Benefit Entitlement - an overview

For almost all benefits, you must be present and ordinarily resident in Great Britain to qualify. PLEASE NOTE that the figures and conditions below are subject to change, and are primarily intended to illustrate the variety of benefits available. While we try to ensure the information here is frequently updated and accurate, you may wish to check with your local authority, us, or the Advice Guide link on our Home Page for current figures and conditions.

Means Tested (income and savings are taken into account)

Pension Credit (non-contributory)

-   over 60

-   standard minimum guarantee: £109.45 single person, £167.05 couple

-   additional amounts for disability, caring, housing costs (mortgage interest)

-   savings credit if over 65

Income Support (non contributory)

-   under 60

-   incapable of work, carer (or do not have to be available for work)

-   working less than 16 hours per week (or partner works less than 24 hours per week)

-   income is not more than "applicable amount" (what the law says you need to live on)

-   savings less than £8000 (if over £3000 some income is assumed)

Housing Benefit (non-contributory)

-   rented accommodation and liable to pay rent

-   income and savings taken into account

-   full entitlement if receiving Income Support / Pension Credit

-   discretional housing payment possible if full rent not met

Council Tax Benefit (non-contributory)

-   rented or owned accommodation and liable to pay Council Tax

-   income and savings taken into account

-   full entitlement if receiving Income Support / Pension Credit

Working Tax Credit (non-contributory)

-   over 25, working minimum 30 hours per week or

-   over 16, working 6 hours per week and

   -   be responsible for a child or

   -   be a disabled worker or

   -   be aged over 50 and qualify for 50+ element (ie previously receiving certain benefits)

Child Tax Credit (non-contributory)

-   over 16

-   responsible for a child

-   paid in addition to Child Benefit

Jobseekers Allowance (income based) (non-contributory)

-   same rules as for Income Support except requirement to be available for and actively seeking work (ie not incapable or a carer)

-   some claims must be "joint-claims" (both in a couple must apply)

Non Means Tested (income and savings not always taken into account)

Jobseekers Allowance (contribution based) (contributory)

-   must satisfy contribution conditions (2 tax years before current benefit year)

-   not earn more than a specified amount (eg single person £60.64)

-   any pension over £50 per week reduces this benefit pound for pound

Incapacity Benefit (contributory)

-   must be assessed as incapable of work

-   not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay

-   not more than 5 years over retirement age on first claim and period of incapacity begins before retirement age

-   contributions paid (or partly credited) in relevant tax years (unless under age 25 in certain circumstances)

Disability Living Allowance (non-contributory)

-   under 65 when first claim

-   have care needs:

   -   unable to cook a main meal or need help for a significant portion of the day (approx. 1 hour) = lower rate

   -   a) frequent help throughout the day or b) continual supervision throughout the day or c) prolonged or repeated attention at night or d) someone to be awake to watch over you at night = middle rate

   -   you meet one of the day conditions (a or b above) and one of the night conditions (c or d above) = higher rate

-   have mobility needs:

   -   need supervision to walk on unfamiliar routes = lower rate

   -   unable or virtually unable to walk = higher rate

-   can claim care and mobility at the same time

To find out more about Disability Living Allowance and how we can help, CLICK HERE

Attendance Allowance (non-contributory)

-   over 65

-   same as Disability Living Allowance except no lower rate care and no mobility component

Carers Allowance (non-contributory)

-   caring at least 35 hours per week for person who gets middle or higher rate Disability Living Allowance, or Attendance Allowance (or Constant Attendance Allowance

-   not earn more than £82.00 per week

-   can't receive at the same time as Retirement Pension, Incapacity Benefit or other "earnings replacement" benefits

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (non-contributory)

-   must have been employed

-   have suffered personal injury as result of accident or prescribed industrial disease

-   loss of faculty and disabled as a result

-   90 days since injury or accident (unless disease is mesothelioma)

Reduced Earnings Allowance (non-contributory)

-   satisfy Industrial Injury condition for injury before 1 October 1990

-   under pension age

-   disablement is at least 1% and permanent

War Disablement Pension (non-contributory)

-   injury caused or made worse by service in Armed Forces

-   injury or disease as a civilian during Second World War

-   injury or disease during service in Gulf, Falklands, Suez or Korea

-   dependant of someone who died as a result of above

-   supplementary allowances for mobility, constant attendance allowance, unemployability etc

Other Benefits

Winter Fuel Payments

-   age over 60 during week beginning 15th September

-   £200 single person, (£300 if age over 80)

-   £100 each if a couple (£150 each if either over 80)

Social Fund

-  Regulated Social Fund

   -   Sure Start Maternity Grant

   -   Funeral Payments

   -   Cold Weather Payments

   -   Winter Fuel Payments

-   Discretionary social Fund

   -   Community Care Grants

   -   Budgeting Loans

   -   Crisis Loans

Health Benefits

If you receive Income Support, Pension Credit, income based Jobseekers Allowance, Child Tax Credit (with or without Working Tax Credit) or Working Tax Credit with the disability element and your income is assessed below £15,050 per year, you will be entitled to full help with:

-   Free prescriptions

-   Dental treatment and dentures

-   Free sight tests and glasses

-   Free wigs and fabric supports

-   Fares to hospital

-   Free milk and vitamins for expectant mothers or children under 5

Some help with health costs are possible through the low income scheme if not in receipt of the above benefits.

There are special rules regarding benefits for certain groups of people (eg asylum seekers, people in hospital or residential care homes, people in prison, full time students, people from abroad etc)