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A guide to benefits; please read before posting.
Comments
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widowed Parent's Allowance
A payment made weekly £97.65 for bereaved parents with at least one dependent child.
Dependent on NICs made by the late spouse or civil partner [unless death caused by industrial accident or disease].
You must be under the pensionable age at time of spouse or civil partner's death.
Counts as income for means tested benefits with a £10 or £15 per week disregard.
The payments stop if you marry again or cohabit.
When you no longer have a dependent child your entitlement to widowed parent's allowance ends unless it is within 52 weeks of your spouses's or civil partner's death and you will be entitiled to the allowance for the remainder of the 52 weeks period following their death.
It can be backdated for 3 months.
How to claim
You can order a Bereavement Benefits claim pack, form BB1 over the telephone from your nearest Jobcentre Plus office. The pack also has help notes on how to complete the claim form. Download a claim form to print off and fill in
You can also download the form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website. Once you’ve completed the form, send it to your nearest Jobcentre Plus office as soon as possible.
More information0 -
Bereavement Allowance
A weekly allowance payable for 52 weeks.
You do not have to have dependent children.
You need to be at least 45 and under the pensionable age.
Dependent on NICs made by the late spouse or civil partner [unless death caused by industrial accident or disease].
It ceases if you remarry or cohabit under pensionable age.
Weekly Rates
Your age at your partner or civil partner's death
Maximum weekly rate (2010-2011)45 years old
£29.30
46 years old
£36.13
47 years old
£42.97
48 years old
£49.80
49 years old
£56.64
50 years old
£63.47
51 years old
£70.31
52 years old
£77.14
53 years old
£83.98
54 years old
£90.81
55 years old to State Pension age
£97.65
Source
Counted as income for means tested benefits and tax credits.
Can only be backpaid for up to 3 months.
How to claim
You can order a Bereavement Benefits claim pack, Form BB1 over the telephone from your nearest Jobcentre Plus office. The pack also has help notes on how to complete the claim form. Download a claim form to print off and fill in
You can also download the form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website. More information0 -
Statutory Sickness pay
SSP is paid to employees for up to 28 weeks in any period of illness lasting 4 days or more.
£79.15 paid weekly.
Employer pays this when you are unable to do your usual duties through illness.
You must have earnt at least £97.00 a week (2010/11).
If you are not entitled to SSP you could claim ESA.
SSP is non-contributory.
Counted as income for means tested benefits and tax credits [not HB/LHA/CTB].
It counts as earnings disregards for HB/LHA/CTB.
It is an overlapping benefit.
How to claim
Contact your employer with evidence of illness.
More information0 -
Help with health costs
If you're on IS, IBJSA, IBESA, guarantee PC or living in a care home funded by social services you will automatically be entitled to full help with health costs [1-5].
If you're on TC and are recieiving CTC or CTC and WTC or WTC with a disabilty element, and your gross household income is below £15,276 a year you will get help with health costs [1-5].
Low income scheme
If you do not get any of the benefits mentioned above but you're on a low income you could get some help with health costs/
Your savings must be below £16000 [England and Scotland] £19000 [Wales], or £21500 if living in a care home [England and Scotland] £22000 [Wales].
You could get help with;
1) free prescriptions [if you do not qualify then consider the pre-payment certificate]
2) Help with NHS dental costs including check-ups.
3) Eye sight tests
4) Vouchers for glasses [usually will not cover full cost of glasses though check with optician how much you will need to top it up].
5) Hospital fares [claim costs back from hospital reception, though it will have to be the cheapest mode of transport, it is wise to check with hospital prior travel to endure they have sufficient funds available]
How to claim
HC1 form from your GP, dentist, optician or chemist.
If you qualify you will get an HC2 certificate automatically or an HC3 [part funded] certificate.
More information call 0845 850 1166
Extra by Claire111
Anyone in receipt of an NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate (looks like a credit card) can take this to the cashiers office in the hospital at the time of their appointment and be immediately refunded mileage/travel costs and any car parking costs incurred. The mileage is determined by the local PCT and in my experience has varied between 10p and 15p a mile depending on each individual PCT. If you use public transport just submit the receipts. I have been asked for proof of ID/address sometimes too, so take that if you can. You can claim for your childrens appointments too. If the cashiers office is closed, or you forget, you can claim up to 3 months in arrears by completeting form HC5(T) available by phoning 0845 850 1166.0 -
Free school meals England/Wales
Who is entitled?
Free school meals are not provided automatically. Free school meals can be given if you fall into one of the following categories:
· you receive Income Support
· you receive Job Seeker's Allowance (income-based)
· you receive Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
· you get support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
· you receive the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit
· you are entitled to Child Tax Credit, you do not get Working Tax Credit and your family's annual income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) is not more than £16,190. Anyone receiving Working Tax Credit is not entitled to free school meals regardless of their income unless you have become unemployed in which case free meals can be granted for a four week period only.
How do I apply?
Contact your local education authority or contact Childs’ school.
Free school meals Scotland
Free school meals can be claimed if parents/carers are receiving any one of the following:-
Income Support (which includes Guarantee Pension Credit); or
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Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance; or
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Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance; or
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Child Tax Credit, but not in receipt of Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,040 (as assessed by the Inland Revenue); or
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Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and an income below £6,420 (as assessed by the Inland Revenue).
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Pupils who are 16 – 18 yrs old and receive any of these benefits in their own right can then claim for themselves.
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Asylum seekers receiving support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 are also eligible for free school meals
Contact your local education authority or contact Childs’ school.
Clothing grant school
What is a clothing grant?
A clothing grant is assistance toward the cost of school clothing and footwear.
Who can claim?
Families with children of compulsory school age who are in receipt of
· Income Support,
· Income Based Job Seekers,
· Guaranteed Element of State Pension Allowance,
· Income Related Employment Support Allowance
· Child Tax Credit only, with an income less than £16,190.00 should qualify for a school clothing grant for their child/children. Please provide evidence of benefit entitlement.
· Families who are in receipt of Working Tax Credit with an income less than £16,190.00 should qualify for a School Clothing Grant for their child/children provided a copy of the Tax Award Notice as issued by the Inland Revenue is attached.
· Self-employed persons should provide either an accountant's letter stating the recent figures submitted to the Inland Revenue or if you prepare your own accounts, a letter from the tax office.
How do I apply?
Contact your local education authority or contact Childs’ school.*SIGH*
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Written by Seven-day-weekend
Benefits Abroad.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]I must stress that here I am talking about UK Benefits that can be taken abroad when moving PERMANENTLY to the EU as the rules can be different if you are only on a temporary visit or moving to countries outside the EU.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]There are several UK Benefits that can be taken whilst living abroad in an EU country. For the purpose of this guide, EU refers to the following countries:[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. EEA: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein. Others: Gibraltar, Switzerland. [/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Basic State Pension can be taken anywhere in the world, but some countries do not get yearly rises; however all the EU countries above do.[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Contact :http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensions...sion/DG_180132[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Incapacity Benefit/Contributions-based ESA[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]This can be exported to the EU,but you must have qualified for it before you left the UK and continue to meet the criteria. You will still be sent the questionnaires for IB and still be expected to attend a medical in the country of residence (with an English-speaking Doctor approved by the DWP) . It is not clear as yet how the requirements for ESA will be fulfilled.[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]If you are on IB or ESA you will be fully covered for the healthcare of the country you live in. You will be given Form E121 by the DWP,( you may need to ask for this); you need to register this with the Social services in the country you live in. You will not be able to access the British NHS other than for accidents/emergencies/illnesses sustained whilst you are actually in the UK. Any dependents will also be covered.[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Contact International Pension Centre : Employment and Support Allowance +44 191 218 7117 [/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Incapacity Benefit +44 191 218 7644 [/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]:[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Disability Living Allowance./Attendance Allowance/Carers' Allowance[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]The European Court of Justice decided in October 2007 that certain UK disability benefits can be paid to some people living abroad. . The decision affects:[/FONT]- [FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Disability Living Allowance (care component only) [/FONT]
- [FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Attendance Allowance [/FONT]
- [FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Carer's Allowance[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Winter Fuel Allowance is payable abroad providing you had already qualified for it in the UK. If you reach the qualifying age after you have moved abroad, you will not be eligible for this.[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Contact for more information:[/FONT]
- [FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Winter Fuel Payments Helpline [/FONT]
- [FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Phone number[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]0845 915 1515 [/FONT] - [FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Text phone[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]0845 601 5613 [/FONT] - [FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Opening Hours[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm [/FONT]
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Severe Disablement Allowance
Paid if you are unable to work due to a disabilty or illness.
It was abolished for new claimants 1n 2001.
If a claimant was under the age of 20 on 5th April 2001 they should be on IB long term rate.
If they were 20 or older then they would continue to get SDA as long as they meet the conditions and remain incapable of work.
Weekly rate - £59.45
plau an age related addition paid;
£15.00 before age of 40
£8.40 before age of 50
£5.45 before age of 60.
An extra premium may be made to a adult dependent.
It counts in full as income for means tested benefits but disregarded for tax credits.
Ovelapping benefit
What to do if your circumstances change
It is important that you contact your Jobcentre if your circumstances change. For example if:- you do any work including voluntary work
- you start training and get a training allowance
- you change your address
- you have been in hospital for 52 weeks and part of your benefit is paid for another adult or child
- you go abroad
If you go abroad temporarily or permanently you may be entitled to some form of Severe Disablement Allowance overseas. For more information, contact your local Jobcentre.
More information0 -
Benefits in hospital
Refers to inpatients in NHS funded care
As long as you satisfy the conditions of entitlements you can continue to claim;
SP
IB
SDA
MA
SMP
SPP
Statutory Adoption Pay
SSP.
JSA
Can claim for up to 2 weeks.
2 periods in hospital are allowed in a year.
If you are no longer entitled to JSA you could claim ESA.
ESA
If you get CBESA you will get the basic allowance only after 52 weeks/
If you get IBESA you may be paid in full for 52 weeks
If you recieve the SDP, it will stop when your entitlement to DLA stops.
If you are part of a couple the SDP continues to be paid at the single person's rate if one or both of you are in hospital.
IS and PC
Paid in full for 52 weeks.
SDP will stop when your AA/DLA entitlement ends.
If you are part of a couple the SDP continues to be paid at the single person's rate if one or both of you are in hospital.
If you are a member of a couple you will have to claim seperately if you are likely to be seperated for more than 52 weeks.
Your IS will cease to include the disabilty premium, enhanced disabilty premium or higher pensioner premium after 52 weeks of being in hospital.
AA and DLA
Can be paid up to 28 days.
A mobilty agreement to your DLA is continued to be paid whilst you are an inpatient.
Seperate stays are added together when calculating how long you have been in hospital unless seperated by 29 days or more out of hospital.
The day you go into hospital and the day your sre discharged are counted as days out of hospital.
Payment of DLA/AA are only suspended if you are in hospital longer than 28 days.
You need to contact the DWP when you come out of hospital to resume payment.
DLA for under 16s
Stops after the child has been in hospital for 12 weeks.
Applies to both care and mobility components.
If htere is a mobility agreement in place then this will continue to be paid whilst the child is in hospital.
CA
Stops when AA/DLA care component is suspended for the person you care for.
You need to contact the CA unit when the person you care for goes into and is discharged from hospital.
The carer premium0 -
by seven-day-weekend
Habitual Residency Test for Returning Expats
If you have lived abroad and then return to the UK, and need to claim State Benefits then you will need to pass the Habitual Residency Test.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]This involves proving that you intend to remain in the UK permanently for the forseeable future. This can be done by having a rental contract or mortgage offer, bank accounts, registering with a Doctor and Dentist, name on Electoral Roll etc. If you have maintained links with the UK whilst you've been abroad, such as registering as a non-resident voter, retaining a UK address or Bank Account etc, this will all count in your favour as it shows an intent to return.[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]It is possible for returning British Citizens to fail the HRT; I know someone it has happened to and he is not entitled to any Benefits as he has failed to convince the authorities that he is in the UK to stay.
http://www.multikulti.org.uk/habitua...ish/index.html[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]You will need to register with a NHS Doctor to receive [/FONT][FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]NHS Healthcare.[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]See the link below for further information.[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, cursive]http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/DG_4000140[/FONT]0 -
Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
In order to claim JSA, you must be:
* Available for full time work (although some groups, such as lone parents and the disabled, may limit their availability),
* Able to work, and
* Actively seeking work
JSA may be awarded as a result of the claimant having paid sufficient NI Contributions (CB JSA) and/ or due to being on a low income (IB JSA).
In order to claim CB JSA you must have paid sufficient Class 1 NI Contributions in the relevant tax years (currently £2175 for 07/ 08 and £2250 for 08/ 09). Class 1 Contributions are paid by those in employment. CB JSA does not take into account other household income or savings/ capital, however it is only payable for up to 26 weeks.
IB JSA may be claimed if your household income is below the minimum amount that the government say you can live off. Savings over £6,000 will lower your entitlement to IB JSA, and savings over £16,000 will mean that entitlement to IB JSA will cease. However, you may still sign on for NI Credits (which will count towards your pension entitlement).
JSA Rates
Single people, aged under 25 £51.85
Single people, aged 25 or over £65.45
Couples and civil partnerships (both aged 18 or over) £102.75
Lone parent (aged under 18) £51.85
Lone parent (aged 18 or over) £65.45
JSA Disregards
It is possible to claim JSA whilst working less than sixteen hours. However, anything that you earn (minus the relevant disregard) will be deducted from your JSA. The weekly disregards are:
Single person £5
Joint claim £10
Disabled claimants and lone parents £20
JSA and Holidays
You are entitled to two weeks holiday within the UK whilst on JSA. If you wish to travel outside the UK, you must suspend your JSA claim and make a rapid reclaim when you return.
Should your JSA claim be suspended, your local authority will be informed and your LHA/ HB claim could also be suspended. To avoid this happening, you should also notify the LA that you are going away (you will still be able to claim LHA/ HB during short absences from the UK).
JSA and Under 18’s
It is not usually possible to claim JSA if you are under 18. There is an exception to this where the claimant is deemed to be in extreme hardship.
JSA Links
Direct
Decision Makers Guide
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