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Benefits advice, help filling in forms and making appeals
We are an Alternative Office for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) which means we provide a welfare and benefits advice service, ensuring forms can be completed as quickly and accurately as possible. Documents can be verified by Carers Together staff and people can receive their maximum benefit entitlement as quickly as possible.
The service identifies and helps older people and carers who may have been overlooked in the past or may have otherwise been reluctant to claim benefits.
Benefits you may want to ask about:
Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Pensions credit, Employment and Support Allowance, the Universal Credit, Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Tax Credits and Bereavements Benefit.
To contact us for help with benefits please telephone: 01794 519495 or email: [email protected]
The service identifies and helps older people and carers who may have been overlooked in the past or may have otherwise been reluctant to claim benefits.
Benefits you may want to ask about:
Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Pensions credit, Employment and Support Allowance, the Universal Credit, Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Tax Credits and Bereavements Benefit.
To contact us for help with benefits please telephone: 01794 519495 or email: [email protected]
Benefits Calculator
Use an independent benefits calculator to find out:
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
- what benefits you could get
- how to claim
- how your benefits will be affected if you start work.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
Benefits for Carers
Carer's Allowance
You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.
For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
You can also contact us on: 01794 519495 for more information or a paper form to apply.
You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.
For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
You can also contact us on: 01794 519495 for more information or a paper form to apply.
Carer's Credit
You could get Carer's Credit if you're caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week.
Carer's Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in you National Insurance record.
Your State Pensions is based on your National Insurance record.
For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/carers-credit
You could get Carer's Credit if you're caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week.
Carer's Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in you National Insurance record.
Your State Pensions is based on your National Insurance record.
For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/carers-credit
Become an appointee for someone claiming benefits
You can apply for the right to deal with the benefits of someone who can't manage their own affairs because they're mentally incapable or severely disabled.
Only 1 appointee can act on behalf of someone who is entitled to benefits (the claimant) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
An appointee can be:
As an appointee you're responsible for making and maintaining any benefit claims. You must:
You can apply for the right to deal with the benefits of someone who can't manage their own affairs because they're mentally incapable or severely disabled.
Only 1 appointee can act on behalf of someone who is entitled to benefits (the claimant) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
An appointee can be:
- an individual, eg a friend or relative
- an organisation or representative of an organisation, e.g. a solicitor or local council
As an appointee you're responsible for making and maintaining any benefit claims. You must:
- sign the benefit claim form
- tell the benefit office about any changes which affect how much the claimant gets
- spend the benefit (which is paid directly to you) in the claimant’s best interests
- tell the benefit office if you stop being the appointee e.g. the claimant can now manage their own affairs
Benefits for people over 65 years of ageAttendance Allowance
You could get £61.85 or £92.40 a week to help with personal care because you're physically or mentally disabled and you're aged 65 or over. For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance You can also contact us on: 01794 519495 for more information or a paper form to apply. Pension Credit Calculator
Estimate how much Pension Credit you could get. You'll need details of:
Who can't use the calculator? You can't use the calculator if you or your partner:
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is an income-related benefit made up of 2 parts - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it's below £182.60 (for single people) or £278.70 (for couples). Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved money towards their retirement, e.g. a pension. For more information and to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/pension-credit Winter Fuel Payment
You could get between £200 and £300 tax-free to help pay your heating bills if you were born on or before 5 May 1953. This is known as a "Winter Fuel Payment". For more information visit: www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment |
Benefits for the Service UserDisability Living Allowance (DLA) for children under the age of 16
DLA for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:
The DLA rate is between £24.45 and £156.90 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs. For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children You can also contact us on: 01794 519495 for more information or a paper form to apply. Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability if you're aged 16 to 64. You could get between £24.45 and £156.90 a week. The rate depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself. You'll need an assessment to work out the level of help you get. Your rate will be regularly reassessed to make sure you're getting the right support. For more information and to apply visit: www.gov.uk/pip Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
You might get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if you became ill or are disabled because of an accident or disease either:
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you're ill or disabled, ESA offers you:
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance |
Financial help if you're disabled
There is a wide range of disability-related financial support, including benefits, tax credits, payments, grants and concessions.
The main disability and sickness benefits are:
If you’re disabled you can apply for the following:
If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you can get:
Help if you’re employed
You may be able to:
You don’t have to pay VAT on certain goods and services if they’re just for your own use and you’re disabled or have a long term illness.
Armed forces compensation
You may be able to get compensation if you’ve been injured or disabled while serving in the armed forces.
The main disability and sickness benefits are:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’re disabled as a result of work
- Constant Attendance Allowance if you need daily care and attention because of a disability
If you’re disabled you can apply for the following:
- exemption from paying vehicle tax
- parking benefits - Blue Badge
- disabled persons bus pass or railcard
- help to buy or lease a car from The Motability Scheme
If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you can get:
- Direct payments - allowing you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of getting it directly from social services
- Disabled Facilities Grants - which is money towards the costs of home adaptations to enable you to continue living there
Help if you’re employed
You may be able to:
- top up a low salary by claiming Income Support or Working Tax Credit, for example
- get an Access to Work grant to help with the cost of travel or special equipment at work
You don’t have to pay VAT on certain goods and services if they’re just for your own use and you’re disabled or have a long term illness.
Armed forces compensation
You may be able to get compensation if you’ve been injured or disabled while serving in the armed forces.
General Benefits
Benefit Cap
There's a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called the benefit cap.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/benefit-cap
There's a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called the benefit cap.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/benefit-cap
Bereavement Allowance
You might be able to claim Bereavement Allowance (previously known as Widow's Pension) if you're widowed between 45 and State Pension age. You can get it for up to 52 weeks from the date your husband, wife or civil partner died. If your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be eligible for Bereavement Support Payment instead.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/bereavement-allowance
You might be able to claim Bereavement Allowance (previously known as Widow's Pension) if you're widowed between 45 and State Pension age. You can get it for up to 52 weeks from the date your husband, wife or civil partner died. If your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be eligible for Bereavement Support Payment instead.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/bereavement-allowance
Bereavement Payment
You may be able to get a £2000 Bereavement Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017. This is a one-off, tax-free, lump-sum payment.
If your spouse or partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be able eligible for Bereavement Support Payment instead.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/bereavement-payment
You may be able to get a £2000 Bereavement Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017. This is a one-off, tax-free, lump-sum payment.
If your spouse or partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be able eligible for Bereavement Support Payment instead.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/bereavement-payment
Bereavement Support Payment
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017.
You could be eligible if your partner either paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks or died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.
When they died you must have been under State Pension age and living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits. You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you're in prison.
You'll get a first payment and then up to 18 monthly payments. There are 2 rates:
Rate First payment Monthly payment
Higher rate £3,500 £350
Lower rate £2,500 £100
If you get Child Benefit (or if you do not get it but are entitled to it), you'll get the higher rate.
If you do not get Child Benefit, you'll get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your husband, wife or civil partner died.
You must clam within 3 months of your husband, wife or civil partner's death to get the full amount.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017.
You could be eligible if your partner either paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks or died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.
When they died you must have been under State Pension age and living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits. You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you're in prison.
You'll get a first payment and then up to 18 monthly payments. There are 2 rates:
Rate First payment Monthly payment
Higher rate £3,500 £350
Lower rate £2,500 £100
If you get Child Benefit (or if you do not get it but are entitled to it), you'll get the higher rate.
If you do not get Child Benefit, you'll get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your husband, wife or civil partner died.
You must clam within 3 months of your husband, wife or civil partner's death to get the full amount.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
Child Tax Credit
You could get Child Tax Credit for each child you're responsible for if they're:
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit
You could get Child Tax Credit for each child you're responsible for if they're:
- under 16
- under 20 and in eligible education or training
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit
Cold Weather Payment
You may get Cold Weather Payment if you're getting certain benefits. You'll get a payment if the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celcius or below for 7 consecutive days.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment
You may get Cold Weather Payment if you're getting certain benefits. You'll get a payment if the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celcius or below for 7 consecutive days.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment
Funeral Payments
You could get a funeral payment if you're on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you're arranging. How much you get depends on you circumstances and if you qualify.
For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
You can also contact us on: 01794 519495 for more information or a paper form to apply.
You could get a funeral payment if you're on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you're arranging. How much you get depends on you circumstances and if you qualify.
For more information or to apply online visit: www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
You can also contact us on: 01794 519495 for more information or a paper form to apply.
Housing Benefit
You could get Housing Benefit to help you pay your rent if you're on a low income. Housing Benefit can pay for part or all of your rent. How much you get depends on your circumstances. You can apply for Housing Benefit whether you're unemployed or working.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/housing-benefit
You could get Housing Benefit to help you pay your rent if you're on a low income. Housing Benefit can pay for part or all of your rent. How much you get depends on your circumstances. You can apply for Housing Benefit whether you're unemployed or working.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/housing-benefit
Income Support
You may be able to get income support if you meet all the eligibility criteria. The actual amount you get depends on your circumstances, but if you qualify and have no income you'll get at least £61.05 a week.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/income-support
You may be able to get income support if you meet all the eligibility criteria. The actual amount you get depends on your circumstances, but if you qualify and have no income you'll get at least £61.05 a week.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/income-support
Universal Credit
You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you're on a low income or out of work.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/universal-credit
You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you're on a low income or out of work.
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Working Tax Credit
You could get Working Tax Credit if either of the following apply:
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit
You could get Working Tax Credit if either of the following apply:
- you’re aged from 16 to 24 and have a child or a qualifying disability
- you’re 25 or over, with or without children
- work a certain number of hours a week
- get paid for the work you do (or expect to)
- have an income below a certain level
For more information visit: www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit