Articles in Category: Financial Matters

Benefits

on Thursday, 25 July 2013. Posted in Financial Matters

The Department of Work and Pensions provide a confidential freephone helpline for disabled people and carers. They can provide information on Income Support, Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Social Fund, Pensions, information on State Pension and Pension Credit.

Jobcentre Plus is an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions. It is
responsible for assisting people of working age find jobs through its network of Jobcentre Plus offices. It is also responsible for administering some benefits for people of working age and for the administration of National Insurance numbers.
Jobcentre Plus aims to help:

  • More people into paid work
  • Employers fill their vacancies, and
  • Give people of working age the help andsupport which they are entitled to if they cannot work.

If you are of working age and live in Cardiff and Vale, when you claim a working age benefit you will be given the name of a personal adviser. They will help you look for work or answer any other questions you may have.

If you are of working age and wish to make a claim for benefit then you should telephone
0800 055 6688. A free booklet called “The work you want the help you need”, ref JPS1 which contains a basic guide to benefits and services, is available to people of working age from any Jobcentre Plus office.

For further information contact your local Jobcentre Plus office. (the Office you may be
asked to attend is dependent upon Postcode).

You can contact them:

by telephone on 0845 60 43 719

or online at www.direct.gov.uk.

Cardiff Alexandra House Jobcentre
377 Cowbridge Road East
Canton
Cardiff CF5 1WU
Caradog House Jobcentre
Caradog House
Ground Floor
1-6 St Andrews Place
Cardiff CF10 3BE
Charles St Jobcentre
64 Charles Street
Cardiff CF10 2GS

Jobcentre Plus
9 Holton Road
Barry CF63 4HA
Tel: 01446 444000

There are a number of Social Fund Loans and Grants available from Jobcentre Plus. For full details please visit www.direct.gov.uk or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

If you need help with an emergency or disaster you may be able to get a Crisis Loan; the
interest-free loan from the Social Fund that you pay back. You can find more information
on www.direct.gov.uk, where you can also download a Crisis Loan form. For more
information contact your local Jobcentre Plus.

The Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) – 0800 882 200 – provides advice and information for disabled people and carers on a range of benefits available. The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Another source of advice is the Disability Rights Handbook published by the Disability
Alliance (now Disability Rights UK). The book is a comprehensive guide to all social
security benefits for disabled people. It also contains information on other services such
as community care, housing renovation grants etc. and has an extensive section on disability organisations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Handbook is produced every May, and the 2013/14 edition costs £15.00 to individuals purchasing for personal or family use who are in receipt of any benefit. For more information about publications, visit This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call on 020 7250 3222

The Disability Rights UK website has over 50 factsheets about a wide range of benefits and related issues that can be downloaded at no cost. The website also carries Disability Rights policy information and comments, and hosts the Disability Benefits Consortium and Coalition on Charging sites.

For further information contact:

Disability Rights UK (formerly Disability Alliance)
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London EC1V 8AF
Tel: 020 7250 3222
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.disabilityrightsuk.org

Riverside Advice

Offers a range of Welfare rights services including help with debt, housing and fuel debt including help with completing forms and appeals. This service is free and confidential. Contact 029 2034 1577

Universal Credits

Universal Credits will replace and consolidate many existing benefits from 2018, this will be introduced and staged over time. Details of current benefits are held below for people not affected.

Continue Reading

Types of Benefit

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people aged 65 or over who need either care or
supervision.

Attendance Allowance is not means tested. It is tax free and is not based on National Insurance contributions. It is paid on top of any earnings or other income you may have, and is not affected by any savings you have. It is almost always paid in addition to other social security benefits. Attendance Allowance can also act as a gateway to other benefits.

You do not need to have a carer, or someone helping you, to qualify for Attendance
Allowance.

Who can claim?
You can only claim Attendance Allowance once you have had problems with care or supervision for six months.

Attendance Allowance is paid because you need either care or supervision from another person. The care you receive must relate to some kind of ‘bodily function’, such as with dressing, bathing, toileting and getting safely around the home which includes walking, seeing, hearing, breathing ad infinitum. The supervision that you need must be necessary to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others.

There are two different rates for Attendance Allowance, reflecting the amount of care or
supervision that you need. The higher rate may apply if you need help throughout the day
and the night. The lower rate may apply if you either need help just throughout the day or just throughout the night.

How to claim
You can get a claim-pack by contacting the Benefits Enquiry Line: 0800 882200.

To help your claim, you may wish to keep a diary of your care needs over a few days. This would be useful if your care needs vary. Keep a copy of the diary for yourself and attach another to the claim-form before you send it off.

For further information on AA to find out whether you qualify, the Direct.gov website (www.direct.gov.uk) is a fairly good resource for the most up to date information
and any changes to welfare or benefit rules and regulations are likely to be on there before filtering down to the job centre frontline (or call centre staff.)

The Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) 0800 882 200 gives free advice on benefits for disabled people or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

Carers Allowance

Carers Allowance

Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit to help people who look after someone who is ill or disabled.

The Carer does not have to be related to, or live with, the person that they care for.

You will only be eligible for one allowance even if you care for more than one disabled person

If you have savings or other forms of income you may still be eligible to receive an allowance but  working income will be taken into account when calculating how much you might receive .If you work you can only get Carer's Allowance if your earnings after deductions are below a threshold.

Please Note - Even if you will not be eligible to receive of the any means tested element of the allowance, by making a claim you will establish an "underlying entitlement" to Carer's Allowance. . It may also enable you to access other grants or enhanced support.

In order to qualify, the Carer must meet the following rules:

  • The Carer must be aged 16 or over
  • Care for someone for at least 35 hours a week
  • The person that they care for must receive a qualifying disability benefit
  • If they work, they C
  • They must not get one of a list of other benefits
  • They must be living in the UK when the claim is made
  • Must not be a full-time student

A Carer may also be able to get the Carer Premium - an extra amount of money included
in the calculation of Income Support, income based Job Seekers’ Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. An amount equivalent to the Carer Premium is used to calculate Pension Credit..


For further information and eligibility criteria contact:

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

 

The Carer’s Allowance Unit
Disability and Carers Service
Department for Work & Pensions
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
PRESTON PR1 1HB
Tel: 03456 084321
Text Phone: 0845 6045 312
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.direct.gov.uk

 

n.b. The benefits system is constantly changing so the above is only intended to raise awareness of the support that you may be able to access- seek professional advice if you plan to make a claim

 

 

 

 

Carers' Credit

Carers' Credit

Carer’s Credit is available to people who provide care for one or more disabled person(s) for a total of 20 hours or more each week, where they do not currently receive Carer’s Allowance.

The credit will help to protect an individual’s National Insurance record to ensure there
are no gaps from having to undertake caring responsibilities. There are two qualifying routes to be able to get Carer’s Credit, either through the disabled person being entitled to a qualifying benefit (the majority of applications) or through a certification route (Care Certificate).

For further information and to request an application pack contact:

Carer’s Credit
Department for Work & Pensions
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston PR1 1HB
Tel: 0845 608 4321
Web: www.direct.gov.uk/carers

Council Tax Benefit

Council Tax Benefit

Council tax benefit helps people who are on a low income to pay their council tax bill. If you
or your partner is responsible for paying council tax, you can claim benefit.

From April 2013, Council Tax Benefit was replaced by a new Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Council Tax Benefit has been replaced by a local Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The UK Government has cut funding for the new scheme, but the Welsh Government has added money to protect most people from any cuts until at least April 2014.

Second Adult Rebate is not carried over into the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme. This means that Second Adult Rebate stopped on 1st April 2013.  This affects all claimants, including pensioners.

For more information, see www.cardiff.gov.uk/welfarereform 

 

 

Council Tax Carers Discount

Council Tax Carers Discount

You may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax bill if you:

  • Look after someone who receives the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Care Component (or higher rate Attendance Allowance) and
  • Care for that person for a minimum of 35 hours per week; and that person is not your spouse or partner, is over 18; and lives with you.

To find out if you may be entitled to Housing or Council Tax Benefit you can contact the Benefit Take-up Team:

Cardiff:
Council Tax Section
PO Box 9000
Cardiff CF10 3WD
Tel: 029 2087 2087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Vale of Glamorgan
Council Tax Section
Tel: 01446 709564
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Look here to see if you are eligible for a discount on your rates: www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/council_tax/discounts.aspx

 

You can also access the Benefits calculator at www.cardiff.gov.uk or  http://bencalc.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/index.htm


 Simply click on Housing Benefit and Council Tax and select ‘online benefits calculator’ to find out if you could receive help with your rent and Council Tax.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Council Tax Reduction Scheme

From April 2013, the UK Government have decided that Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by a new Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

The UK Government have cut funding for the scheme, but the Welsh Government has added extra money to protect most people from any cuts until at least April 2014. This means most people will get the same help under the new scheme as they currently get under Council Tax Benefit. Everybody getting Council Tax Benefit will be automatically transferred onto to the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 1 April 2013.

Second Adult Rebate will not be carried over into the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme. This will affect all claimants, including pensioners.

For further information contact:

Cardiff
Council Tax Section
Cardiff Council
PO Box 9000
Cardiff CF10 3WD
Tel: 029 2087 2087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Vale of Glamorgan
Revenue Section
Finance Department
P.O. Box 49
Barry, CF63 4YN.
Tel: 01446 709564
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance is a benefit for adults and children with disabilities. It is for people who need help looking after themselves and those who find it difficult to walk or get around. You do not need to have someone looking afteryou to qualify.

DLA is tax free, not means tested and is not dependent on any National Insurance
Contributions to qualify. It is paid on top of earnings or other income. It is almost always
paid in full on top of social security benefits or tax credits. DLA is divided into two parts:

  • A care component – for help with personal careneeds, paid at three different levels;
  • A mobility component – for help with walking difficulties, paid at two levels.

The care component or the mobility component can be paid on its own, or both together at
the same time. DLA is paid to the disabled person, not to the parent or carer and is paid
irrespective of whether the disabled person receives help from someone to look after them.

Although DLA can be paid indefinitely, there is an upper limit for making the first claim. DLA can only be paid if a claim is made before a person’s 65th birthday. Otherwise, Attendance Allowance (AA) can be claimed. AA has no mobility component, but the disability tests are the same as for DLA middle and higher rate care components.

To qualify for DLA a series of non-disability tests must be passed and also satisfy at least
one disability tests. There is no lower age limit for DLA care component but there is an extra disability test for children under 16.

For further information on DLA  to find out whether you qualify, the Direct.gov
website (www.direct.gov.uk) is a fairly good resource for the most up to date information
and any changes to welfare or benefit rules and regulations are likely to be on there before filtering down to the job centre frontline (or call centre staff.)

The Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) 0800 882 200 gives free advice on benefits for disabled people or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office

Changes to disability benefits from April 2013

As part of plans to reduce spending on Disability Living Allowance by 20% (£1 billion) over the next four years, the Government has launched a consultation on proposals to scrap Disability Living Allowance and replace it with a ‘Personal Independence Payment’. This proposal would be one of the biggest changes in disability benefits since Disability Living Allowance was created and has big implications for carers.

Although reshaping disability benefits does present opportunities to improve the application and assessment processes for disabled people, these plans will mean that hundreds of thousands of disabled people will see their benefits reduced or removed.

 

Disabled Relief

Disabled Relief

If you, or someone who lives with you, need a room, or an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property to meet special needs arising from a disability, you may be entitled to a reduced Council Tax bill.

The bill may be reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below the band shown on the valuation list. If the property is in the lowest band (A) then a reduction may apply.

These reductions ensure that disabled people do not pay more tax on account of space needed because of a disability.

For further information contact:

Cardiff
Contacting the Benefit Service (Cardiff)
Benefits Section
Freepost CF429
P.O. Box 6000
Cardiff CF11 0WZ
Tel: 029 2087 2087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In Person
First Stop Enquiry Centre
Ground Floor Marland House
Central Square
Cardiff CF10 1EP - by the main bus and train station

You can call in to provide documents or to inform them about changes in your circumstances. Appointments may be necessary to return new claims and for more complicated enquiries. For an appointment please telephone (029) 2087 1391 or contact the Benefit Service for details of a surgery near you.


Vale of Glamorgan
Director of Resources
Civic Offices, Holton Road
Barry CF63 4RU
Tel: 01446 709244
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

In October 2008 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was replaced by Incapacity
Benefit and Income Support paid to people who are unable to work because of sickness or
disability.

ESA, like Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) comes in two forms – Contribution and Income based, if you have made sufficient National Insurance Contributions you will currently receive ESA up to April 2012, where in line with the Government Welfare reforms, your ESA will end, you may be entitled to ESA (Income based) if your financial status (other income, but not currently DLA, savings, investments et cetera) will be taken into account

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit

Housing benefit helps people who are on a low income to pay their rent. You can claim housing benefit if you pay rent for a property you live in as your home.

 

* A Benefit Cap will be phased in from April 2013. It is not expected to affect claimants in Cardiff until the summer of 2013. The Benefit Cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit that working age people can receive. It will not affect those of pension credit qualifying age.

Housing benefit is reduced for council and housing association tenants who have one or more 'spare' bedroom. This does not affect those of pension credit qualifying age

If there is one spare bedroom, housing benefit is cut by at least 14%. If there are two or more spare bedrooms, it is cut by at least 25%.  

Two children are expected to share a room until they are aged 10, whether they are a girl or a boy. Two children of the same sex are expected to share until they are aged 16.

There are some exemptions to the size restriction including those of pension credit qualifying age, tenants in some types of temporary accommodation and tenants in supported housing.

 

The cap is set at £350 a week for single adults with no children; and at £500 for couples and families.

The cap is applied by reducing housing benefit payments.

More information can be found at www.cardiff.gov.uk/welfarereform 

Incapacity Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Incapacity Benefit is a weekly benefit payable to people who are unable to work through illness or disability. Claimants must have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions, unless under the age of 20. Only people who claimed before October 2008 will continue to receive Incapacity Benefit. All claims made after that date will be for Employment and Support Allowance.

 

*Incapacity benefit has been replaced by Employment and Support Allowance. All claims will be reassessed.

Further information about Employment and Support Allowance

Income Support

Income Support

Income Support is for people under the ‘qualifying age’ for Pension Credit with no income or income below a minimum level, called the applicable amount. The applicable amount varies with your circumstances. Premiums are added on the basis of your circumstances and the applicable amount can also include an amount to help with housing costs.

Income Support can be claimed by:

  • Those who are not in paid work or those working for less than 16 hours a week (if youhave a partner, they must work less than24 hours a week). Some carers can claim Income Support without limiting the number of hours that they work.
  • Carers who provide “regular and substantial care” for someone who is getting Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance can claim. A carer can also claim for up to six months whilst waiting for the person they are looking after to get a decision after making a claim for Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance. A carer can also claim Income Support if the person they are looking after has been awarded Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance but the payments will not start until they have had care needs or mobility problems for the necessary period.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a means tested benefit paid to a person where they or their partner are of the ‘qualifying age’. For women this is their state pension age (which depends on their date of birth). For men this is what their state pension age would be if they were a woman.

Pension Credit has two elements: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. The Guarantee Credit is calculated in a similar way to Income Support but is more generous. The Savings Credit is applicable if you or your partner are aged 65 or over and have a certain level of income and/or savings.

To find out your ‘qualifying age’ for Pension Credit, go to:

www.pensions.direct.gov.uk/en/ state-pension-age-calculator/home.asp

To find out if a carer is entitled and how much they could get,

phone The Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 (Textphone: 0800 169 0133)
or go to www.direct.gov.uk/pensions.

Claims can be completed for the carer over the phone, the forms will then be sent out to the Carer to check and sign.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults (16-64). It has a Daily Living Component and a Mobility Component. Each component has two rates – standard and enhanced. All existing DLA claimants will be reassessed for PIP once it is introduced.

Key features of the new system:

  • DLA claimants will not automatically transfer to PIP. Everyone will need to make a new claim.

    (Once you are contacted to request an assessment make sure that you reply quickly- this is important!)

  •  All new claims from anyone aged 16-64 will be for PIP instead of DLA.
  •  existing DLA claimants will be reassessed for PIP.
  •  Everyone still getting DLA will have to make a claim for PIP.
  •  There are 2 parts to PIP – daily living and getting around.

Claims will normally be made over the phone, although claimants will also be asked to complete an 18 page questionnaire providing information on how their disability affects them. Most people will then be asked to attend a face-to-face consultation with a health professional as part of the claim process. Claimants can take somebody with them to support them. This could include a social worker, friend or carer.

TIPS - before you complete the forms

Completing a form can seem daunting at first but if you prepare well in advance the process can be less stressful.

If you have, or can get, copies of any assessments and diagnosis it will strengthen your claim. Also make a list with the contact details of GP's, Social Workers and other professionals who know the person making the claim.

Read the questions again and again and look at other guides held online including your local Citizens Advice . There are many other links, just google PIP 

Don't forget - every loose leaf submitted must have your National Insurance number on at the top of the sheet.

Depending upon where you live you may be able to seek assistance with completing the form by a professional. In the Vale of Glamorgan, Diverse Cymru  offer this service, in Cardiff your local Hub should be able to signpost you.

Finally - make sure that you take a copy of your completed submission to refer to later and send it in well before the cut off date

More information can be obtained from:

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip  this site includes a simple tool to give you an idea of your eligibility.


DWP has produced a toolkit of communications materials including the Personal Independence Payment toolkit which can be accessed from:

www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/pip-toolkit/


A leaflet on PIP can be obtained from:

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dwp041.pdf

 

Spice- time banking....an alternative to cash!

Spice- time banking....an alternative to cash!

Time banking is a practical way to reap the benefits of the hours you spend supporting others in your community. In return for your time you earn credits which in turn can be spent in a variety of ways from accessing discounted entrance fees to one-off events and shows. The possibilities are endless. Spice schemes are being set up across the region. 

 We all need a little help sometimes, for lots of different things.

Our communities are no different, and this is where Time Credits come in. If you give an hour of your time to your community, your community will thank you by giving you an hour back to spend on something you like to do. Everyone’s hour is worth the same and everyone gets thanked.

There’s no limit to how many credits you can earn, and the more you earn the more you can spend. Time Credits never expire. There are lots of ways to earn Time Credits across your community, and hundreds of ways to spend them across the country. You can earn and spend in a way that suits you.

Why? Because everyone has something to give, and ultimately, because a bit of time together makes all the difference. Carers or support workers are given free entry with anyone who has earned time credits and needs a bit of extra assistance.

Time banking allows you to save scarce cash and earn credits - doing things that you enjoy while helping others!

Sources of help with benefits in your Area

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