Welfare Rights Advice
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Clients are welcome to seek advice and support about benefits to make sure that they maximise what is available to them. We are an alternative office for the Department of Work and Pensions.
This means that our care managers can complete any forms for you and can also verify financial documents that may be needed as proof to access a benefit claim. Clients find that this works well for them as they do not have to discuss financial matters with a stranger.
Guide to financial support for disabled people:
Main disability and sickness benefits:
Disability Living Allowance
This is a benefit you can get if you need help getting around and/or looking after yourself because you are ill, disabled or terminally ill. You must claim before you reach age 65.
Attendance Allowance
This is a tax-free benefit for people aged 65 or over who have an illness or disability and need help with personal care.
Employment and Support Allowance
If you cannot work because of illness or disability you may be able to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Employment and Support Allowance was introduced on 27 October 2008. It replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support, paid because of an illness or disability.
Incapacity Benefit
Incapacity Benefit and Income Support, paid because of an illness or disability, has been replaced with Employment and Support Allowance for new claimants only.
If you already receive Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to receive it.
Health and independent living
Direct payments - arranging your own care and services
If you have been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you may want to choose direct payments. They allow you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of receiving it directly from social services
Employment
Work schemes
'Access to Work' is one scheme that can provide you with practical support in work. This includes paying towards special equipment, or a support worker or help with the additional costs of travel to work for you if you are unable to use public transport.
There are a number of work schemes to help disabled people into employment.
Job Grant
You may be able to claim Job Grant when you take up full-time work. You must have been claiming certain benefits for at least 26 weeks before starting your new job; these include Incapacity Benefit and Income Support.
Your income - in or out of work
Working Tax Credit
If you are in work but on low pay, you can apply for Working Tax Credit to top-up your earnings. You may get extra if someone in your household is disable
Income Support
If you are aged between 16 and 60, on a low income, not working or working on average less than 16 hours a week you can claim Income Support. Income Support is affected by savings.
You may qualify for the Disability Premium, the Severe Disability Premium or the Enhanced Disability Premium.
You will also automatically qualify for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and may receive help towards health costs, such as prescriptions.
Blind person's allowance
The blind person's allowance allows you to receive an amount of income without having to pay tax. It is added to your personal tax allowance.
Families and disabled children
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is an allowance for parents and carers of children or young people who are still in full-time education. You may get extra if you care for a disabled child.
Disability Living Allowance
You can claim Disability Living Allowance for a child with a severe physical or mental illness or disability if they need much more help or looking after than other children of the same age
Home and housing
Council Tax
You may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax bill if your home has certain features that are essential to you living there - for example, if you have an extension for a downstairs bedroom. If it puts your property into a higher valuation banding, there may be a one-band reduction in your bill.
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are paid by local councils. If you are on a low income and paying rent claim Housing Benefit.
If you are on a low income and paying Council Tax, claim Council Tax Benefit.
Disabled Facilities Grants
A Disabled Facilities Grant is a local council grant to help towards the cost of essential adaptations to your home to enable you to continue to live there.
Television licence discount
If you are registered blind, you can get a 50 per cent discount on the cost of a TV licence.
Vehicles and transport
Blue Badge parking scheme
The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or as passengers.
The Motability Scheme
The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing or buying a car, powered wheelchair or scooter if you are getting the higher rate of the mobility component of Disabled Living Allowance.
The leasing or hiring of certain equipment and vehicles may qualify for Value Added Tax (VAT) 'relief'.
Vehicle tax exemption
You can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement.
Community and public transport
Dundee City Council operate a taxi scheme for people who are registered Blind. You will also be eligible for a bus pass and Disabled Persons Railcard if you are registered as Partially Sighted or Blind.
Caring for someone?
If you are caring for someone who is disabled, find out about financial and practical help for carers - including carer's assessments and Carer's Allowance
This information was taken from Directgov website and further information can be found about all benefits through the Directgov website: http://www.direct.gov.uk
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