Attendance Allowance (AA)
Council Tax Benefit
Debt
Disability Living Allowance
(DLA)
Disabled Person's Tax Credit
(DPTC)
Disablement Income Group Legal
Aid
Health Costs, Dental
Treatment & Spectacles
Housing Benefit
Incapacity Benefit (IB)
Income Support
Independent Living Fund
(ILF)
Industrial Injuries Benefit
Invalid Care Allowance (ICA)
Legal Aid
Vehicle Excise Duty
Exemption
It is important to
claim all benefits which are available to you. Since we
can only provide you with brief general information, we
suggest you contact any of the Disability Advice
Services, the Department of Work
and Pensions or
your Social Worker who will all be able to help you.
ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE (AA)
This is a benefit paid to people who need supervision or
help with personal care and who are aged 65 years or
over. There are two rates of payment - a higher and a
lower rate dependent upon whether the help is required
for 24 hours per day or only part of the day. Your income
and savings are not taken into account when calculating
this benefit. This benefit may also entitle you to extra
help with Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax
Benefit.
COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT
This is a benefit available
to owner-occupiers and tenants (Council or private) who
are either in receipt of Income Support or have a low
income/earnings and less than £16,000 in savings. For
details contact your local council.
DEBT
Citizens Advice Bureaux
have advisers who can help people with money problems.
For further information contact your local CAB office. There are also independent money advisors
who may be able to help.
DISABILITY LIVING
ALLOWANCE (DLA)
This is a benefit divided into two parts. The first part
is paid to people over the age of 3 years but under 65
years of age who have difficulty walking or are unable to
walk. This part is called Mobility Component. There are
two rates of Mobility Component - a higher and a lower
rate.
The second part is
paid to people who need help or supervision with personal
care. There is no lower age limit but it must be claimed
before the 65th birthday (for people over 65 years of age
see Attendance Allowance). This part is called Care Component. There
are three rates of Care Component.
Your income and
savings are not taken into account when calculating this
benefit.
DISABLED PERSON'S TAX
CREDIT (DPTC)
This is a tax-free benefit for low-paid workers with a
disability who work full time ie. 16 hours per week or
more). It is a top-up benefit to encourage people to
return to or take up work. If you qualify for this
benefit, you will also have access to maternity and
funeral payments fron the Social Fund.
HEALTH COSTS, DENTAL
TREATMENT & GLASSES
Many people automatically
qualify for help with NHS charges because of their age.
Those on Income Support will receive automatic
assistance, as will their families. However, those on a
low income may still be able to get help with all or part
of their costs by filling in Form HC1 from the DSS,
dentists, doctors, hospitals, opticians, Post Office etc.
(you may already have a valid DSS exemption certificate
HC2). There are a few medical conditions which entitle
you to free prescriptions. DSS leaflet P11 gives you
further information. However, if you would like help or
assistance please contact your local Advice Agency or
Community Health Council.
HOUSING BENEFIT
This is an income related
benefit available to tenants (Council, Housing
Association or private) who are either on Income Support
or have a low income and have less than £16,000 in
savings. For details contact your local council.
INCAPACITY BENEFIT (IB)
This benefit is paid to people who are sick and no longer
able to work. It is paid at three rates and depends on
the National Insurance contributions you have made.
INCOME SUPPORT
This is a benefit which
takes your savings and income into account. It is
available if you work less than 16 hours each week and
have less than £8,000 savings. Income Support gives
claimants access to payments from the Social Fund which
covers loans, community care grants and cold weather
payments, funeral and maternity payments. You also
qualify for free dental treatment, eye tests and glasses,
hospital fares and free school meals.
INDEPEDENT LIVING FUND
(ILF)
Government financed Trust
which works closely with Social Services to support
disabled people by helping them live at home instead of
in residential care. For details contact Social Services or the ILF directly at PO BOX 183,
Nottingham NG8 3RD. Tel: 0115 942 8191 or 0115 942 8192.
INDUSTRIAL INJURIES
BENEFIT
Industrial Disablement
Benefit is a weekly sum paid if you are assessed as at
least 14% disabled as a result of an injury or disease
caused by your employment.
INVALID CARE ALLOWANCE
(ICA)
This benefit is paid to people over the age of 16 who
care for at least 35 hours per week for someone who gets
either Attendance Allowance or Disability Living
Allowance Care Component at the middle or higher rate. As
a carer, you cannot get this benefit if you are a full
time student. There are also special rules regarding
earnings.
The upper age limit of 65 is due to be removed as of 28
October 2002. Invalid Care Allowance will change its name
to Carers Allowance in April 2003.
LEGAL AID
For information and
leaflets contact Community Legal Services.
Tel: 0207 759 0000 or most Solicitors. Website: www.legalservices.gov.uk
VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY
EXEMPTION
People who receive the
higher mobility component of DLA are exempt from road tax
when the vehicle is for sole use of the disabled person.
Application forms are available from the DVLA Swansea.
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