To find out about possible benefits you may be eligible for, the following websites can be a great start:

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1 Benefits fact sheet Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can strike unexpectedly and may turn your world upside down. As a result, your family circumstances may change. This factsheet provides information about statutory benefits and other sources of help or information which may be available to you. The benefits system is very complex and changes are ongoing. We suggest that you also seek benefits advice from one of the expert organisations mentioned in this fact sheet. To find out about possible benefits you may be eligible for, the following websites can be a great start: Benefits adviser Benefits Adviser NI Northern Ireland Benefits Enquiry Line Minicom Freephone: Entitled to (Independent benefits calculator) Benefits for changes to income and employment Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) You may be eligible for SSP if you re too ill to work. This is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. Further information: ask your employer about the SSP scheme or visit Fit Notes (or sick notes) You have to give your employer a doctor s fit note if you miss more than seven days of work. If you don t qualify for SSP, your employer must give you form SSP1 within seven days of your illness. You can use this to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) instead. Employment Support Allowance (ESA) You can apply for ESA if you re employed, self-employed or unemployed and your ability to work is limited by illness or disability. ESA offers: Financial support if you re unable to work Personalised help so that you can work if you re able to Further information: Telephone: / Textphone: Welsh language telephone: Meningitis Helpline (UK) saving lives, rebuilding futures

2 Universal Credit Universal Credit (UC) is a new benefit that is replacing six existing benefits with a single monthly payment if you re out of work or on a low income. Universal Credit will eventually replace: Income-based Jobseeker s Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit Housing Benefit If you already claim one of the above benefits, you ll be informed when UC will affect you. UC is being gradually rolled out across the UK from October 2013 and will be completed by Further information: Universal Credits Information on Jobseeker s Allowance and Income Support: Telephone (Jobcentre Plus Claim Line) Welsh language Information on Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit: Telephone (Tax credit helpline) Housing Benefit If you are unemployed, on a low income, and need financial help, Housing Benefit can pay for part or all of your rent. This will eventually be replaced by Universal Credit. You may also be able to get extra help from your local council called a discretionary housing payment if your Housing Benefit doesn t cover your rent. Further information: Benefits for ill health or disability Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme You may be able to get financial help from the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme if you re on benefits or a low income, and need NHS treatment at a hospital, other NHS Centre or private clinic and have been referred by an NHS hospital consultant, doctor or dentist. Further information: If you are not eligible for this scheme, we may be able to help through our Meningitis Now Financial Support Grants. Contact our 24-hour helpline to find out how to apply on or Helpline@MeningitsNow.org

3 Needs Assessment A health and social care assessment conducted by your local social services department to find out what help and support you require. This assessment is known as an assessment of need. Services provided by your local council can include: Home care help with things like cleaning and shopping Disability equipment and adaptations to your home Day centres; to give the individual or carer a break Day care for your child if either you or they are disabled Care homes Further information: England and Wales: Northern Ireland: where you can find contact details for your Local Health and Social Care Trust Scotland: If you do not have internet access you need to telephone your local council. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Tax-free benefit for children who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled (for children under the age of 16 years). Further information: Disability benefits helpline / Textphone: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) PIP is replacing Disability Living Allowance for those aged between 16 64yrs. PIP helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability. How much you get is not based on your condition, but how your condition affects you. You will need an assessment to work out the level of help you get. Your award will be regularly reassessed to make sure you re getting the right support. Further information: New Claims: Telephone: Textphone: Northern Ireland: Advice about an existing claim: Telephone: / Textphone: Disability Rights UK have a free guide to making a PIP claim on their website: Carer s Allowance This benefit is awarded to help you look after someone with substantial care needs. You need to be aged 16 or over (not available if over 65 when applying), and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone. You don t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. Further information: Carer s Allowance Unit Telephone or Textphone

4 Attendance Allowance A tax-free benefit you may get if you re aged 65 or over and need help with personal care because you re physically or mentally disabled. Further information: Attendance Allowance helpline: / Textphone: Direct Payments Direct payments can be made to you or the person you re looking after so that you can buy care services. By giving you money instead of social care services, you can make your own decisions about how your care is provided. The decision to award direct payments takes place after an assessment by social services. Direct payments can be made to: Disabled people aged 16 or over (with short or long-term needs) Disabled parents for children s services Carers aged 16 or over (including people with parental responsibility for a disabled child) Elderly people who need community care services Further information: If you live in Scotland or Wales contact your local council directly. Disabled Facilities Grants Grants provided by your local council to help with home adaptations if you or your child is disabled. Examples include widening doors, installing ramps, stairlifts, downstairs bathroom or providing a heating system suitable for your needs. Disabled Facilities Grants are available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only. Scottish residents should contact the social services department of their local council for information on any grants that may be available. Further information: contact your local council or visit Disabled Students Allowances As a higher education student you can apply for a Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) if you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia. DSA can help with extra costs such as specialist equipment, non-medical help e.g. note-taker or reader, travel and other course related costs. Further information: England Telephone or visit Scotland Telephone or visit Wales Telephone or visit Northern Ireland Telephone or visit

5 Vehicles and transport Blue badge scheme The Blue Badge scheme is a national scheme designed to give people who are registered severely sight impaired and those who are unable or virtually unable to walk the ability to park close to the facilities and services they need to use. Further information: Community and public transport Your local council may operate dial-a-ride or taxi schemes, for example using vouchers or tokens. You may also be eligible for a bus pass and/or Disabled Persons Railcard. Contact your local council to find out which schemes operate in your area. Motability Scheme The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair by exchanging their Government funded mobility allowance. If you receive either the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA), the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP, the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS) or the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) you may be eligible to join the Motability Scheme. Further information: or telephone Benefits following a death Bereavement Payment: If your husband, wife or civil partner has died you may be able to get a oneoff, tax-free, lump-sum payment dependent on their National Insurance Contributions (NICs).One of the following must also apply: You were under State Pension age when they died Your spouse or civil partner was not entitled to Category A State Retirement Pension when they died Bereavement Allowance: You might be able to claim this if you re a widow, widower or surviving civil partner between 45 and State Pension age. It is paid to you for up to 52 weeks from the date of death of your husband, wife or civil partner. The amount you may get depends on your partner s National Insurance Contributions and your age at the time of his or her death. Funeral Expenses: If you are on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you re arranging you may be able to get a funeral payment. To be eligible you must be responsible for the funeral and: Claim in time - from the date of death and up to three months after the date of the funeral. Get certain benefits or tax credits Meet the rules on your relationship with the deceased If you are not eligible for a Funeral Payment, we may be able to help through our financial support grants. Call our 24-hour helpline to find out how to apply Further information on all above bereavement benefits: Bereavement Service Helpline:

6 Other helpful organisations: Citizens Advice Bureau Offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice, helping to resolve problems with various issues, and is available to all. Further information: Northern Ireland: Telephone: (England) (Wales) (Scotland) Contact a Family A national charity that exists to support the families of disabled children whatever their condition or disability. They provide a wide range of services including a SEN (Special Educational Needs) National Advice Service and useful information about PIP allowance. Further information: Helpline: Contact a Family Northern Ireland: DIAL UK DIAL is an independent network of local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people. Further information: Telephone to find out the support available in your local area. Disability Rights UK Produce information, products and services developed by and for disabled people. Further information: General Enquires: Disabled Students Helpline: Independent Living Advice: Family Fund A registered charity, providing grants for disabled and severely ill children and young people under 17 years of age. The fund can help with essential items such as washing machines, fridges and clothing and can also consider grants for sensory toys, computers and family breaks. Application criteria apply. Further information: info@familyfund.org.uk Telephone Textphone The Money Advice Service Free and impartial money advice. Further information: Telephone Turn2 Us A charitable service which helps people access the money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other help. Further information: Work and Benefits Lots of helpful information about applying for work related benefits (PIP, ESA, DLA) and how to avoid the pitfalls. Further information:

7 Meningitis Now is the UK s largest meningitis charity and is here to help you, when you need us and for as long as you need us. We are saving lives and rebuilding futures through awareness, research and support. We offer practical, emotional and financial support for all those living with the impact of the disease. We support individuals, and their families, including those who have been bereaved, helping to rebuild lives after meningitis and septicaemia. We can: Listen; and answer your questions about meningitis and septicaemia Talk to you about your individual experience and how we can tailor our help to you Visit you in your own home and provide support locally to you Put you in touch with others who have been through it too Provide financial assistance for unexpected costs following meningitis Support you and those closest to you; children, teenagers and adults Make you a priority; we have no waiting lists for our services. If you have any questions, or are interested in finding out how we can help, please get in touch. Meningitis Helpline: (UK) Available 9am to 10pm helpline@meningitisnow.org We are proud of the work we do, but we can t do it alone. We rely on voluntary donations and need help from people like you. Every penny, pound, hour and day given makes a big difference. Find out how you can help Meningitis Helpline (UK) Available 9am to 10pm Meningitis Now Fern House Bath Road Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 3TJ Tel: Fax: info@meningitisnow.org Meningitis Now June 2015 Next review June 2016 Registered charity number (England & Wales) SC (Scotland)