Are you aged 16 or over? Are you still at school or college? Do you have a learning difficulty? Do you find it hard to talk or listen to people? Are you disabled? Do you have long term health needs?...
...If you are, then your parent or carer may get money for you. Or you may get your own money. In this leaflet we tell you about asking for the money. You will need to talk to the person who gets money for you if you are thinking of asking for your own benefit money. You and your parents can t both get the same benefit money for you. Talk to your parent or carer about who asks for the money for you. If you agree that you will ask for the money, you may need someone to manage it for you. This can be your parent or someone else you trust. 2
Disability Living Allowance This is called DLA. It is paid on top of other benefit money. You may be getting this benefit money now. Ask your parent or carer if they get it for you. When you are 16 years old, you need to ask for this money again. A new form is sent to you to fill in a few months before you are 16. If you do not have this benefit then you can ask for this money now. You can ask for this money if you need help to look after yourself. You can ask for this money if you need help to get around. You can phone 0800 88 22 00 free and ask for a form (or textphone 0800 243 355). 3
4 Incapacity benefit This is for a person who is not well and cannot work. This can be for you if your special needs make it too hard for you to work. You need to ask your doctor for a doctor s note. You can ask for this benefit money when you have been ill or disabled for 6 months. The 6 months can be before you are age 16. Ask the doctor for a doctor s note for all the time you have not been well enough to work. You can ask for this if your special needs make it too hard for you to work. If you are still at school or college you must be in special classes or get extra help before you can ask for this benefit money. You can phone to Jobcentre Plus for a form to ask for this money 0800 055 6688 (textphone 0800 023 4888).
Income Support You may be able to ask for Income Support as well as Incapacity Benefit. This may only be for the first year you get Incapacity Benefit - if you also get DLA. There is a savings limit for you to get this benefit money. If you get Income Support, you can get: Free medicine Free treatment to look after your teeth Free eye tests and help with glasses Jobcentre Plus can help you ask for Income Support and Incapacity Benefit. They can fill in the forms for you The phone number is 0800 055 6688 (textphone is 0800 023 4888). 5
6 Health Benefits If you are a young person still at school or college, you can get: free medicine free treatment to look after your teeth free tests for your eyes and help with glasses If you have left school or college, you can get: free medicine free treatment to look after your teeth if you get Income Support or incomebased Jobseekers Allowance. Or you can fill in a form HC1 to ask for this help if your income is low. Phone Jobcentre Plus for a form, or phone the Health costs line 0845 850 1166 (textphone 01623 756 236).
Tax Credits Working Tax Credit can be paid to some young people. You must work for 16 hours a week or more. You must have a disability and get DLA. Or you have been too unwell to work for some time. If you have a child you can get Child Tax Credit. You can ask for Working Tax Credit too if you work 16 hours a week or more. Phone the Tax Credit Office helpline for a form to ask for this money. Telephone 0845 300 3900 (textphone 0845 300 3909). 7
Training allowances If you want to go on a training course, Connexions can help you find the right one. You can get money to stay on the course. Contact Connexions Centre in Hounslow on 020 8577 5478 (no textphone but fax number is 020 8569 4773). 8
EMA The EMA is extra money paid to a young person if they stay on at school or college to study. You get it for the years you are 17 and 18 if your parent s pay is not too high. Connexions or your school can tell you about the EMA Incapacity Benefit and Income Support 9 There is a new benefit called Employment and Support Allowance or ESA starting 27th October 2008. ESA is for new claims only if you are not well enough to work from 27th October 2008. If you get benefit already, this won t change to the new rules until 2009.
Jobseeker s Allowance If you leave school or college and are looking for work you can ask for Jobseeker s Allowance to get some money. It is for people who are aged 18 or over. If you are 16 and 17 you may get some money if you are in hardship. You can get this benefit if you agree with the Jobcentre to look for work or training. Contact Connexions Centre in Hounslow on 020 8577 5478 (no textphone but fax number is 020 8569 4773) 10
Help with housing costs If you leave home and have to pay rent for your own room or flat, you may be able to get help to pay the rent. The local council will work out how much help with the rent you can get. They look at how much money you have to live on each week. At 18 you will also have to pay council tax. You may get help to pay towards the council tax. Contact Revenue Services at Hounslow to ask for a form to get help with your rent and council tax on 020 8583 4242. 11
Where else can I go for advice and support? The Attic, 1st Floor, Hounslow Library, Treaty Centre (Connexions Service) Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities, Berkeley Centre, 27 Cranford Lane, Heston TW5 9EP Disability Network Hounslow, 121c High Street, Brentford, TW8 8AT Young Link Project (Owl Housing Ltd) Grove House, 551 London Road, Isleworth TW7 4DS Leaflet written by Welfare Benefits & Money Advice Unit London Borough of Hounslow. April 2005. www.hounslow.gov.uk (Amended March 2008) and line illustrations from The CHANGE Picture Bank