Benefits are Changing. Marian Gell Benefit Adviser Contact a Family

Transcription

1 Benefits are Changing Marian Gell Benefit Adviser Contact a Family

2 Benefits are Changing The information in this presentation is correct as of 12/8/14. Due to Welfare reform, changes are very likely to occur at short notice. Please seek advice about your own situation from our Benefit Advisers. Ask for a callback by phoning our helpline on We advise parents of children and young people up to age 20.(approximately)

3 Disability Benefits Disability Living Allowance DLA - under 16 Personal Independence Payment PIP Employment and Support Allowance ESAaged 16 - pension age Carer s Allowance aged 16 and over

4 Disability Living Allowance Care component Mobility component Highest Higher Middle Lower Lowest 21.55

5 DLA care component To qualify, a child must need substantially more care or supervision than a child the same age with no disability. Care may be of a different nature Care may be the same but take longer or be more frequent Supervision may be more intense

6 DLA care component Lower rate need for help with personal care for a significant portion of the day- about 1 hour Middle rate Need for frequent attention or continual supervision throughout the day OR Need for prolonged or repeated attention or watching over during the night

7 Higher rate DLA care component Need for frequent attention or continual supervision throughout the day AND Prolonged or repeated attention or watching over during the night

8 DLA mobility component Higher rate Unable to walk Difficulty with walking Exertion of walking leads to deterioration Deaf and blind Severe visual impairment Severe behavioural problems

9 DLA mobility component Lower rate Need for substantially more guidance or supervision out of doors in unfamiliar places when compared to a child the same age with no disability

10 PIP what looks the same Has a mobility and a daily living component Non means- tested Paid both in and out of work Special rules same as DLA Access to Motability vehicles, Blue Badge, Road Tax exemption Payment affected by stays in care or hospital

11 PIP - differences Two rates of each component loss of low rate care Forward qualifying period of 9 months Loss of automatic entitlement for certain groups e.g. Deaf/Blind; double amputees No division of day and night New eligibility criteria points system New assessment process face 2 face interview as well as claim pack

12 PIP - points system 12 activities -10 for Daily Living, 2 for Mobility Each activity has a set of descriptors Each descriptor has a score 0 12 Points should be awarded if unable to carry out task safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time frame

13 PIP points system Enhanced rate 12 points Standard rate 8 points mobility If unable to walk more than 20 metres 12 points If unable to walk between metres 8 points

14 Employment and Support Allowance - ESA From age 16 Limited capability for work Means-tested (unless contribution-based) Points based assessment Need for better off calculation for parent

15 Benefits at 16 Child Tax Credit or ESA? Bursary Fund Payment Better off calculation DLA adult claim or PIP Benefits and work

16 Carer s Allowance Care for 35 hours per week for person with middle/highest rate care of DLA, Daily Living of PIP, Attendance Allowance (over 65) Earnings not over 102 per week Net pay Deduct tax, NI, childcare costs, half of payment to pension scheme Minimum wage rise in October

17 Welfare Reforms Bedroom Tax Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Universal Credit Benefit Cap Replacement of Council Tax Benefit Replacement of Community Care Grants

18 Housing Benefit cut Bedroom Tax 14% cut if 1 extra bedroom 25% cut if 2 or more extra bedrooms Applies to council, housing association and private tenancies Regulations allow local authority to take account of child on DLA middle or highest rate care and unable to share bedroom

19 Bedroom tax What you need to do Ask for revision or late appeal if child unable to share or room too small Ask for Discretionary Housing Payment Phone contact a family s Helpline for standard letter or visit our website at

20 PIP Timetable All new claims for age 16 and over are now for PIP Claims in designated areas will be assessed for PIP if: Change of circumstances Volunteer to claim PIP DLA award ends Turn 16

21 Universal Credit Single integrated working age benefit replacing: Income support, income-based jobseeker s, income-related ESA Housing benefit Child and working tax credits Paid monthly in arrears

22 Better off on Universal Credit? Some working families will be better off Some non working families with disabled children will be worse off due to reduction in disability addition Transitional protection if already on benefit or tax credits

23 Benefit Cap Cap of 500 per week for families Total of benefits, tax credits, housing benefit Does not apply when: Working 16/24 hours Someone in benefit household gets DLA, PIP, Attendance Allowance, support component of ESA, industrial injuries, war widow/widower s pension

24 Council Tax Council tax reduction local schemes Council tax discounts UK-wide Carer s discount Single adult discount SMI exemption Student exemption Disability reduction

25 Crisis loans and grants Social Fund community care grants and crisis loans scrapped Budgeting loans if on income support etc, but not for those on universal credit Local council scheme of assistance

26 Contact A Family general information local groups specialist benefits advice specialist advice on educational needs Call our helpline on to book an appointment for a detailed benefit and tax credit check