What are you entitled to? (Part 2)

16 May 2008

If you’re having problems managing your debts, you’d undoubtedly find it easier if you could increase your disposable income: raising your income, lowering your expenditure, or both.

Of course, wages aren’t the only form of income, but far too many people aren’t aware of what they’re entitled to. The government estimates that billions of pounds in benefits are going unclaimed across the UK.

Here are just some of the benefits available to UK citizens. Are you entitled to any?*

Income Support
If you’re aged 16 - 59, unable to work full time, and struggling because you don’t have enough money to live on, you may be eligible for Income Support if:

1. you are a single parent
2. you are registered sick or disabled
3. you are caring for someone who’s sick or elderly, or
4. you or your partner are not working because you’re sick or on parental leave

...unless you have savings of £16,000 or more.

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
If you’re employed but off sick, you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (unless your company has its own sick pay scheme). You can get SSP if you:

1. are sick for at least four days in a row (including weekends and bank holidays)
2. are earning at least £90 a week on average, and
3. inform your employer within seven days of becoming sick.

Incapacity Benefit
No longer able to work (because of illness or disability) but too young to retire? You may be eligible for Incapacity Benefit, if you:

1. can’t get Statutory Sick Pay, or have come to the end of it
2. are self employed or unemployed, or
3. have been receiving Statutory Maternity Pay and cannot go back to work.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
If you have a physical or mental disability, you may qualify for Disability Living Allowance if you need help with personal care or have difficulty walking. You can receive DLA whether or not you are employed – it isn’t normally affected by the income you receive or any savings you have.

Note that you must be under 65: if you are over this age, you may quality for Attendance Allowance.

Community Care Grant
You may qualify for a Community Care Grant if:

1. you’re moving out of care (residential or institutional) to live independently
2. an organisation is resettling you in a new home
3. you need help to stay in your home, rather than going into care or hospital
4. you look after someone who’s ill, disabled or temporarily released from custody
5. you need financial help – to go to a relative’s funeral, for example, or visit someone who is sick, or
6. you or your family are under ‘exceptional pressure’ (such as family breakdown or a long-term illness)

...but only if you’re already getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit – or likely to move out of care in the next 6 weeks and start getting one of them.

* See the Money, tax and benefits pages on the Directgov website for more on benefits – including information on whether you’re eligible and how to claim.

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