Directgov information on financial support for disabled people and their carers
CAB Guide to Benefits Citizens Advice Bureau guides to benefits for people with disabilities
DIAL information and advice services run by and for disabled people
Disability Alliance information on disabililty benefits and services
Jobcentreplus Guide to Benefits a guide for disabled people, those with health conditions and carers
Statutory Sick Pay
This is an income replacement benefit for people who are away from work because of illness but who are employed. It is paid for up to 28 weeks. The client qualifies for Statutory Sick Pay if s/he is too ill to work and is an employee who normally pays national insurance contributions. The employer usually pays Statutory Sick Pay.
If an employer refuses to pay, the client should get advice about this. Statutory Sick Pay cannot be paid at the same time and to the same person as any other income replacement benefit.
Department of Work and Pensions - Statutory Sick Pay
CAB Guide to Statutory Sick Pay
Incapacity Benefit (contribution-based).
This is an income replacement benefit for people of working age (16-60/65) who cannot work because of illness or disability and who cannot get Statutory Sick Pay (e.g. because they are not employed or because entitlement has run out). If the client is employed and has been sick for less than 28 weeks, s/he may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay rather than Incapacity Benefit.
Incapacity Benefit is paid at one of three rates:
To get this benefit, the client must be accepted as being incapable of work. This is decided by two tests of incapacity and can be a complex procedure. The client may wish to get specialist advice about this.
There are detailed rules allowing some people to keep their Incapacity Benefit in full whilst doing a limited amount of work. Unless these rules apply, the client will not be entitled to Incapacity Benefit if s/he starts work, so s/he will need to check this out first. Incapacity Benefit (contribution-based) cannot be paid at the same time and to the same person as any other income replacement benefit.
Incapacity Benefit (non-contributory)
This is an income replacement benefit for people of working age (16-60/65) who are too ill to work. If the client does not have sufficient national insurance contributions for Incapacity Benefit (contribution-based) and is not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay, s/he qualifies for Incapacity Benefit (non-contributory) provided:
Incapacity Benefit (non-contributory) is paid at one of three rates:
To get this benefit, the client must be accepted as being incapable of work. This is decided by two tests of incapacity and can be a complex procedure. There are detailed rules allowing some people to keep their Incapacity Benefit in full whilst doing a limited amount of work. Except where these rules apply, the client will not be entitled to Incapacity Benefit if s/he starts work, so s/he will need to check this out first.Incapacity Benefit (non-contributory) cannot be paid at the same time and to the same person as any other income replacement benefit.
Jobcentreplus 'A Guide to Incapacity Benefit'
CAB Guide to Incapacity Benefit
Severe Disablement Allowance
This benefit was abolished for new claimants on 6th April 2001, however certain people who were entitled to it before that date can continue to receive it. It was an income replacement benefit for certain people who were incapable of work but had insufficient national insurance contributions, it has been replaced for new claimants after April 2001 by Incapacity Benefit (Non-contributory).
Jobcentreplus Severe Disablement Allowance
CAB Severe Disablement Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
This is an extra costs benefit for people with care and/or mobility needs which arise before the age of 65 and who make a claim before age 65. Provided the claim is made before the age of 65, benefit can continue to be paid after age 65. If the client is over 65 and has not claimed Disability Living Allowance, s/he may be able to claim Attendance Allowance. Disability Living Allowance is made up of two components: the care component (3 rates) and the mobility component (2 rates).
The client qualifies for the care component if, because of a disability, s/he reasonably requires a certain level of supervision or care during the day and/or night or if s/he cannot prepare a cooked main meal for one. S/he does not have to be receiving care or supervision. S/he simply needs to show that, because of a disability, it is reasonably required. The rate of benefit depends on the level of care required. The client qualifies for the mobility component if s/he needs guidance or supervision when walking outside in unfamiliar places (lower rate) or if s/he cannot walk at all or if s/he has a certain level of difficulty when walking (higher rate). There is a lengthy claim form to complete and people may find it useful to have help with it.
Directgov Disability Living Allowance
CAB Disability Living Allowance
Motability Scheme
This scheme is a charity which helps people who receive higher rate DLA mobility component for a period of 12 months or more to lease or buy a car.
Attendance Allowance
This is an extra costs benefit for people with care needs whose needs arise after age 65 or who are claiming for the first time in respect of care needs when aged 65 or over. If the client currently receives Disability Living Allowance or is under 65 see Disability Living Allowance. The client qualifies for Attendance Allowance if, because of a disability, s/he reasonably requires a certain level of supervision or care during the day and/or night. S/he simply needs to show that, because of a disability, it is reasonably required. There are 2 rates of Attendance Allowance. There is a lengthy claim form to complete and people may find it useful to have help with it.
Directgov Attendance Allowance
Industrial Injuries Benefits
These compensate for a job-related illness or disability. To qualify the client must have been employed and have a disability caused by an accident/disease at work.
Disablement Benefit is the main Industrial Injuries Benefit and is paid at a variety of rates depending on the level of disablement. If the client receives Disablement Benefit s/he might also be entitled to additions to this benefit: Constant Attendance Allowance and/or Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance.
Reduced Earnings Allowance is payable if the disablement was the result of an accident/disease at work prior to October 1990 and this has reduced the client’s earning capacity. Generally it is only available to people of working age. When the client reaches pensionable age, it is usually replaced by Retirement Allowance.
Jobcentreplus Industrial Injuries Benefits
Benefits and Hospital In-patients
Entitlement to benefits such as DLA,AA, Carer’s Allowance and the disability-related premiums for means-tested benefits can be affected after 4,12 or 52 weeks as an inpatient, depending on the benefits in payment.
Department of Work and Pensions In Hospital
Benefits and Residential Care
Most benefits are payable as normal when someone is residing permanently in a care home, however the following benefits may be affected or cease to be payable where at least part of the cost of the residential care is being funded through the local authority:
Devon County Council Charges for Services
The Pension Service Going into a Care Home
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