A Quick Guide To Benefits

A quick guide to some benefits to which you may have entitlement.

Income Support

What is it?

It is a benefit for you if you can’t be available for full time work or don’t have enough money to live on and are aged between 16-59. It is means tested and whether you qualify or not or how much you get depends on your circumstances.

To find out if you qualify contact Job Centre Plus (0800 055 6688 Monday–Friday 8am–4pm) or apply online.

Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)

What is it?

This is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work. If you are out of work or work less than 16 hours a week on average you may be able to get JSA.

Who can get it?

To be eligible you must be:

  • Capable of Work
  • Available for work
  • Actively seeking work
  • Below state pension age

To claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim online.

Pension Credits

What is it?

If you are aged 60 or over you may be entitled to Pension Credit – extra money each week.

This is made up of a Guaranteed Element or a Saving Credit Element

Who can get it?

Guarantee Credit :

  • If you are 60 or over
  • living in Great Britain
  • if you are single, and your weekly income is below £130.00 or have a partner and your weekly income is below £198.45(2009/10 Pension Service Figures).

Savings Credit :

If you or your partner is aged 65 or over and either of the following applies to you :

  • You are single and your total weekly income from things such as pensions, savings, earnings and investments is between £96.00 and £130.00(2009/10 Pension Service Figures), or
  • You have a partner and your joint weekly income from things such as pensions, savings, earnings and investments is between £153.45 and £198.45 a week(2009/10 Pension Service Figures).

For more information and up to date allowances contact The Pensions Credit Helpline on 0800 99 1234 or text phone 0800169 0133(open 8am–8pm Monday–Friday) or visit online.

Tax Credits

What is it?

Tax Credits are payments from the government

Who can get it?

Child Tax Credit

If you are responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you.

Working Tax Credit

If you work or earn low wages you may qualify for working tax credit.

If your circumstances change the amount you get may alter and you must contact the tax credit office.

To find out if you can claim contact the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900, Text phone 0845 3003 909 8am–8pm(excluding Christmas, Boxing and New Year's days) or visit online.

Social Fund

What is it?

This is run by Job Centre Plus and provides lump sum payments. Loans and community care grants are discretionary and not for a fixed amount.

Community Care Grants

A tax free lump sum of money that you do not have to pay back.

This helps people cope with special circumstances for example returning to the community after being in care. The social fund will check the costs of the things you need to buy and only pay an appropriate amount. You cannot get a grant for less than £30.00(unless your claim is for daily living expenses or travel expenses).

Crisis Loans

This is a tax free loan, no interest is charged but it does have to be paid back.

This is only awarded if there is no other way you can get help and is the only way to stop serious damage or risk to you or your family’s health and safety. It will also be awarded for something you need in an emergency or because of disaster.

It may help you pay for the following :

  • Items for the house
  • Clothes and footwear
  • Travel
  • Urgent costs to keep you and your family safe
  • Items for a new baby
  • A funeral
  • Heating Costs during very cold weather or people aged over 60

To claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim on line for community care grant or crisis loan.

Incapacity Benefit

What is it?

If you can’t work due to an illness that started before 27 October 2008 you may be entitled to incapacity benefit.

Who can get it?

To be eligible you must :

  • Be under state pension age
  • Your Statutory Sick Pay has ended or you are not entitled
  • Statutory Maternity Pay has ended and you have not gone back to work due to ill health.

Also you must be :

  • Paying National Insurance Contributions
  • Unable to work for 4 days in a row (including weekends and bank holidays)
  • Getting Special Medical treatment
  • Been unable to work for 2 out of 7 consecutive days.

Incapacity Benefits is paid at different rates depending on the length of your illness :

  • Short term lower rate – for first 28 weeks
  • Short Term Higher Rate – 28-52 weeks
  • Long term Rate from week 53.

For up to date rates and full details and to claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim online.

Employment Support Allowance

What is it?

This was introduced on the 27th October 2008 and replaces Incapacity Benefit. If you were already claiming incapacity benefit you will continue to receive this.

The first 13 weeks of a claim is known as the Assessment Phase while a decision is made through the Work Capability Assessment.

The main phase is from week 14 if the Work Capability Assessment has shown that your ability to work is limited by your illness or disability.

You will be placed in one of two groups in the Main Phase:

Work Related Activity Group

You must take part in work focused interviews with your personal advisor and you will receive support to prepare for suitable work.

Support Group

If your illness or disability has a severe effect on your ability to work you will not be expected to take part in any work although you can do so on a voluntary basis.

Who can get it?

To be eligible :

  • Your Statutory Sick Pay has ended or you are not entitled
  • Be self employed or unemployed
  • Your Statutory Maternity Pay has ended and you have not gone back to work due to ill health.

For up to date rates and to claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim online.

Disability Living Allowance

What is it?

This is a tax free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or mobility.

Who can get it?

To be eligible you must :

  • Have a physical or mental disability
  • Need help to be cared for or walking difficulties
  • Be under 65 when you claim

If you are terminally ill there are special rules so that you are eligible more quickly and easily.

There are two components :

  • Care Component - If you need help being looked after
  • Mobility Component – Help with walking or getting around

There are different rates depending on how much help you need.

Disability Living Allowance is ignored as income for working out income related benefits.

For up to date rates and to claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim online.

Attendance Allowance

What is it?

This is a tax free benefit for people aged 65 and over to help with personal care if you are physically or mentally disabled.

Who can get it?

To receive Attendance Allowance you must need help with :

  • washing
  • dressing
  • eating
  • communicating
  • using the toilet

And require :

  • supervision to avoid putting yourself or others in danger
  • someone to keep an eye on your medical condition or diet
  • someone with you when you are on dialysis.

The amount you get will depend on the amount of care that you need.

For up to date rates and to claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim online.

Maternity Allowance

What is it?

You may be entitled to maternity allowance if you are employed but are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay.

Who can get it?

To be eligible you must be :

  • Recently employed or self employed
  • Employed or self employed for at least 26 weeks in your test periods(this is the 66 weeks up to and including the week before your baby is due).

It is paid for a maximum of 39 weeks, you can start to claim this 11 weeks before your baby is due.  Click here for details.

Sure Start Maternity Grant

What is it?

This is a grant from the social fund.

Who can get it?

To be eligible you must have been awarded one of following qualifying benefits :

  • Income Support
  • Income Based JSA
  • Pension Credit
  • Income Based Employment Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit at the higher rate than family element
  • Working Tax Credit

And you must :

  • be pregnant, adopting, or granted residence of a child.

For up to date rates and to claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim online.

Health in Pregnancy Grant

What is it?

This is a new one off tax free payment available to nearly all new mums who meet the following criteria:

Who can get it?

You can receive it if :

  • You are 25 weeks pregnant or more
  • Your expected date of delivery is on or after 6th April 2009
  • You have been given health advice by from a midwife or doctor to help you stay healthy during pregnancy
  • Be present, ordinary resident and have a right to reside in the UK

There is a one off payment for each pregnancy. If you are expecting more than one baby, for example twins or triplets only one grant is payable. Everyone will get the same amount – you will not be asked about your income.

Your midwife or doctor will give you the grant form once you are 25 weeks pregnant. They will have to sign it and then you must send it to the Health in Pregnancy Grant Office within 31 days of the form being signed.

For more details and how to claim contact Health in Pregnancy Helpline on 0845 366 7885 or Text Phone 0845 3667886. Open 8am–8pm seven days a week (except Christmas, Boxing and New Year's days) or visit the HMRC website for more details.

Child Benefit

What is it?

A tax free payment for a child paid every four weeks. Everyone who meets the following criteria is entitled to this, your income is not looked at.

Who can get it

To be eligible you must :

  • Have a child under 16, or
  • Have a child over 16 in relevant education or training, or
  • Have a child who is 16 or 17 who has left relevant education and training is registered for work, education or training with an approved body.

A higher rate is paid for your first child and a lower rate for your other children.

For up to date rates and to claim call the Child Benefit Helpline 0845 3011444 8am–8pm seven days a week(except Christmas, Boxing and New Year's days).

Benefits for 16 and 17 Year Olds

16 and 17 year olds are not entitled to claim unemployment benefits they are guaranteed a Job Skill place under the Department of Employment and Learning.

However there are some exceptions.  Some young people could receive Income Support if they are not available for work or are unable to take up a Youth Training Place due to being one or more of the following :

  • Incapable of work
  • pregnant
  • a carer
  • lone parent
  • registered blind
  • disabled student
  • required to attend court

You may be entitled to claim Job Seekers Allowance if you are in a vulnerable group such as :

  • forced to live away from your parents or other person acting in your parents place
  • a couple with children
  • released from custody or local authority care

If you fall into one of these groups you will be able to claim for a short period if you would suffer hardship if Job Seekers Allowance was not paid.

For up to date rates and to claim contact 0800 055 6688 (Job Centre Plus 8am-6pm Monday–Friday) or claim online.

Housing Benefit

What is it?

If you rent your home you may be able to get help towards your rent if your income and savings are below a certain level.

Who can’t get it

You are not entitled to it if :

  • you have savings more than £16,000 unless you are 60 or over and getting the 'guaranteed credit' of pension credit
  • You live in the home of a close relative
  • You are a full time student (Unless you are disabled or have children)
  • If you live with a partner only one of you can get Housing Benefit

The council will look at :

  • The money you and your partner or civil partner have coming in have coming in
  • Your savings
  • Your circumstances – such as your age, family size, if anyone in your family can help towards your rent
  • If the rent is reasonable and if your home is a reasonable size for your family

If you are a council tenant the money is paid straight into your rent account.

Council Tax Benefit

What is it?

If you need financial help toward your council tax bill you may get Council Tax Benefit. You may also get second adult rebate if you share your home with someone (not your partner or civil partner) who is unable to pay towards the Council Tax.

Who can get it?

Council Tax Benefit

You may get council tax benefit if you pay Council tax and you income and capital (savings and investments) are below a certain level.

Second Adult rebate

You may get a Second Adult Rebate if the person you share your home with is:

  • Not your partner or civil partner
  • Aged 18 or over
  • Not paying you rent
  • Not paying Council Tax themselves
  • On a low income

You may be able to get Second Adult Rebate even if you don’t receive Council Tax benefit if you’re either:

  • Not entitled to Council Tax Benefit
  • Only entitled to benefit which would cover 25% or less of your Council Tax

Your local authority should automatically check if you’re entitled to Second Adult Rebate

You aren't eligible if you have savings of over £16000 you can’t normally get Council Tax Benefit, unless your aged 60 or over and getting ‘guarantee credit’ of Pension Credit.

Your income and savings won’t affect Second Adult Rebate. Second Adult Rebate is based on other person’s circumstances.

Most asylum seekers and people sponsored to be in the UK won’t get Council Tax benefit

To make and claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit telephone 01942 828644 or online.