Financial Support and Benefits

Transcription

1 Financial Support and Benefits Social Security Benefits and Tax Credits County Council positively values diversity, and celebrates cultural and social differences. Our Equal Opportunities Promise is to provide all services of equal quality, which meet your needs and fulfil your rights. You can expect to be treated fairly, with respect, dignity and understanding whoever you are and whatever your background. This document is also available on request in Braille, large print, tape, disc and can be translated into different languages. October 2009

2 Financial Support and Benefits Social Security Benefits and Tax Credits Benefits and tax credits are paid by the Government to support people on low incomes. They are also for people who do not have a job, either because they are looking for work, or cannot work because of ill health, or because they are a carer. Some benefits are not affected by the amount of money you earn these include Child Benefit or Disability Living Allowance (for adults or children with disabilities). Other benefits are only paid to people who are on low incomes for example Housing Benefit or Working Tax Credit. To help you understand the benefit system, the benefits have been listed in the following categories: Unemployed Incapable of work Disabled Carers Families Widow or widower Retired Tenant or home owner Appealing against a decision Unemployed Jobseekers Allowance is paid to people who are available for and actively seeking work. Income Support can be paid to you if you are a lone parent, a carer, sick or disabled and do not have to be available for work. Employment and Support Allowance is paid if you are sick or disabled and don t have to be available for work. Incapable of Work Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you are employed and off work because of ill health then your employer will usually pay you SSP for up to 28 weeks. If you are still sick after 28 weeks you should claim Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance. This is paid by

3 the Department for Work and Pensions through Job centre Plus Incapacity Benefit - you have to have paid National Insurance Contributions to get this benefit. It is paid if you do not have an employer, or if you are an employee who has been sick for more than 28 weeks. It can also be paid to people who are self employed. Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) this benefit replaces Incapacity Benefit for people making new claims, because of sickness or disability, after 27th October It can be paid if you have paid National Insurance Contributions and also as a means tested benefit instead of Income Support. For more information about these benefits go to the Jobcentre Plus website or if you need to make a claim phone The Directgov website tells you who can claim - follow the Money, Tax and Benefits link. Citizens Advice can give you information about claiming the full range of benefits and tax credits on their Adviceguide website see related websites for the link Disabled Disability Living Allowance can be paid to adults or children with disabilities. It has two parts and is available for people with mobility problems and/or personal care needs. Attendance Allowance this is a benefit which is paid to people who are over 65 and have personal care needs because of their disability. There is no mobility payment in Attendance Allowance. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit can be paid to people who have suffered a disability because of an illness or accident caused by their employment. It is paid on top of other benefits. For more information about these benefits go to the Directgov website which also tells you how to make a claim. The Department for Work and Pensions Enquiry Line can also help you phone (textphone ). Disability Alliance, who have produced the Disability Rights Handbook, give information and fact sheets about disability benefits through their website.

4 Working Tax Credit disabled workers who work more than sixteen hours a week can get more financial support through the Working Tax Credit. Working Tax Credit is paid by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). To make a claim phone the helpline on or go to the HMRC website Carers Carer s Allowance you can get this if you are caring for someone who receives Disability Living Allowance at Middle Rate Care or above, or any rate of Attendance Allowance. There is a limit to the amount you can earn from working and it is not paid to anyone in full time education. Income Support if you are not required to be available for work. To find out more about claiming Carer s Allowance you should contact Jobcentre Plus or you can phone the Carer s Allowance Unit on Carers UK is a national organisation which provides practical, financial and emotional support for carers. Go to their website for more information. Families Child Benefit paid at two rates for anyone who looks after a child or young person in education or approved training Child Tax Credit for parents who are working or receiving benefits Free school meals available to families on certain benefits and tax credits Guardian s Allowance is paid to someone who is bringing up a child who is not their own, but whose parents have died (or where a surviving parent s whereabouts are not known). It is paid on top of Child Benefit. Income Support is paid to a lone parent with a youngest child under the age of 12 years. Once the child reaches their 12th birthday the lone parent will need to claim either

5 Employment and Support Allowance, if they are sick or disabled, or alternatively Jobseekers Allowance. Maternity Allowance paid to people who are self-employed or women who do not have a right to receive Statutory Maternity Pay. Milk Tokens and Free Vitamins available to parents on Income Support or (income based) Jobseekers Allowance and certain people who claim Child Tax Credit. National Health Costs free prescriptions and dental care while you are pregnant and until the baby is one year old. Statutory Maternity Pay paid by the employer for 39 weeks for people who qualify. Statutory Adoption Pay similar to Statutory Maternity Pay but for parents with an adopted child. Statutory Paternity Pay this is paid to fathers who can take either one or two weeks leave from work in the first eight weeks after the birth of a child, or the date of adoption placement. Sure Start Maternity Grant paid through the Social Fund to parents on certain benefits or tax credits. Widowed Parent s Allowance is paid when a husband or wife (or civil partner) dies and the surviving partner is entitled to Child Benefit for at least one eligible child Working Tax Credit this is paid to parents who work more than sixteen hours a week and are on a low income. These benefits are paid by different agencies, some by the employer, others by HM Revenue and Customs and some by the Department for Work and Pensions. Information about Tax Credits is available on the HMRC website or you can get it by phoning the Helpline on Contact a Family is an organisation which gives information and fact sheets about benefits for families, particularly families with disabled children. See useful websites for link. One Parent Families provides details about benefits and tax credits, as well as fact sheets about maintenance and the child support agency, through their website.

6 Widow or widower Bereavement Allowance a weekly income paid for 52 weeks after the death of a husband, wife or civil partner Widowed Parent s Allowance is paid when a husband, wife or civil partner dies and the surviving partner has children who are still in full time education. Bereavement Payment a lump sum payment of 2000 paid when a husband, wife or civil partner dies Funeral Expenses Grant paid through the Social Fund to help with the cost of the funeral. It depends whether you receive other means tested benefits. These benefits are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions and you can find more information on the Directgov website. Retired State Retirement Pension is paid to women at 60 and men at 65. The two main state retirement pensions are: Category A pensions which are paid based on your own National Insurance Contributions Category B pensions - paid to married women, widows, some widowers and civil partners based on their spouse s or partner s National Insurance Contributions Pension Credit paid to supplement low income for pensioners Winter Fuel Payments a payment to help with fuel costs that is paid every year. It is paid to everyone over the age of 60 whether they are on benefits or in work. It is not means tested. Phone for details. The Pension Service deals with benefits for people who are over 60 years old. For more information phone or get information on the website. Organisations such as Age Concern England and Help the Aged also give benefit information and fact sheets through their national websites.

7 County Council works with the Pension Service to give benefit and pension information to the following people: Anyone aged 60 and over Anyone aged under 60 who receives a homecare package through Social Care Services. Anyone under 60 who does not receive homecare should contact their local Jobcentre Plus Office or the Citizens Advice Bureau. The FAB (Financial Assessment and Benefit) Team is the name for the partnership team of the Pension Service and County Council. You can get in touch with the FAB Team by phoning Direct on A FAB officer will visit you in your own home and can fill in benefit claim forms for you if you want them to. Tenant or homeowner Housing Benefit helps to pay for rent to social or private landlords. Housing Benefit cannot help with mortgage payments. Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is paid to tenants who have a private landlord and have made a new claim for housing benefit since April The rules don t apply to people in Council housing or who are tenants of a Housing Association. LHA rates are set by the local Rent Officer each month and are based on the size of the property you need for your family. Council Tax Benefit available to tenants and home-owners on low incomes to help with Council Tax bills. There are discount and rebate schemes to help people living on their own or people with severe disabilities and their carers. Mortgage Interest Payments available to people claiming income support, (income based) jobseekers allowance - (income related) Employment and Support Allowance or pension credit. From January 2009 help with mortgage interest can be paid on mortgages up to 200,000. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are paid through local

8 District or Borough Councils. In there are five District Councils and you should contact your local council to find out if you can claim. These benefits are means tested and depend on how much income you have from benefits and/or work. To find out more about the LHA rates in your local area, or in a different area if you are planning to move, contact the District Council offices, or use The Rent Service website which gives details of the LHA rates for all councils in England, Scotland and Wales. For other housing issues including problems with deposits, tenancy agreements, rent arrears and eviction or re-possession, you can find information on the national Shelter website, or by contacting the Shelter office in Taunton on Appealing against a decision You have the right to appeal against most decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions or decisions about Housing or Council Tax Benefit. If you are not happy with a decision you can: ask the Decision Maker to look at the decision again (this is called a revision), or complete Form GL24 asking for an appeal within the onemonth time limit, or contact an advice agency for help if you are not sure whether you should appeal, or if you need help filling in the form. To find out more about how to appeal call the Tribunals Service Customer Hotline on , or visit the website. Appeals about Tax Credits are different and if you are not happy with a decision you should phone the helpline or read the HM Revenue and Customs leaflet on How to Appeal and the Code of Practice. This leaflet is available by phoning the Tax Credit Helpline or by looking on the HMRC website Social Fund As well as these benefits, there is also the Social Fund which makes grants and loans and regulated payments such as Sure Start Maternity Grants, Funeral Expenses Grants and Winter Fuel Payments.

9 Crisis loans and Budgeting loans are interest free and can be repaid by regular deductions from benefit entitlement. Community Care Grants are available to help people to live independently in the community but grants can also be paid to families where they are under exceptional pressure because of problems with poor housing, lack of money, or extra expenses for disabled adults or children. You should look for help if you think you may be able to claim. The Citizens Advice Bureau, or if you live in West, the West Advice Bureau can help you to fill in an application form. Social Fund payments are claimed through Jobcentre Plus. For more information phone the local office or visit the website. Advice agencies in Mendip CAB 5 King Street Frome BA11 1BH Phone : advice@mendipcab.org.uk Website address: (Contact this office for details of CAB across Mendip) Sedgemoor CAB The Lions 17 West Quay Bridgwater TA6 3HN Phone : Advice Line: advice@sedgemoorcab.org.uk Website address:

10 South CAB Petters House Petters Way Yeovil BA20 1SH Phone : cab@southsomcab.org.uk Taunton CAB 44 Station Road Taunton TA1 1NS Phone : advice@tauntoncab.org.uk Website address: West Advice Bureau The Lane Centre Market House Lane Minehead TA24 5NW Phone : wsab@waitrose.com Website address Shelter Apsley House Tower Street Taunton TA1 4BH Phone: taunton@shelter.org.uk

11 Local Authorities in who provide Housing/Council Tax Benefit Mendip District Council Cannards Grave Road Shepton Mallett BA4 5BP Phone : Sedgemoor District Council Bridgwater House King Square Bridgwater TA6 3AR Phone : South District Council The Council Offices Brympton Way Yeovil BA20 2HT Phone : Taunton Deane Borough Council The Deane House Belvedere Road Taunton TA1 1HE Phone : West District Council 37 Blenheim Road Minehead TA24 5PS Phone: