This factsheet is a basic overview of benefits.You can find out more about each benefit by clicking on the name of the benefit or by going to www.disabilityalliance.org/benefitslist.htm.
You can find out more detailed information in Disability Alliance's Disability Rights Handbook, available to buy at www.disabilityalliance.org/drh35.htm.
All our publications are available at www.disabilityalliance.org/shop.htm. All our factsheets are available at www.disabilityalliance.org/fact.htm. You can also place an order by contacting Disability Alliance on 020 7247 8776 (this is not an advice line) or by fax on 020 7247 8765.
This is paid to people who are disabled, are aged over 65 when they claim and need help to look after them.
This paid to people who are disabled, are aged under 65 when they claim and need help to look after them or they have difficulty walking or getting around.
Carer's allowance (CA) is a benefit for people who regularly spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person.
These are payable to people who have suffered an industrial injury or have a prescribed industrial disease. In addition to a basic disablement benefit there are also additional benefits to cover reduced earnings or the need for constant attendance.
There are two different war pension schemes in operation. Both schemes cover people who were injured, wounded or suffered a disease whilst in the armed forces or who are the partner of someone who has died whilst in the armed forces. An older scheme also makes payments to those injured as a result of World War Two.
A contributory benefit paid if someone's ability to work is limited by ill health or disability. It has no additions for dependents or allowances for housing costs.
A benefit paid if someone's ability to work is limited by ill health or disability and they are on a low income. It has additions if you have a wife, husband or civil partner and allowances for housing costs.
Before the introduction of employment and support allowance (ESA) on 27 October 2008 people could get incapacity benefit (IB) if they were sick/disabled and unable to work. Existing claimants remain on the benefit for the present but will begin to be transferred over to ESA from October 2010.
This is paid by an employer for up to 28 weeks if someone in work has been sick and unable to work for 4 consecutive days.
A contributory benefit paid for 6 months for those under state pension age, who are expected to look for work. It has no additions for dependents or allowances for housing costs.
A means tested benefit for those under state pension age who are expected to look for work. The amounts paid are similar to those for income support. It has additions if you have a wife, husband or civil partner and allowances for housing costs.
If you want to work but have a disability that makes working a problem, you may be able to get help from the access to work scheme. This provides practical advice to help you overcome work related obstacles resulting from a disability. It can give you grants towards extra employment costs including equipment and help with travel. The amount of support depends on what is needed because of your disability.
In-work credit can be paid to you if you are a lone parent who has moved from certain means tested benefits to enter into work of at least 16 hours per week. To be eligible, you must have been receiving income support, job seeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance for 52 weeks before starting your job.
You can claim the Job Grant if you take up full-time work (at least 16 hours a week) and you expect the work to last for at least five weeks. You must also have been claiming jobseeker’s allowance or certain other benefits for at least 26 weeks.
Return to work credit is a payment of £40 per week. You may be paid a return to work credit if you take up a job of at least 16 hours per week after a period of ill health, as long as you have been claiming certain disability benefits for at least 13 weeks.
This credit can be paid to you if you stop claiming jobseeker’s allowance to enter into self employment of at least 16 hours per week. To qualify you must register as self employed with the HMRC and have discussed planned work with the Jobcentre Plus to show that it is expected to last at least 5 weeks.
Working tax credit provides financial help to people who are working 16 hours a week or more and are on a low income.
Child benefit is paid if someone is responsible for a dependent child, children or young person.
Child tax credit provides additional financial help to someone who has a dependent child. It is means tested but 9 out of 10 families are able to get it.
Free school meals and clothing grants are given by the local authority to children whose parents are on certain benefits.
This is paid if someone is looking after a child who is effectively an orphan.
These are benefits paid if someone is pregnant, has just had a baby or is the partner of someone expecting a baby or are an adoptive parent. Help is also available through the social fund.
To find out your retirement date go to the DirectGov state pension age calculator at http://pensions.direct.gov.uk/en/state-pension-age-calculator/home.asp.
Pension credit (PC), also known as state pension credit, is a benefit for people who are on a low income and who have reached the qualifying age at which women retire. This is being raised from 60 to 65 between 6 April 2010 and 6 April 2020.
To check the qualifying age at the time you want to claim, contact The Pension Service (0800 99 1234), see leaflet PC1L Pension Credit or use the state pension age calculator on www.direct.gov.uk/pensions .
A contributory benefit payable to men and women on reaching retirement age. Contributions can be paid by the person receiving the pension or their spouse or civil partner in the case of couples.
This is help to pay council tax, a taxation scheme for local government (local authority/council) services. There are also council tax discount schemes which are given in certain circumstances. Disabled people can get a reduction on their council tax where they use part of a property in connection with their disability.
Housing benefit is help with rent and some other housing costs (not mortgage costs) for those on low income.
The social fund makes payments to people in need. The regulated social fund is for maternity costs, funeral costs and to help to cover the cost of winter fuel or severe cold weather. There is also a discretionary social fund which provides grants and loans for urgently needed items, certain necessary journeys and other emergencies.
There are three benefits available if someone's partner has died. They are bereavement allowance, which is paid for 52 weeks, bereavement payment which is a lump sum payment and widowed parents allowance which is paid if someone is caring for a child. Help is also available through the social fund.
Income support is paid to certain people who are not expected to look for work. These include carers and lone parents responsible for a child under 10 (under 7 from 25 October 2010). It is intended to provide for basic living expenses and can be paid on top of other benefits such as carer's allowance. It also provides money to help with mortgage payments.
Claimants must be aged between 16 and under the qualifying age for pension credit.
Before the introduction of employment and support allowance (ESA) on 27 October 2008 people could get income support if they were sick/disabled and unable to work. Existing claimants remain on the income support for the present but will begin to be transferred over to ESA from October 2010.
The National Health Service (NHS) generally provides health care free of charge. However there are some fixed charges that must be paid for, including prescriptions, dental treatment, sight tests, glasses, wigs and fabric supports. People on low income or who have certain health conditions may be entitled to help with these charges.
www.disabilityalliance.org - 1 September 2010
