Website of the Department of Health

The main benefits

Disability Living Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who need help with personal care, with getting around, or with both. It is made up of two components - the care component and the mobility component. Both components are for people disabled before the age of 65.

Attendance Allowance is a weekly benefit for people aged 65 or over who need a lot of help with personal care because of illness or disability.

From April 2003 two new tax credits - a Child Tax Credit and a Working Tax Credit - will be introduced to replace the existing tax credits (Working Families'Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit and the Children's Tax Credit). Both of these will be administered by and claimed from the Inland Revenue.

Child Tax Credit will replace the child-related payments in Working Families'Tax Credits, Disabled Person's Tax Credit, Children's Tax Credit, Income Support and Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

Working Tax Credit is a tax credit to top up the earnings of working people and will broadly replace the adult support within Working Families' Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit and the New Deal 50 plus Employment Credit, and will extend support to some adults without children or a disability. It will continue to include help with costs of childcare.

Action point: To find out more about Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, contact the Inland Revenue Tax Credit Helpline or visit the website.You can claim online too.

• Tax Credits Online (opens new window)

England, Scotland and Wales: 0845 3003900; Textphone: 0845 3003909.
Northern Ireland: 0845 6032000; Textphone: 0845 6076078.
Lines open every day 8.00-20.00 seven days a week (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday).
If you need help or a form in Welsh, please telephone 0845 3021489 (Mon-Fri 8.30-17.00).

Incapacity Benefit gives working age people a replacement income when they become sick or disabled and stop working or looking for work as a result. It is a contributory benefit based on a person's National Insurance contribution record, but there are special provisions for people incapacitated in youth. It is paid at three rates, depending on how long you have been on benefit. Entitlement is based on medical certification initially, followed by a medical test known as the Personal Capability Assessment (PCA).This is the main test of entitlement to Incapacity Benefit.

Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) is a weekly tax-free benefit paid to people who have not been able to work for at least 28 weeks due to illness or disability, and have not paid enough National Insurance contributions to qualify for Incapacity Benefit. SDA ceased to exist from April 2001 for new claims; those in receipt of SDA at that date will continue to receive it whilst they satisfy the criteria or those subject to the linking rules. Special provisions apply for people incapacitated in youth to obtain Incapacity Benefit (Y) in place of SDA.

Income Support is a non-contributory benefit. People in the UK who are aged 16 or over, not working 16 hours or more a week, or with a partner not working 24 hours or more a week, and not required to be available for employment, are eligible to claim. Capital/savings between £3000 and £8000 are treated as if each £250 or part of £250 brings in an income of £1 per week. If capital assets total more than £8000 there is no entitlement to Income Support.The lower capital limit for those aged 60 or over is £6000 with a cut-off at £12,000, and for those in residential care and nursing homes this is £10,000 with a cut-off at £16,000.

Disability Premium is awarded to those who are long-term sick or disabled.This has always been linked to the payment of disability benefits (either Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance) or claims for long-term incapacity benefits. Disability Premiums may be paid to the claimant and/or partner. For those who have caring responsibilities, who receive or are entitled to Carers Allowance, a carer premium is payable.

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
To be entitled to Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance a person must be available for work for at least 40 hours a week. Certain groups of people including carers and disabled people are able to restrict their availability to less than 40 hours a week, depending on personal circumstances. Other conditions are that a person must be under pension age, out of work or working on average for less than 16 hours a week, or with a partner not working 24 hours or more a week.The rules surrounding capital/savings mirror those outlined for Income Support above.

Contributory Jobseeker's Allowance is paid to jobseekers who have the necessary National Insurance contributions.

Social Fund Payments can be made for maternity and funeral costs, and for periods of cold weather. Grants and interest-free repayable loans may also help with expenses such as moving into your home. For grants or loans there is only a limited amount of money, so success with an application cannot be guaranteed.

Action point: For more information or leaflets, contact your local Social Security office or Jobcentre Plus - listed in the business numbers section of the phone book.You can also get more information from the Department for Work and Pensions website: www.dwp.gov.uk.

• Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) (opens new window)

The Family Fund Trust (See 'For disabled children' in the section on 'Help with particular needs' ).

The Independent Living (1993) Fund can give cash help to pay for personal and domestic care which enables 'severely' disabled people to live in the community.To qualify you must satisfy a number of conditions (see page 19 for these conditions).Ask your local social services or the Independent Living (1993) Fund.
Tel: 0845 6018815;
Website:www.ilf.org.uk.

Housing Benefit from the local authority provides help with the rent for people with low incomes living in public or private rented accommodation. Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit (see below) may continue for up to four weeks after you or your partner find work. You must:

You must make a special claim to get extended payments on form NHB1-EP from your Social Security office, Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus.Your claim must reach the Social Security office, Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus (or local authority) within eight days of the end of your Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance entitlement.

• Independent Living Funds: financial support for disabled people who want live in the community (opens new window)

Other benefits, allowances and reliefs

Council Tax relief may be had in the form of discounts, disability reductions or the Council Tax Benefit for people on low incomes.

Housing grants for renovations and adaptations for disabled people may be available (see 'Housing and home').

Value Added Tax (VAT)
There is a wide range of VAT reliefs for purchases by people who are disabled and charities. More information about the reliefs can be found in VAT Notice 701/7 VAT Reliefs for People with Disabilities.You can get copies of this and other publications explaining the range of reliefs from VAT from your local VAT Business Advice Centre.The address is in your phone book under 'Customs & Excise'.

• Customs and Excise FAQ: VAT for people with disabilities (opens new window)

Special benefits

Certain benefits and allowances apply to particular groups:

Other sources of help with money

Many professions and industries have benevolent associations that give grants to disabled people, pensioners and people facing a crisis.To qualify you need to work, or have once worked, in the particular industry or belong to the family of such a worker.

Ex-members of the armed forces, their families and dependents may also be able to get financial help from forces benevolent societies (see 'For people who are disabled due to service in the armed forces' in the section 'Help with particular needs').

Action point: Jobcentres, Jobcentre Plus and Social Security offices are staffed and equipped to make sure disabled people can get information in the form in which they need it, including blind people, deaf people and foreign language speakers.

Benefits Enquiry Line: 0800 882200 (Mon-Fri 8.30-18.30, Sat 9.00-13.00) Textphone: 0800 243355.
Advice and information for both disabled people and carers about social security benefits and how to claim them. The person you speak to will not have your personal records but will be able to give you general advice on all benefits.

Disability Benefits Helpline: 0845 7123456.
Advice on Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance and may have access to your records once the claim is in process.

DIAL (Disability Information Advice Line) is run mostly by disabled people. See your phone book for your local DIAL, or call DIAL-UK on (01302) 310123.

Citizens Advice Bureaux are the largest independent provider of general advice in England and Wales.They exist to give confidential, impartial, free advice to everyone and to present policy makers with issues of concern. Some have specialist debt and disability advisers (see local phone book).

Voluntary organisations connected with particular disabilities often provide advice and publications to help make sure you get your full entitlement.

The Disability Alliance has a rights and advice line.
Helpline: (020) 7247 8763 (Mon & Wed 14.00-16.00);
Website: www.disabilityalliance.org.

• Disability Alliance (opens new window)

Action point: Information is available free from your local Jobcentre Plus or Social Security office. Welfare rights officers are employed by many local authorities. Some may also have a Disability Rights Centre.

Reference point: Special guides

After Age 16,What Next? Service and benefits for young disabled people by Alison Cowen.Available from Family Fund Trust.
Helpline: 0845 1304542 (Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00);
Textphone: (01904) 658085;
Website:www.familyfundtrust.org.uk.

A-Z of Welfare Benefits.
Available from MIND Publications.
Infoline: 0845 7660163 (Mon-Fri 9.15-17.15);
Website:www.mind.org.uk.

Benefits and Concessions for Registered Blind and Partially Sighted People.
Available from RNIB.
Tel: 0845 7023153;
Website:www.rnib.org.uk.

Directory of Social Change.
This is an organisation that publishes guides to possible sources of grants.
24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP.
Tel: (020) 7209 4949.

Disability Rights Handbook.
This reference guide on benefits and services is published annually by Disability Alliance.
Helpline: (020) 7247 8763 (Mon & Wed 14.00-16.00);
Website:www.disabilityalliance.org.

National Welfare Benefits Handbook.
Published by Child Poverty Action Group.
Tel: (020) 7837 7979; Fax orders to (0207) 837 2501.

• Family Fund Trust (opens new window)
• MIND (opens new window)
• Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) (opens new window)
• Disability Alliance (opens new window)