4 Benefits
1
Updated 11 December 2008
Financial difficulties can affect many Carers. This can be as a result of giving up work or the additional expenditures which may be involved in caring. As a Carer you may be entitled to certain government benefits.The following information is a brief outline of some of the benefits that are available. The criteria for each of these benefits can, at times, be difficult to understandand often depends on individual circumstances. Should youhave any queries at all then please do not hesitate to contact Stirling Carers Centre on 01786 447003 for advice.
You must tell the relevant department of the Department for Work & Pensions and/or Job Centre Plus if someone you care for goes into or comes out of hospital. Most benefits reduce after a person has been in hospital for a certain number of weeks.
Carer’s Allowance
This is the only benefit specifically for Carers. Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who regularly spend at least 35 hours per week caring for a severely disabled person. You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the disabled person. You can get Carer’s Allowance even if you have never worked. It is paid weekly and the person receiving this benefit is credited with a Class 1 National Insurance Contribution.
You may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance if you are:
- Over 16 yearsand
- You are caring for someone at least 35 hours per week and
- The person you are caring for receives Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of Disability Living Allowance Care Component and
- You are not on a course of full-time education (attending a course of 21 hours per week or more) and
- You do not earn over the weekly earnings limit (equal to the NI lower earnings limit) set by the Government (after taking off any allowable expenses).
In some cases you may fit all the criteria set out above to receive Carer’s Allowance but you will not receive a payment because you are in receipt of a certain other benefit that is paid at the same or at a higher amount than Carer’s Allowance. This is called the “overlapping benefit rule.” However, it may still be worth applying even if you do not receive extra money, as you will normally be credited with a Class 1 National Insurance Contribution. Also, if you are in receipt of either Income Support, Guaranteed Pension Credit or Income Based Employment Support Allowance (ESA) this may be increased as a “Carer’s Premium” will be included in the calculation.
Please note: if the person you are caring for lives alone and receives Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance and Income Support, there is a possibility that they could LOSE money if you claim Carer’s Allowance for looking after them. If this is the case then please seek advice before claiming Carer’s Allowance.
Attendance Allowance (AA)
Attendance allowance is a non means-tested, tax-free benefit for people over 65 who are physically and/or mentally disabled and need help with personal care or need supervision to remain safe. You do not actually have to be getting any help. It is the help you need that is relevant, not what you get. AA can be paid in addition to almost any other benefit, such as State Retirement Pension and Pension Credit. Attendance Allowance is ignored as income for means-tested benefits so does not reduce any amount of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit entitlement.
You may be able to claim Attendance Allowance if you are:
- Aged 65 or over, and
- Need help with personal care because of illness or disability and
- You have needed the help for at least 6 months and are likely to need it for at least another 6 months.
There are two different rates of AA:
Lower rate: for those who need frequent attention and/or continual supervision during the day or during the night.
Higher rate: for those who need frequent attention and/or continual supervision during the day and during the night.
Note: The general rule is that payment of AA stops after you have been in hospital for 28 days. You must notify the relevant department of the Department for Work & Pensions (Benefit Agency).
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
There are two parts (components) to DLA depending on the needs of the person applying. These are: DLA Care Component and DLA Mobility Component. You can be paid either component on its own or both at the same time.
You may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance if you are:
- Under 65 and
- You have an illness or disability, and
- You need help with getting around and/oryou need help with personal care and
- You have needed help for at least 3 months and are likely to need it for at least another 6 months.
DLA Care Component: this may be awarded if you need help with personal care such as washing, dressing, or using the toilet, or if you need help with preparing a cooked meal. Your care needs must ultimately stem from disability – both physical and mental disabilities may help you qualify. You must need care, supervision or watching over from another person because of your disabilities. DLA Care Component can be awarded for help with personal care even if no help is given.
There are three different rates of DLA Care Component:
Lower: for those who need attention or supervision from another person for a significant portion of the day.
Middle: for those who need frequent attention and/or continual supervision during the day or during the night.
Higher: for those who need frequent attention and/or continual supervision during the day and during the night.
DLA Mobility Component: this may be awarded if you need help with getting around, for example, if you cannot walk at all, you have difficulty with walking, you are both deaf and blind and need someone with you outside, you are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems, or you can walk but cannot generally make use of the ability to do so outside unless accompanied by someone to guide or supervise you when outdoors.
DLA Mobility Components can be paid at two different rates:
Lower: for those who can walk but need guidance or supervision most of the time in order to walk outdoors.
Higher: for those who are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk, have no legs or feet, or are deaf and blind and need someone with them outside. The higher rate is also paid if the person has severe behavioural problems as a result of severe mental impairment and has been awarded the highestrate of the DLA Care Component.
Disability Living Allowance for a Child from 3 months to 16 years
Care Component: As well as satisfying the above criteria for DLA Care Component a child or young person under 16 must show that either: their needs are substantially in excess of the normal requirements of persons their age or that they have substantial care, supervision or watching over needs.
Mobility Component: Must be 3 years of age to be eligible to claim the highest rate of Mobility Component and must satisfy the above criteria. To claim the lower rate children must be 5 years of age and must satisfy the above criteria.
Attendance Allowance & Disability Living Allowance – Terminal Illness
If someone is considered to be terminally ill, they do not have to serve the ‘qualifying periods’ to get DLA Care Component or Attendance Allowance. They will qualify automatically for the highest rate of either if their death can be ‘reasonably expected’ within the next 6 months. To do this a claim needs to be made under ‘the special rules’. This involves completing certain parts of the claim form and enclosing a factual statement (DS1500 report) provided by either your doctor or consultant.
*Please Note: The person who is terminally ill does not have to sign the form; another person, including the terminally ill person's doctor or consultant can claim on their behalf.
Note: The general rule is that payment of both DLA Care and Mobility Components stops after you have been in hospital for 28 days for adults, or 84 days for children under 16. You must notify the relevant department at the Department for Work & Pensions and/or Job Centre Plus Office.
Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
As part of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 Employment Support Allowance is a new single benefit that has been introduced to replace incapacity benefit and Income Support paid on the ground of incapacity (for new claimants) from October 2008. Existing claimants of incapacity, for the time being, will continue to receive their incapacity benefit.
An important point to note is that those receiving Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will continue to be eligible for a top-up of Income Support, if entitled. If they cease to be entitled to SSP then at that point a claim should be submitted for ESA, which, if entitled, will be paid at the basic rate.
Employment Support Allowance is made up of:
-a basic allowance set at basic Job Seeker Allowance level
plus
-(for those qualifying for income related ESA) housing costs and premiums;
plus, after a 13 week assessment period, either:
-a support component – an additional payment in both income-related and contributory ESA, for those most severely ill or disabled who are assessed as having “limited capability for work-related activity;” or
-a work-related activity component – an additional payment in both income-related and contributory ESA, for those not assessed as “having limited capability for work-related activity.” It will be paid in full to those complying with the “conditionality” requirements.
To be entitled to ESA the claimant must satisfy the basic conditions plus the conditions for either contributory ESA or income related ESA or both.
To meet the basic conditions the claimant must:
-have “limited capability for work” and
-be aged at least 16 and under pensionable age and
-be in Great Britain and
-not be entitled to Income Support or
-not be entitled to Job Seekers Allowance, either alone or as part of a joint claim couple, or
-not be entitled to SSP
Plus
-for contributory ESA – must meet contributory conditions
-for income-related ESA – must meet income-related conditions
If the claimant meets both sets of conditions (in addition to the basic conditions) then they can get contributory ESA topped up with income-related ESA.
Income Support
Is a means-tested or income related benefit that does not depend on National Insurance Contributions and is intended to provide for basic living expenses for yourself and your family. It can be paid on its own or can top-up other benefits or earnings from part-time work up to the basic amount the law says you need to live on. Income Support is for people who are not required to sign on for work and who are not entitled to Employment Support Allowance.
You may be able to claim for Income Support if:
Your income falls below an amount the government estimates you need to live on and you are resident in Great Britain
and
- You are not in full-time education and
- You are aged between 16 – 60 years and
- You are not working16 or more hours per week. If you have a partner, they must not be working 24 or more hours a week and
- Your capital is no more than the capital limits set at this time and either
- You are a Carer and are; “regularly and substantially engaged in caring for another person” and either you are receiving Carers Allowance or the person you care for is in receipt or Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or middle of high rate Care Component Disability Living Allowance or
- You are a lone parent and responsible for a child under 12 years who is a member of your household or
- You are single or a lone parent and are fostering a child under 16 through a local authority or voluntary organisation or
- Certain other conditions – please seek advice.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit (PC) is the commonly used name for the state Pension Credit, a means tested-benefit for people aged 60 and over. PC has two elements: the ‘guaranteed credit’ that replaced Income Support for people aged 60 and over and the ‘Savings Credit’ for people aged 65 and over. The Savings Credit is intended to provide extra money for people who have modest savings.
- Guaranteed Credit – is calculated by working out if your income is below the ‘appropriate minimum guarantee’, if it is then the guarantee credit makes up the difference.
- Saving Credit – may be paid if you or your partner are 65 or over and have ‘qualifying income’ above your ‘savings credit threshold’.
Many retired people who receive the State Retirement Pension qualify for Pension Credit. Even if you only receive a small amount of the guaranteed element of Pension Credit, it is still worth claiming, as you may be entitled to other help such as Dental Treatment, Spectacles, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
The Social Fund:
The Social Fund is a government fund that makes payments to people in need. It is divided into two distinct parts, the Regulated Social Fund and the Discretionary Social Fund.
The Regulated Social Fund: makes payments for maternity expenses, funeral expenses, periods of cold weather and winter fuel. You are legally entitled to a payment if you satisfy the rules laid down in the regulations.
The Discretionary Social Fund: provides grants and interest free loans to meet a variety of other needs. There is no legal entitlement to payments, they are discretionary and budget limited, and decisions are subject to review rather than appeal. There are three types of payments: Community Care Grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans. You do not have to be on benefit to receive a crisis loanbut payments are discretionary and subject to eligibility rules.
To apply for any of the above benefits, then you need to obtain and complete the specific forms relevant to that particular benefit. These claim forms are available from your local benefit office.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
These benefits are administered by your Local Authority to help with paying rent and Council Tax.
You can get help with up to 100% of the rent you pay, and up to a maximum 100% of your Council Tax. Water rates and heating charges are notincluded.
If you receive Income Support, top-up ESA or the ‘guarantee’ element of Pension Credit you may receive the maximum amount of these benefits, subject to possible deductions for other people living in your household.
If you do not receive Income Support, top-up ESA or the ‘guaranteed’ element of Pension Credit and have less than £16,000 savings you may still be eligible for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit on low-income grounds. Savings over the ‘set limits’ at that time for people of working age and Pensioners affect how much Housing and Council Tax benefit you can receive.
To apply for these benefits contact your Local Authority Housing & Council Tax Department.
Council Tax Discounts or Relief
Discounts (including Carers Discount): Some Carer’s may be eligible for Council Tax Discounts, regardless of income and savings.
The Council Tax is based on the idea that the average household consists of two people. Single person households pay 25% less Council Tax. When counting the number of people in a household there are certain people who are ‘not counted’. This includes people who are severely mentally impaired and Carers but only if they meet all the criteria detailed below:
- Living and caring for someone who is not their partner or are not the parent if the person being cared for is a child under 18 years of age
- Caring for the person for at least 35 hours per week on average
- The person being cared for is in receipt of Attendance Allowance or the highest rate of the Disability Living Allowance care component
Council Tax Disability Reduction Scheme: you may be eligible for reduction if you, or a member of your household, has a substantial and permanent disability e.g. you have enough space in your house for that person to use a wheelchair indoors. If you get a reduction your bill will be reduced to the Council Tax to the next lower valuation band; e.g. if your house is in Band C you would be charged Band B.
Second Adult Rebate: is mainly for single people who are liable to pay Council Tax and who live with another person, not their partner, who is on a low income.
*Please note: Both Discounts and Second Adult Rebates are complicated. If you think you may qualify you should contact your local Council, the Carers Centre or an Advice Agency to check on eligibility.