benefits

You may be eligible for certain benefits and allowances. The following are the main ones to which you may be entitled.

Housing benefit

Depending on your income and savings, you may be entitled to help with your rent. Please contact your local authority for further information and advice.

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Income Support

If you can't be available for full-time work and don't have enough money to live on, you may be able to get Income Support. Whether you qualify and how much you get depends on your circumstances. You may be able to get Income Support if you're aged 16 to 59 and any of the following apply:

• you're a lone parent
• you're registered sick or disabled
• you're a student and either a lone parent or disabled
• you're caring for someone who is sick and elderly.

and the following also apply:

• you don't have savings of £16,000 or more
• you're not working, or work on average less than 16 hours a week.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jobseeker's Allowance is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work or work less than 16 hours a week on average. If you're eligible, it is paid while you are looking for work.
 
To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be:

• available for and actively seeking work
• between 18 and State Pension age
• working less than 16 hours per week on average.

There are two types of Jobseeker's Allowance.

• Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Jobcentre Plus can pay this for up to 182 days. It's based on how much National Insurance you have paid in the last two tax years.
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. This is based on your income and savings. You may get this if you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions and you're on a low income.

Employment and Support Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support that is paid because of an illness or disability for new claimants from 27th October 2008. If you are already receiving Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to get it as long as you are eligible.
 
Employment and Support Allowance consists of two phases:

• the assessment phase rate is paid for the first 13 weeks of your claim while a decision is made on your capability for work through the Work Capability Assessment
• the main phase starts from week 14 of your claim, if the Work Capability Assessment shows that your illness or disability does limit your ability to work.

There are two groups within the main phase:

• Work Related Activity Group. If you are placed in the Work Related Activity Group, you will be expected to take part in work focused interviews with your personal adviser. You will get support to help you prepare for suitable work. In return, you will receive a work related activity component in addition to your basic rate
• Support Group. If you are placed in the Support Group because your illness or disability has a severe effect on your ability to work, you will not be expected to take part in any work. You can do so on a voluntary basis if you want. You will receive a support component in addition to your basic rate.

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Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living allowance is a tax-free benefit for adults and children who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.

You may get Disability Living Allowance if:

• you have a physical or mental disability, or both
• your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or you have walking difficulties, or both
• you are under 65 when you claim.

You can get Disability Living Allowance whether or not you work. It isn't usually affected by any savings or income you may have.

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Pension credit

If your income is below the minimum level set by the government you may be entitled to a Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. If you are entitled to this payment, you will automatically have entitlement to Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

You may also be entitled to some Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, if you are receiving Attendance Allowance or are caring for someone who is, even if your income is above the minimum level.

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Attendance allowance

You may be eligible for this allowance if you are 65 or over and have any health problems that affect you significantly in your everyday life.