Finance and benefits

Below are descriptions of benefits that you, your partner, carer or parent/s may be able to claim.  This is not an exhaustive list and eligibility is dependent upon individual circumstances. 

It is recommended that you get advice before you make any claims.  Your Young Lives vs Cancer social worker can put you in contact with a Welfare Rights Advisor through their Welfare Advice Line or you can contact welfare rights advisors through organisations such as Citizens Advice.  They will be able to give tailored support and guidance on which benefits you would be entitled to make a claim for and how they may impact on any current benefits and income you have.

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you are over 16 and have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability AND difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition and you expect these difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started.  You can get PIP alongside almost all other benefits and can get it even if you are working or have savings. You need to have been resident in the UK for 2 out of the last 3 years. 

To claim you need to: 

To start a claim, some areas will enable you to complete the application online and you can check using your postcode on the direct.gov website if this applies to you. Otherwise you need to call 0800 917 2222 and have with you your national insurance number; personal contact number; name address and contact details of a medical professional that best knows your diagnosis, treatment plan and support needs; bank details and dates of any stays in hospital.

A form called ‘how your disability affects you’ will then be posted to you to complete.

Once returned, the information on the form will be assessed and if further facts/evidence is needed you may be contacted by a health professional for a face to face or telephone discussion.

For further information on the claim process, eligibility etc. visit www.gov.uk.

Young Lives vs Cancer have produced a guide to help you think about what you might want to include when completing the form.  Please speak to your YLvC Social Worker if you would like a copy.

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) can help with the extra costs of looking after a child who is under 16 and has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability.  The child must be habitually resident in the UK and have lived in Great Britain for 6 of the last 12 months. The extra support needs should have been present for at least 3 months and expected to last at least a further 6 months.  The benefit assesses care needs and mobility and an award can just be made for one of these or both although a child under 3 is not eligible for the mobility component of the benefit.

To make a claim call the Disability Living Allowance helpline and request a claim form for DLA for a child and they will send you out a date stamped form to complete and return.

Young Lives vs Cancer have produced a guide to help you think about what you might want to include when completing the form.  Please speak to your YLvC Social Worker if you would like a copy.

Carer's Allowance

To be eligible to claim Carer's Allowance the person you care for must be in receipt of either Personal Independence Payment (daily living component) or Disability Living Allowance care component at either the middle or high award rate.

You need to be providing at least 35 hours of extra care/support each week, not be studying for over 21 hours per week, not be getting carers allowance for anyone else and not be receiving a wage of more than £139 per week after tax.  You must also have been resident in the UK for 2 out of the last 3 years.

This is a taxable benefit so could impact on other benefits.

To claim you can either complete a form online at www.gov.uk or print off a form to post.

Carer’s Credit

This is a National Insurance Credit that ensures that national insurance contributions are kept up to date whilst you are unable to work due to caring responsibilities.

To be eligible for Carer’s Credit you must be over 16 but not yet receiving state pension, be caring for someone at least 20 hours per week and that person be in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (daily living component) or Disability Living Allowance (Care component at either middle or high rate).

There is no need to claim if your child is under the age of 12 and you are in receipt of child benefit or you are in receipt of Carers Allowance as this will automatically be credited for you.

To claim you can either download and print the form off from www.gov.uk or call the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297.

Carer’s Premium

If you’re entitled to Carer’s Allowance, you may be able to receive a Carer Premium (called a Carer Addition for people of State Pension age) or Carer Element if you receive Universal Credit. 

This is an extra payment you may get if you are caring for someone and eligible for (but not necessarily in receipt of) Carer’s Allowance alongside certain other benefits including Universal Credit, Income Related Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.

To claim or find out if you are eligible speak to your local Job Centre plus.

Universal Credit

To be eligible you need to be on a low income or not in work/unable to work; be 18 or over (although some exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds) and have savings of under £16,000.

Support towards rental costs can be awarded – this is paid direct to you through the benefit for you to then pay your landlord (please note this is different to the previous housing benefit which paid the support directly to a landlord).

This benefit is paid in arrears so can take up to 5 weeks from claiming to receive the first payment.

An application for this benefit is made online.  First an online account is set up and then your identity will be verified (again online).  Once you have an account contact with the DWP/Job Centre is via the ‘journal’ section on the account.

This benefit has taken over from many of what are now called legacy benefits (see below) so payments that are awarded are variable depending on personal circumstances including health conditions.

For further information on this benefit and how to apply visit www.gov.uk.

New Style ESA

To be eligible for this you need to have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work.  This is a taxable benefit that can either be paid on its own or alongside Universal Credit (depending on savings).

You must have been employed or self-employed for at least two years and have made national insurance contributions for 2 out of the past 3 years.

You can apply for this benefit online.  Go to www.gov.uk.

Council Tax Reduction/Support

This has now replaced Council tax benefit and is managed by local councils.

To find out if you are eligible and to apply visit www.gov.uk, type in your postcode and you will then be directed to the correct council managing this benefit for your area.

Local welfare assistance

These are schemes run by local councils and can provide urgent support following an emergency or change of circumstances.

Provision varies between councils so check your local council for details and eligibility.

Legacy Benefits

These are benefits that have been replaced by Universal Credit and include:-

  • child tax credits
  • housing benefit
  • income related employment and support allowance
  • income based job seekers allowance
  • income support
  • working tax credits

If already in receipt of any of these benefits then it is possible to remain on them for now, although there is a gradual move to change all claimants on to universal credit.

If individual/family circumstances change a claim will be moved over to universal credit unless in receipt of a severe disability premium.  In this case a claimant can remain on a legacy benefit despite a change of circumstances.

Other source of financial support

These are other options that may also be available depending on individual circumstances:

  • Disabled students allowance
  • Budgeting loans
  • Funeral payments
  • Short term benefit advances
  • Sure start maternity grant

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.  

You may be eligible for help towards the cost of travelling to any NHS appointments. 

For more information and eligibility see https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/.

Help with prescription costs.  

Depending upon receiving certain benefits, income, age and individual circumstances you may be able for free prescriptions. 

To check eligibility see https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/get-help-with-prescription-costs/.

Debt

If you are struggling with debt there are a number of organisations that are able to offer free support and advice including:

www.stepchange.org

www.nationaldebtline.org

www.capuk.org

Further information and advice