The benefits that you may be able to get will depend on your individual circumstances. Listed below are some of the main benefits that you may be able to get.
Incapacity Benefit
Incapacity Benefit is paid to people over the age of 16 if they are unable to work due to ill health and meet the DWP rules for being treated as incapable of work. You will need to claim via the contact centre on 0800 055 6688 who will take details of your claim and arrange a work focused interview for you. Later you will have to complete a form IB50 for the purposes of the personal capability assessment to see if you score enough points to be found incapable of work. Most people will have a medical assessment to see if the information given on the IB50 and the doctor’s assessment show the person is incapable of work. If unsuccessful, you need to get advice about appealing the decision.
Incapacity Benefit is a contribution-based benefit and not means tested, except that an occupational pension or personal pension over £85 a week will reduce the amount that you get.
The benefit is normally only paid if the person has paid and/or been credited with the right amount of National Insurance contributions in the appropriate years. There are special rules for people under the age of 20 (in some cases 25) when they become ill who do not need to meet these National Insurance rules but do need to meet the personal capability rules.
JobCentrePlus - Working Age Benefits
Income Support
This is paid to people under 60 who are unable to work due to ill health and pass the DWP rules for being treated as incapable of work (you can also get this for other reasons such as being a carer). The benefit is means tested and will be affected by most income that you or your partner have coming in. Cannot be paid if your partner works 24 hours per week or more or you have savings over £16000. Income Support can help with mortgage payments but you may have to wait a few months for this help. Extra help for children is claimed through Child Tax Credit and is more than you would get if you are working.
JobCentrePlus - Working Age Benefits
If you are over age 60 then you need to look at claiming Pension Credit and not Income Support:
Benefits for People aged 60 and over
The Pension Service - Pension Credits information
Permitted work rules
These rules apply to people who are claiming benefit on the basis of illness (Incapacity Benefit, Income Support or Severe Disablement Allowance). It is possible to do some paid work and not lose the benefit but there are time limits for most people on how long they can do this for. The nature of the permitted work has to be considered carefully and it is important to get advice before you start to use these rules about how it will affect your benefit. There are earnings rules for how much you can earn. The amount you can keep if you claim Income Support because of incapacity is quite low.
JobCentrePlus - Working Age Benefits
Disability Living Allowance
Paid to people who are under 65 when they first claim and have problems which can include: walking or going out, cooking, looking after themselves (for example washing, dressing, moving about) or need someone to keep an eye on them to stay safe and encourage them to do things. The benefit is not means tested and can be paid whatever money you have coming in. The benefit is ignored for means tested benefits and does not reduce what you have coming in. In some cases it can increase the amount of income based (means tested) benefits that you can get such as Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit. The benefit is not taxable. Disability Living Allowance is for people with physical ill health, mental ill health and learning disabilities. Children can qualify for this benefit for this same range of reasons including severe behavioural problems and there is a separate claim form for them.
JobCentrePlus - Working Age Benefits
Attendance Allowance
This is similar to Disability Living Allowance but it is paid if you are 65 or over when you first claim for your disability. This allowance does not take into account walking problems and can only be paid if you have problems looking after yourself or need someone to keep an eye on you to make sure that you are safe. Like DLA it is not taxable or means tested and does not reduce any income-based (means tested) benefits that you can get. Like DLA it can increase some means tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit. Go to the link below for information on how to claim this benefit: to section benefits if you are 60 or over) This benefit is claimed from the local council.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - Housing Benefit
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - Council Tax Benefit
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
These can be paid if you are responsible for rent and/or council tax and you are on a low income. You can claim whether you are out of work or working as an employee or self employed or have income from other sources such as maintenance or bereavement or other benefits. They are income-based (means tested) benefits and cannot be claimed if you have savings over £16,000. This benefit is claimed from the local council. Go to the link below for more information about how to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit in Hounslow:
Tax Credits
Working Tax Credit can be paid if you are working at least 16 hours per week and have children or an illness or disability or you are working at least 30 hours per week and you are 25 or over. There are special rules if you are 50 or over and work at least 16 hours per week. Child Tax Credit can be claimed if you have at least one dependant child. Tax Credits are based on your income and savings and are paid by HM Revenue & Customs but you can qualify for Child Tax Credit with a fairly high level of income and this is even higher for any tax year where there is a baby under 12 months in the family. For more information about these tax credits and help with the tax credit for child care costs go to:
Industrial Injuries Benefits
These can be paid if you have an illness or disability as a result of an accident at work or an industrial disease. The benefits are not means tested but the award will depend upon the level of disability that the accident or disease has caused.
Linkwww.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/729
Health Benefits
These can be claimed if you are on a low income and need help with prescription costs, dental or opticians fees or travelling to hospital or surgical aids and appliances.
Linkwww.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/491
Health benefits
These can be claimed if you are on a low income and need help with prescription costs, dental or opticians fees, travelling to hospital or surgical aids and appliances. You may also find you qualify for other reasons such as pregnancy, nursing mother, age or certain named health conditions (for prescription charges) so check if you qualify. Claim on form HC1 available on line or from Jobcentre Plus.
Severe Disablement Allowance
This benefit was abolished for new claims from 6th April 2001. Anyone who was on Severe Disablement Allowance at that date and who has continued to meet the rules for the benefit can remain on the benefit. If you are getting Severe Disablement Allowance, you may still be asked to complete form IB50 again and be called for a new medical assessment.
A person who is getting Severe Disablement Allowance can be entitled to extra help in means-tested benefits (like Income Support and Housing Benefit). Severe Disablement Allowance is not a means-tested benefit. It is possible to do some very limited permitted work while getting Severe Disablement Allowance and still be treated as incapable of work. You may want to look at the information on the Jobcentre Plus site for people claiming benefits because of sickness or disability although there is no direct reference to Severe Disablement Allowance.
For further information please refer to:
Welfare, Benefits and Debt