice risk analysis?
Q15. Can I complain about how my claim for benefits was handled?
Q16. Can I complain about my medical?
The best way to get advice on benefits is to go to a local advice centre in your area, such as a local citizen's advice bureau.
The homeless uk website has an excellent "services" search facility which enables you to search, by area, for agencies providing benefits and debt advice (be sure and type benefits in the "text" box).
Disability Alliance has also produced a factsheet entitled Finding a local advice centre which you can download.
You can get advice on claiming at a local advice centre in your area, such as a local citizen's advice bureau (see Q1). You can also see information about benefits on our what you can claim pages.
You can find out information about a particular benefit on our what you can claim pages.
You can find out how to claim a particular benefit on our what you can claim pages.
You can view benefits and tax credits rates on our benefit rates page.
You can also find out information about the rates for individual benefits (and tax credits) from our information on all benefits in alphabetical order page.
If you claim income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, pension credit, housing benefit or council tax benefit you have to be 'habitually resident' in the UK, and have the right to reside to get them.
You can find out information about the habitual residence test by selecting the appropriate benefit from our page showing information on all benefits in alphabetical order.
Our Factsheet F7 - benefits in hospital details how your benefits will be affected if you go into hospital.
You can see a full list of all taxable benefits on our website.
Local housing allowance (LHA) is a set amount of housing benefit paid if you are in private sector rented accommodation. What you get is based on where you live and who is in your household and is not necessarily the actual amount of rent you pay. The LHA scheme applies throughout the United Kingdom, but operates differently in Northern Ireland. You can find out more information about LHA from our Factsheet F44 - housing benefit.
You may be able to get a council tax discount or your accommodation may be exempt from council tax altogether if you are considered to be severely mentally impaired. To find out more about this see our Factsheet F43 - help with council tax .
When your current DLA ends you will be sent a renewal claim pack about six months before your claim is due to end. You must complete the pack in as much detail as possible, as carefully as you would the claim form.
It is also a good idea to speak to your GP about your condition. The Department for Work and Pensions often write to doctors asking for information in renewal cases so it pays to keep your GP up to date about how your condition is affecting your everyday activities.
You should also supply any additional information in support of your claim. This could include reports written by occupational therapists, social workers or other professionals.
It is also a good idea to contact an independent advice centre, where you can get help with completing the form and gathering evidence.
The homeless uk website has an excellent "services" search facility which enables you to search, by area, for agencies providing benefits and debt advice (be sure and type benefits in the "text" box).
Disability Alliance has also produced a factsheet entitled Finding a local advice centre.
This depends on the benefit that you are claiming. For information about how your savings are affected when you claim income support, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit or council tax benefit see our capital rules for means tested benefits page.
For information about how other benefits are affected see our capital rules other than for income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit page.
Voice risk analysis is a new technology which is used to spot changes in a caller’s voice whilst he or she is being questioned over the phone by benefit staff. The technology indicates whether the caller's responses are high or low risk with regard to the answers the caller gives. Those whose responses are termed high risk are usually given a home visit. In some cases this may also involve fraud investigation.
The system is being used introduced by Harrow Council and other councils. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is looking to apply it in their offices. For more information on this see our Factsheet F56 - voice risk analysis and benefit claims.
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the care component of disability living allowance (DLA), attendance allowance (AA) and carer’s allowance (CA) can be paid to people who move from the UK to another country within the European Economic Area.
You can find out more information on claiming disability benefits if you live in another European country and taking disability benefits to other European countries on the DirectGov website at www.direct.gov.uk.
You can also find out more information about exporting DLA care component, AA and CA by contacting the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service exportability team:
Exportability Co-ordinator
Room C216
Pension, Disability and Carers Service
Warbreck House
Warbreck Hill Road
Blackpool
FY2 0YE
Email: exportability.team@dwp.gsi.gov.uk .
See also our page summarising Minister for Disabled People Jonathan Shaw's written statement in the House of Commons regarding people who lost their entitlement to a disability benefit after they moved abroad. The Department for Work and pensions has also issued guidance (DMG memo 28/10) on this.
The Independent Case Examiner (ICE) deals with complaints about the Disability and Carers Service, Jobcentre Plus, the Pension Service and the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency. The sort of complaints the ICE can look at are:
The ICE cannot deal with complaints or disputes on matters of law. If you are complaining about a benefit decision see our Factsheet F36 - reconsideration and appeal - the basics.
For more information see the Independent Case Examiner website at www.ind-case-exam.org.uk/.
You can complain about how your medical was conducted using the comments, complaints and suggestions form, produced by Atos Healthcare and available at your examination centre. Alternatively you can telephone 0113 2309175 or email customer-relations@atoshealthcare.com.
You can be required to attend a work focused interview discuss your work prospects if you are on certain benefits. If you don't attend the interview without good cause, your claim will lapse or your benefit will be reduced. There is no definition of good cause but it can include cases where you were ill due to your condition and this made it impossible to attend the interview. You can find out more from our Factsheet F10 - work focused interviews.
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