Finance and Benefits

Finance and Benefits

Becoming a carer can have a significant effect on your finances, especially if you have had to give up paid employment. Knowing what benefits are available to you and the person you care for can be confusing. It is important that you claim what you are entitled to, even if you have been caring for a number of years, as circumstances may have changed. It is always beneficial to contact a professional organisation who can advise and support you. This booklet aims to increase your awareness of those organisations in Trafford and the main benefits available. Figures referred to in this E-Book were correct as of October 2014. Carers Allowance Tel: 0845 608 4321 You might be able to get Carer s Allowance if all of the following apply: you re 16 or over you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone have been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces you re not in full time education or studying for more than 21 hours a week Page 2

you earn less than 102 a week (after taxes, care costs while you re at work and 50% of what you pay into your pension) You might not get Carer s Allowance if you already get one of these benefits: State Pension Bereavement Allowance contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance contribution-based Jobseeker s Allowance Incapacity Benefit Industrial Death Benefit Maternity Allowance Severe Disablement Allowance training allowance Unemployability Supplement paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Pension War Widow s or Widower s Pension Widowed Mother s Allowance Widowed Parent s Allowance Page 3

Widow s Pension You should still apply for Carer s Allowance even if you get these as your benefits might be increased. The person you care for must already get one of these benefits: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - the middle or highest care rate Attendance Allowance Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) For Carers on a Low Income Carers Premium The carer premium is an amount (up to 33.30) that is included in the calculation of any means-tested benefits you get if you're also paid Carer's Allowance, or have an underlying entitlement to it. The exact amount you receive depends on your financial situation. Not everyone will receive the full 33.30. Page 4

Income Support You may be able to get Income Support if you meet all the specific conditions including: you and your partner have no income or a low income you re working less than 16 hours a week you haven t signed on as unemployed The actual amount you get depends on your circumstances, but if you qualify and have no income you ll get at least 57.35 a week. Getting Income Support may entitle you to other benefits including Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, free prescriptions, glasses and dental treatment. Pension Credit Tel: 0800 99 1234. Textphone: 0800 169 0133 Pension Credit is an income-related benefit made up of 2 parts - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it s below 148.35 (for single people) or 226.50 (for couples). Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, eg a pension. You may not be eligible for savings credit if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. These figures may be increased if the person is a carer. Budgeting Loans These are loans to help pay for items or costs that are difficult to save for, for example furniture. You can apply for a loan if you have been receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Pension Credit for over 26 weeks. Loans have to be paid back. You can apply for a budgeting loan on form SF500 which is available from your local benefits office. Page 5

Help with the Cost of a Funeral Tel: 0345 606 0265 You can claim for assistance with the cost of a funeral if the deceased was a close relative or friend and you have taken responsibility for the funeral costs. You must be in receipt of a benefit such as Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Pension Credit. You must claim within three months of the date of death. You do not have to repay a funeral payment, although it can be recovered from the estate of the person who has died. The claim should be made on form SF200 available from your local benefits office. Fares to Hospital for Treatment You can get certain travel costs paid to and from a place of treatment if you are on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the guarantee credit part of Pension Credittax credit exemption or a HC2/HC3 cirtificate. If you have to travel with someone who cannot manage on their own you can get your costs paid too. You can also get reimbursed for visiting your child if you are required to stay with your child under instruction from doctors. You can obtain a refund of your fares from the hospital providing you have proof that you are in receipt of benefits. For more information contact: 0300 330 1343 Council Tax Reduction You could be eligible if you re on a low income or claim benefits. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%. You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working. Page 6

Second Adult Rebate You may be able to claim Second Adult Rebate if you have to pay Council Tax and you live with someone else, other than your partner. The other person must be 18 or over, not paying rent, not responsible to pay Council Tax, and have income below a certain amount. Second adult rebate will be paid instead of council tax benefit. For more information contact: 0161 912 2220. Council Tax Discount People who live alone qualify for a council tax discount of 25%. Empty properties may be entitled to a discount up to 100%. Some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted when working out how many people live in a property. This means some people will not be counted for council tax purposes including: Certain carers providing at least 35 hours care a week to someone who is not their husband, wife or partner, or a child under 18 Adults who mainly live in a nursing or care home and are receiving treatment there People who are severely mentally impaired Work out who should be disregarded in your household. Then count how many people are left. If it is only one person or none then you may get a reduction. For further information and an application form for Council Tax Housing Benefit This benefit helps people on a low income pay their rent. The amount you receive will depend on the level of your rent, your income and your savings. Further information and an application form can be obtained from 0161 912 2220. Page 7

You may be entitled to housing benefit or an increase in your award If your answer is Yes to all these questions. 1. Do you or your partner have a carer who stays overnight in your home? 2. Do you rent your home from a private landlord? 3. Is the overnight care provided by a carer who doesn t live in your home? 4. Do you have a room that your carer uses to sleep in overnight? A bedroom that is used by a carer who doesn t live in your home can be taken into account when working out how much housing benefit to pay. If you think you might be entitled to help with the cost of an extra bedroom that is used by a carer please contact the above number. Incapacity Benefit Incapacity Benefit is only paid to existing claimants who were unable to work because of illness or disability before 31 January 2011. New claimants from 1st February 2011 receive Employment and Support Allowance) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) If you are ill or disabled, Employment and support Allowance (ESA) offers you: financial support if you are unable to work and personalised help so that you can work if you are employed, self -employed or unemployed. You may get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if your illness or disability affects your ability to work and you re: Under state pension age Page 8

Not getting statutory pay or Statutory Maternity Pay and you haven t gone back to work Not getting job seekers allowance You can apply for ESA if you re employed, self-employed, un-employed or a student on Disability Living Allowance. You may get ESA if you ve lived or work abroad and paid enough National Insurance (UK or equivalent) To claim ESA call: 0800 055 6688. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability if you re aged 16 to 64. You could get between 21.55 to 138.05 a week. The rate depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself. You ll 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. PIP started to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64 from 8 April 2013 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is usually paid every 4 weeks. It s tax free and you can get it whether you re in or out of work. It s made up of 2 components (parts). Whether you get 1 or both of these depends on how your condition affects you. The Daily living component weekly rate is Standard 54.45 and enhanced 81.30 The Mobility component weekly rate is Standard 21.55 and enhanced 56.75 Page 9

You ll need an assessment to work out the level of help you ll get. Your award will be regularly reassessed to make sure you re getting the right support. You ll get the enhanced daily living component if you re not expected to live more than 6 months. The rate of mobility component depends on your needs. To qualify for PIP, you must: Be aged 16-64 Have a long-term health condition or disability and difficulties with activities related to daily living and or mobility (see below) Be in Great Britain when you claim there are some exceptions eg members and family members of the armed forces Have been in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years Be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel islands Not to be subject to immigration control (unless you are a sponsored immigrant) There are some exceptions to these conditions if you re living or coming from another EEA country or Switzerland. You must have a long-term health condition or disability and have difficulties with activities related to daily living and or mobility. You must have had these difficulties for three months and expect them to last for at least nine months. If you re terminally ill, you don t need to have these difficulties for three months. You may get the daily living component of PIP if you need help Page 10

with things like: Preparing or eating food Washing, bathing or using the toilet Dressing and undressing Reading and communicating Managing your medicines or treatments Making decisions about money Engaging with other people You may get the mobility component of PIP if you need help with going out or moving around. Your claim will be assessed by an independent health professional to help DWP work out the level of help you need. This may be a face to face consultation you ll get a letter explaining why and where you must go. DWP makes a decision about the claim based on the result of the assessment, your application and any supporting evidence you include. Attendance Allowance (AA) You can get Attendance Allowance if you re 65 or over and the following apply: You have a physical disability, a mental disability or learning difficulties Your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else s safety. It is paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability. You can apply by calling: 0345 605 6055 Page 11

Independent Living Fund (ILF) The Independent Living Fund (ILF) provides money to help disabled people live an independent life in the community rather than in residential care. You can use payments from the ILF to: employ a carer or personal assistant to give you personal and domestic care pay a care agency to provide personal care and help with domestic duties The ILF is permanently closed to new applications. ILF payments will stop in March 2015. You ll get a transfer review visit before the ILF closes to discuss your care arrangements after that date. NHS Benefits These include: Free prescriptions Free dental treatment Free NHS eye tests and vouchers to help with the cost of glasses Various people may qualify including those on Income Support and Pension Credit (guarantee credit). There is also a Low Income scheme and pre-payment certificates that can help. For more information contact Help with Health Costs on 0300 330 1343 This booklet only gives a basic outline of some of the benefits carers and the people that they care for may be eligible for. There are a number of other organisations that publish more detailed booklets about specific benefits. Page 12

Age UK Website: www.ageuk.org.uk and www.ageuk.org.uk/trafford Age UK Trafford - 0161 746 3940 Monday to Friday 10.00am-1.00pm Alzheimer s Society Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk Helpline: 0845 300 0336 Mind (National Association for Mental Health) Website: www.mind.org.uk Information Line: 0300 1233 393 Carers UK Website: www.carersuk.org CarersLine: 0808 808 7777 Mon-Fri 10.00am-4.00pm Disability Law Service Website: www.dls.org.uk Advice Line: 020 7791 9800 Monday to Friday 9.30am-5.30pm Disability Rights UK Website: www.disabilityrightsuk.org Citizens Advice Beureu Advice Guide Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk Page 13

Money advice service Website: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk Tel: 0300 500 5000 8.00am-8.00pm Monday to Friday, 10.00am-6.00pm and Saturday 9.00am-1.00pm, Family Actions grants helpline Tel: 020 7241 7459 Website: www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=1037 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2.00pm - 4.00pm Citizens Advice Bureau Tel: 0844 499 4103 Trafford has a number of offices in Trafford providing free and confidential advice on a range of issues including benefits, legal issues, consumer rights, housing and debt. The offices are situated in: Altrincham: Altrincham Library, 20 Stamford New Road, Altrincham, WA14 1EJ. Tuesdays 12.00pm -3.00pm and Fridays 10.00am-1.00pm Partington: Community Centre, Central Road, Partington, M31 4FE. Tuesdays 10.00am-1.00pm Sale: 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, M33 7BS, Monday 10.00am-1.00pm and Wednesday 11.00am 4.00pm. Stretford: Stretford Library, Kingsway, Stretford, M32 8SG. Monday 12.00pm 3.00pm and Thursday 10.00pm 1.00pm Page 14

Urmston: 9d Crofts Bank Road, Urmston, M41 0TZ. Friday 10.00 1.oopm Trafford Benefits Advice Services Tel: 0161 912 2735 Provide help and advice with all social security benefits and tax credits. They run a Benefits Advice Line which is open Monday to Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm. The Pension Service Tel: 0845 6060265 Provides advice on pensions and will also assist people to fill out benefit claim forms via home visits. Age UK Trafford Tel: 0161 746 3940 Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/trafford Age UK can provide general advice on benefits, pensions, making a will and legal issues. Information lines are open Monday to Thursday 9.30am-.3.00pm. (Closed between 1-1.30) Money Problems It is important that you get advice as early as possible if you have money worries. There are several organisations who can support you if you are financial difficulty. Page 15

National Debt line Tel: 0808 808 4000. Website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk This is a helpline providing free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems. The specialist advice given over the telephone is backed up with written self help materials which are sent out free. The Helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00am-9.00pm and Saturday 9.30am-1.00pm. StepChange debt charity Tel: 0800 138 1111 Website: www.stepchange.org This is a charity dedicated to providing confidential, free counselling and money management assistance to financially distressed families and individuals. This service is provided by telephone or online. They can be contacted Monday to Friday 8.00am-8.00pm. Trafford Housing Trust Housing Options and Tenancy Support: Tel: 0300 777 7777 Housing Options is a housing advice service for people across Trafford. It can provide support if you are struggling to pay your rent or mortgage. The Tenancy Support Service is available to anyone in Trafford experiencing difficulty in managing their tenancy. They can help you to set up and run your home and identify means to help overcome problems. Opening hours 9:00am-4.30pm Monday to Friday except Tuesday open only until 1.00pm. Credit unions are financial co-operatives owned and controlled by their members. They offer savings and loans and may also Page 16

offer current accounts, child trust funds, ISAs and benefits direct. Each credit union has a common bond which determines who can join it. The common bond may be for people living in the same area, people working for the same employer or who belong to the same organisation such as a trade union. Sale Credit Union Address: Sale West Community Rooms, Newbury Avenue, Sale M33 4QW Tel: 0161 973 3535 For people who live and work in the area of Sale and small areas to north and southwest. Age UK Factsheets Arranging for others to make decisions about your finances or welfare Attendance Allowance Be money smart Capital income and means-tested benefits Care home funding and attendance allowance Carers Allowance Check your tax Civil Partnership and same-sex couples Concessions for older people Dealing with debt Deferring retirement pension questions and answers Direct payment of pension and benefits Disability Living Allowance Equity release and income-related benefits Financial help from benevolent societies Getting financial help to stay at home Page 17

Help with heating Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit How to get information and advice about your investments Income Tax Later life as an older lesbian gay or bisexual person Make the most of the internet Making a will Making the most of your money Older home owners: financial help with repairs and adaptations Older same-sex couples and benefits Paying for your care home Payment of pension and benefits into Bank accounts Pension Credit Planning for later life as a lesbian gay man or bisexual person Planning for later life: transgender people Planning to live abroad Planning your retirement income Protect yourself from scams Questions on pensions Raising income or capital from your home Social Fund and other sources of financial help The Council Tax The pension credit: questions and answers The State Pension Thinking about money What to do when someone dies Your tax health check Page 18

The Advocacy Service at Trafford Council for Voluntary Services Tel: 0161 976 2448 This service can assist with any stage of a complaint or situation against Trafford Council where you may require an advocate. They provide trained volunteer advocates who will write letters and make telephone calls on your behalf. Carers UK Carers Line: 0808 808 7777 Lines are open Monday to Friday 10.00am--4.00pm. For advice about your situation as a carer. Carers Direct Helpline: 0300 123 1053 Email: CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk Free, confidential information and advice Products and services in this booklet are not endorsed or recommended by Trafford Carers Centre Please advise us if you discover any inaccurate information in this booklet. Version 2: Aug 2014 Copyright @TraffordCarersCentre

Carers Helpline: 0161 848 2400 Fax: 0161 848 2408 E-mail: info@traffordcarerscentre.org.uk www.traffordcarerscentre.org.uk @TraffordCarers Facebook.com/TraffordCarers Trafford Carers Centre 13 Warwick Road Old Trafford Manchester M16 0QX Registered Charity No: 1102075 Company Limited by Guarantee: 4695523