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The Disability and Carers service is part of the Pension, Disability and Carers Service at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This provides financial support for disabled people and carers.
Please note this information is correct at the time of going to press. The Conservative/Liberal Democrat Coalition Government is currently reviewing options regarding the future shape of the benefits system. Information on this site will be updated as and when available.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
(Source: Directgov)
DLA is “a tax-free benefit for children and adults who need someone to help look after them, have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.”
You may be eligible for DLA if you have a physical disability (including a sensory disability, such as blindness) or mental disability (including learning disabilities), or both;
If you are under 65 if you claim; if your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety, or you have walking difficulties, or both;
In most cases, you must have had this disability for at least three months, and they are likely to continue for at least another six months;
There are special conditions for claiming for those people who are terminally ill: if the claimant has a progressive disease and is not expected to live for more than six months, there is a different application process to make sure benefits are received more quickly.
People over the age of 65 may be eligible for Attendance Allowance.
Claiming for DLA is not affected by any savings or income, or by your employment situation.
The benefit comprises two separate parts, called ‘components’:
- The ‘care’ component: if you need help looking after yourself or supervision to keep you safe;
- The ‘mobility’ component: if you can’t walk or find it very hard to walk, or you need help getting around.
Some people are eligible for both components, others just one form.
Disability Living Allowance can be paid into an account of your choice, as long as it accepts Direct Payment of benefits. This can be a bank, building society or other account provider. Alternatively, you may be able to get someone else to collect your Disability Living Allowance if you wish. For help with this please contact your bank, building society or other account provider.
Claiming DLA may increase the amount of money you are entitled to through other benefits, for example Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Council Tax Benefit. DLA is usually ignored as income when assessing other income-related benefits.
Claims can be made online or through ordering a claim pack. Claim packs can be obtained by phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line or downloading the form from www.direct.gov.uk
Changing circumstances can affect the amount of Disability Living Allowance you receive, or whether you get it.
Blind Person’s Allowance
(Source: Directgov)
If you’re certified blind and are on a local authority register of blind persons, or if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland and are unable to perform any work for which eyesight is essential, you can claim Blind Person’s Allowance. If you can’t use up some or all of your allowance you may be able to transfer it
Blind Person’s Allowance is added to your tax-free Personal Allowance – so is an extra amount of income you can get each year without paying tax. If you are on a low income or even if you don’t pay any tax you may be able to transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner – see the section on transferring below.
Blind Person’s Allowance for the tax year 2010-11 is £1,890 – there are no age or income restrictions. So if, for example, you’re 58, registered blind with your local authority and have:
- an annual salary of £10,000;
- a Personal Allowance of £6,475;
- Blind Person’s Allowance of £1,890;
- You only need to pay tax on £1,635 (£10,000 less the sum of £6,475 and £1,890).
If both you and your spouse or civil partner qualify for Blind Person’s Allowance you can each get an allowance.
If you think you may be able to claim Blind Person’s Allowance contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on their priority telephone number 0845 366 7887. Lines are open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, Saturday.
Job Grant
(Source: Directgov)
Job Grant is a one-off tax-free payment when you or your partner or civil partner start work and stop getting benefits.
You can claim Job Grant if you take up full-time work (at least 16 hours a week) and you expect the work to last for at least five weeks. You must also have been claiming one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks before starting your new job:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance;
- Income Support;
- Employment and Support Allowance;
- Incapacity Benefit;
- Severe Disablement Allowance;
- Jobcentre Plus/New Deal Allowance payments where the allowance is based on Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, or Severe Disablement Allowance;
- Employment Zone payments where the allowance is based on Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You may also get Job Grant if your partner or civil partner starts working at least 24 hours a week, and as a result – your benefit stops.
Equal Opportunity Employers
