Benefits Landing page

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Category: Benefits
Published on Monday, 19 December 2016 11:08
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Getting Started

The benefits' system is complex, and the rules often change, so even if you’ve looked into it before, it might be worth checking again. And if you have been receiving benefits for a while, it can be beneficial to carry out a benefits check to see if you are entitled to anything that you are not currently receiving.

  • Some benefits are affected by earnings, other types of income and the amount of savings you (and sometimes your partner) have.
  • Check regularly to see if you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to, as benefits can change.
  • A claimant's age can alter your entitlement, so check when you, your partner or your children turn 16, 18, or reach State Pension age.
  • If your circumstances change, your local Citizens Advice can help check what you're entitled to, or check out the links to benefits calculators below.
  • Many benefits overlap and some are a gateway to others, so if you receive one, there may be others that you can't get.
  • If your symptoms get worse or your ability to meet the descriptors change, then it's worth arranging a benefits check.
  • It's worth checking how the benefit cap might affect you. It's a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people can get between 16 and State Pension age.
  • The rules about some benefits may vary between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
  • When you’re looking into benefits that you might be able to claim because of your fibromyalgia, a benefits' adviser can help make sure you check other benefits too. This could include things like help with Council Tax, National Insurance Credits, child benefit (if you have children), or, if you’re the right age, the State Pension and pension credits.

Types of Benefits

Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with your living costs. You might get it if you’re on a low income or out of work. It has replaced a number of benefits, including ESA and housing benefit. 
 
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if a disability means you need someone to help look after you. (You must have 
reached State Pension age.) Pension Age Disability Payment is gradually replacing this benefit in Scotland.
 
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit you might be able to claim if you require help to do everyday things or have difficulty getting around. Adult Disability Payment (ADP) replaced PIP and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in Scotland. 
 
Carers Allowance (CA) is a benefit you might get if you look after someone for at least 35 hours a week. Carer Support Payment is replacing CA across Scotland. 
 
For more information on the above benefits, please contact our benefits team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Descriptors and not your illness

Benefits applications are not about what conditions you have or how bad you feel. They are focussed on your ability to perform certain tasks.

These are called the descriptors, and there are a couple of examples below from PIP. 

  • Preparing food - Can you prepare and cook a simple meal unaided.
  • Taking nutrition - Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition.
  • Washing and bathing - Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe.
  • Dressing and undressing - Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body.
  • Making budgeting decisions - Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions.

More information on the descriptors can be found on Benefits and Works website.

Calculators

You can use an independent, free and anonymous benefits' calculator to check what you could be entitled to.

This will give you an estimate of the benefits you can get, how much you may receive, how they can be affected by the hours you work, and how they may be affected if your circumstances change.

Please find the calculators below:

Further support

Getting help with your benefits' application, or going to a tribunal, is something we recommend as the benefits system is complex and changing all the time. 

It can also be stressful, and having help makes it more manageable and improves your chances of a positive outcome.  

Support Resources

You can find out more about our helplines and support groups here including any notice due to holidays or closures. 

For more information about benefits, please contact our benefits team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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