A Carers Guide to

Benefits

A Carers Guide to Benefits

Introduction

This booklet provides a brief overview of welfare benefits for carers and cared for, to give you an idea which benefit you might consider claiming. Salford Carers Centre are able to help you and if necessary signpost you to other specialist services in Salford listed at the end of this booklet. Salford Carers Centre takes no responsibility for actions taken on the basis of the information contained in this booklet. It is intended as an introductory guide only and is by no means definitive advice. See www.gov.uk or www.turn2us.org.uk for any changes to welfare benefits that may have occurred since printing this booklet.

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What might I get help with? Getting a basic income or topping up your earnings with benefits you may be entitled to. Help with housing and council tax costs. Claiming benefits to help with the cost of disability. Other financial help because you have a low income.

Different types of benefits Means-tested benefits Entitlement to these depends on the income and savings of you and your partner. They include; Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. Non means-tested benefits These are either contributory or non contributory: Contributory benefits Entitlement depends on your National Insurance contributions. These include Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit. Non-contributory benefits Entitlement does not depend on your National Insurance contributions. These include Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Carers Allowance. A Carers Guide to Benefits

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Which benefits could I claim? Carers Allowance If you are 16 or over, caring for another person for at least 35 hours a week, not in full-time education, not earning too much and the person you are caring for is getting Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance care component (middle or higher rate) or Personal Independence Payment (either rate of the daily living component) you may be able to claim Carers Allowance. If you are receiving certain other benefits worth the same or more, you may not actually be paid Carers Allowance. However, it may still be worth applying for it because it gives you National Insurance contribution credits and entitlement to additional amounts of meanstested benefits. Claiming Carers Allowance may affect the amount of benefit that the person you are caring for receives so seek advice before claiming. A statement to be signed by the disabled person to say that they know that someone is claiming Carers Allowance for looking after them is part of the claim pack. Claim via the Disability and Carers Benefits Advice Line 0800 88 22 00 or Carers Allowance Unit 0845 608 4321 (textphone 0845 604 5312) www.gov.uk

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What happens if I take time off from caring? If the person you are caring for stops receiving Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance care component or Personal Independence Payment daily living component, Carers Allowance will stop being paid to you. Carers Allowance also stops when you, the carer, have been in hospital for 12 weeks, or you take a break from caring for more than 4 weeks for any other reason e.g. holiday. It can stop sooner if you have had any weeks off from caring in the last 26 weeks. For example if you have had one week off caring in the last 26 weeks, then Carer’s Allowance will stop after 11 weeks in hospital. If the person you care for has short stays in hospital or a care home, it is important to keep a diary of the days they are away from home to avoid losing benefit for yourself or the person you care for. Separate stays in hospital or care homes are added together unless they are separated by at least 29 days at home. If the person you care for gets Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, care component, or Personal Independence Payment, it stops after 28 days in hospital or care home. If the person you are caring for is under 16 years of age then Disability Living Allowance stops after 84 days in hospital. The day they go into a hospital or care home and the day they come out are both counted as a day out. The mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment is not affected by any stay in a care home and will continue to be paid. However, the mobility component stops being paid once someone has been in hospital for 28 days unless they have a Motability agreement. Other benefits may also be affected so consider seeking advice if circumstances change. A Carers Guide to Benefits

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What happens if the person I care for goes into permanent care? Carers Allowance stops when you stop caring for the person for 35 hours a week or they stop receiving Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment because they are in permanent care. The carer premium with one of the means tested benefits will continue for 8 weeks after your entitlement to Carers Allowance stops. You may be entitled to other benefits depending on your personal circumstances. If your partner goes into permanent care, the Department of Work and Pensions will treat your claims as though you are no longer a couple. If the person needing care is your partner, your home is not affected and will not be treated as available capital to meet the cost of fees. If you remain in the home and are a close relative of the person in care then the value of the home may be ignored. If this is not the case, Social Services may decide to use the value of the home to meet care costs. If this is the case, seek advice.

If Someone is Terminally Ill If someone is terminally ill, the qualifying period and proof of need, does not apply to Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance. The highest rate is automatically awarded. A person may not know that they are terminally ill. You, or another person such as their doctor, can claim using a special form (DS1500) on their behalf without them knowing.

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What happens if the person I care for dies? Carers Allowance stops 8 weeks after the death of the person you cared for. It will continue if you are over 65 and claimed Carer’s Allowance before 28th October 2002. You may be entitled to a Funeral Payment to help towards funeral costs. You must be on certain benefits and be responsible for the funeral and claim within 3 months of the funeral date. Call the Bereavement Service on 0845 606 0265 (textphone 0845 606 0285) or go onto www.gov.uk for a claim form.

You may be entitled to Bereavement benefits. If you have dependent children and are under pensionable age when your spouse or civil partner dies you may be entitled to Widowed Parent’s Allowance, dependent on the National Insurance contributions made by your late partner. There is a 12 month time limit for claiming these benefits. Get a claim pack from the Bereavement Service on 0845 606 0265. (textphone 0845 606 0285) or www.gov.uk

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Which other benefits could I claim? Carers Credit May be applicable if Carers Allowance is not appropriate. You could get Carers Credit if you’re caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week.This is a National Insurance credit that helps build your entitlement to the State Pension. It makes sure there are no gaps in your National Insurance record. The person you’re looking after must get one of the following: • Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate. • Attendance Allowance. • Constant Attendance Allowance. • Personal Independence Payment - daily living component, at the standard or enhanced rate. • Armed Forces Independence Payment. If the person you’re caring for doesn’t get one of these benefits, you may still be able to get Carer’s Credit. When you apply, fill in the ‘Care Certificate’ part of the application form and get a health or social care professional to sign it. Download the claim for or contact, the Carer’s Allowance Unit [email protected] 0345 608 4321 (textphone: 0345 604 5312) To get Carer’s Credit you must be: Aged 16 or over. Under State Pension age. Looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours a week. Information taken from www.salford.gov.uk/carers-benefits Please check for any changes. 9

Council Tax You may be entitled to Council Tax Support if your income is low enough. If you are a carer of someone who is not your partner, spouse or a child under 18 and you live in the same home as them, you may be able to get either a 25% or 50% discount on your council tax. You must care for the person for an average of 35 hours per week or more. The person you care for must also be getting one of the following benefits: • Attendance Allowance, high or middle rate Disability Living Allowance (care component), Constant Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment daily living component (either rate). • You don’t have to be claiming Carers Allowance to qualify for a discount. • If your application is turned down, you have the right to appeal. • Other council tax discounts which you may qualify for include: single person discount, second homes, unoccupied and substantially unfurnished dwellings discount, unoccupied dwellings requiring / undergoing major repair or structural alterations discount, family annexes and flood support schemes. • When counting the number of adults resident in a property, people are not counted if full-time students attending a college or university, apprentices, youth training trainees, people aged 18 if child benefit is payable and recent school and college leavers under 20, people in prison (except those in for non-payment of council tax or a fine), severely mentally impaired, Careworkers providing care on behalf of an official or charitable body; introduced by a charitable body, people caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18. • Conditions apply to each category noted above. • People who are facing extreme hardship due to changes to council tax benefits are eligible to apply to the Salford Discretionary Support Scheme for assistance. They will be considered against the overall level of hardship and need in the city.

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Attendance Allowance You can claim if you are aged 65 or over and need help with personal care or supervision to avoid danger to yourself. You must need this help for 6 months before Attendance Allowance can be paid unless you are terminally ill, when payment is instant. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested so any income or capital you have doesn’t count. It is tax-free and can be paid on top of all other benefits. If you get Attendance Allowance and are entitled to means-tested benefits then you may get additional amounts of those benefits. Claims are made on a self assessment form. Someone who knows you (eg. a carer, relative or doctor) is asked to explain your needs. It is important that this form is filled in as fully and accurately as possible, it is a good idea to seek specialist advice. For a claim pack call the Attendance Allowance Service Centre on 0345 605 6055 (text phone 0845 604 5312) or online at www.gov.uk Child Tax Credit Child Tax Credit is paid to support families with children up to age 20 if they are in full-time non-advanced education or unwaged workbased training. The maximum amount depends on the number of children in your family with additional allowances if children are registered blind or receive Disability Living Allowance. You do not have to be working to get Child Tax Credit. Claim via the Tax Credits Help Line on 0345 300 3900 (textphone 0345 300 3909) or download from www.hmrc.gov.uk Employment and Support Allowance This is a benefit for people with limited capability for work because of illness or disability.

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Contributory Employment and Support Allowance You may be entitled to this if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions and if you have limited capability for work according to the work capability assessment. It is only paid for 1 year if you are placed in the work-related activity group. If awarded this seek advice on how to reapply for this element immediately. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance This is means-tested. It can be paid if you have limited capability for work according to the Work Capability Assessment. It depends on your income and savings, not your national insurance contributions. It can be paid on its own or to top-up to the contributory allowance. Additional elements may be included in the amount you are entitled to if you have a partner or you or your partner are severely disabled or are a carer. Claim via Jobcentre Plus 0800 0 55 66 88 (textphone 0800 0234888) Incapacity Benefit Is being replaced by Employment and Support Allowance, unless you are close to retirement age you will be reassessed. This benefit is not open to new claims. Disability Living Allowance Disability Living Allowance is only available to new claimants under the age of 16. Claimants have to meet criteria, including a need for extra care and mobility problems. People aged 16-64 now claim Personal Independence Payment instead. Disability Living Allowance is paid on top of all other benefits and is tax free. Even if you have been awarded Disability Living Allowance indefinitely, you will at some point be reassessed for the Personal Independance Payment. Consider seeking advice to support you through this process, you may see your entitlement and level of payments change once reassessed. A Carers Guide to Benefits

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Housing Benefit Is a means-tested benefit, for people who pay rent. It may not cover the full cost of your rent if you live with other adults who can help pay the rent or your house is assessed as being too big for your needs. Housing Benefit does not cover other living costs like meals and fuel. Claims for Housing Benefit may be included in your claim for Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit. Otherwise contact your local authority for a claim form on telephone 0161 909 6504. Housing Costs If you have a mortgage and are entitled to a means-tested benefit then you may get help with your mortgage interest, ground rent and the interest on loans taken out for repairs and improvements for the home you normally live in. Your claim for housing costs will be included in your claim for the appropriate means-tested benefit. Severe Disablement Allowance This was abolished for new claimants on 6 April 2001 and is being phased out through reassessment, planned completion in 2014. You will continue to receive it as long as you meet the criteria or until you are reassessed for Employment and Support Allowance. Seek advice before reassessment from an advice agency. Health Benefits If you get a means-tested benefit then you will be entitled to maximum help with NHS costs including prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, eye tests and vouchers for glasses, and hospital fares. The low income scheme may help if you have a low income but are not on any means tested benefits. If you don’t qualify for any of these, a prepayment certificate may help reduce costs. You can get a claim form from your GP, dentist, optician or chemist, contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 0 55 66 88 (textphone 0800 0 23 48 88) or Health Costs Advice Line on 0300 330 1343. 13

Income Support or Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance Income Support tops up the difference between your calculated income and your needs figure. It is a means-tested benefit for people over 16 and under pension credit qualifying age with no income or a low income. Carers are eligible to apply for this benefit (If you have over £16,000 savings you will usually not qualify.) A basic amount is paid with extra premiums for people who are pensioners, disabled or lone parents with a disabled child. Seek advice as it may be better to claim Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance to top up your Carers Allowance. If you qualify for Income Support, you may choose to claim Incomebased Jobseeker’s Allowance instead to top up any Carers Allowance. It will not change the amount of benefit you are entitled to but you will be required to sign-on as available for work in order to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance. To claim contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 0 55 66 88 (textphone 0800 0 23 48 88). You will be asked to attend a workfocused interview, this does not always apply. Personal Independence Payment PIP is replacing claims for Disability Living Allowance. People aged 1664 with limited or severely limited ability to carry out daily living activities or mobility activities for at least the last 3 months and likely to persist for a further 9 months can claim. (This doesn’t apply if you are terminally ill.) It is paid on top of all other benefits and is tax-free. It is paid at two rates, standard and enhanced, and continues to be paid as long as you meet the qualifying conditions. If you get PIP and are entitled to means-tested benefits or credits you may receive additional amounts of these. To claim call 0800 917 2222 (textphone 0800 917 7777). You will be asked for your national insurance number, bank account details and details of your GP or other health professional.

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Statutory Sick Pay Is paid to employees by their employers for up to 28 weeks in any period of sickness lasting for 4 days or more. Unemployed and selfemployed people are not covered by Statutory Sick Pay and may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance instead. Universal Credit Is being slowly introduced in Salford to replace certain benefits for some people. It is a new single payment for people who are looking for work or on a low income. It combines living and housing costs, payments are made monthly, directly to the claimant. You can claim at www.gov.uk and manage your claim through an online account. If you cannot get online, or use a computer, support to complete your claim will be provided. If this does not yet apply to you, you can continue to claim the existing single benefits. Working Tax Credit May apply if you are working and on a low income. Lone parents aged 16 or over with children, those with a disability and those aged 60 or over, have to work at least 16 hours a week (If you are a couple with children usually you must work 24 hours or more between you, there are exceptions to this rule so seek advice.) Everyone else has to be at least 25 and work 30 hours or more a week. The amount of Working Tax Credit depends on your circumstances (eg. the number of hours worked, income and disability). You may also qualify for help towards the cost of childcare.

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Pension Credit Is an income-related, means tested benefit made up of 2 parts Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it’s below a certain level. Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, eg a pension. To qualify for Guarantee Credit: • You must live in Great Britain. • You or your partner must have reached Pension Credit qualifying age which is changing to 66 and linked to the state pension age for women. Guarantee Credit depends on your income, ensuring that you do not live below a set amount. You might get more if you’re a carer, severely disabled or have certain housing costs. The Pension Credit calculator and benefits calculator at www.gov.uk or www.turn2us.org.uk may help you work out what you may be entitled to. Savings Credit To qualify you and your partner must be 65 or over. You’re treated as a couple if you live with your husband, wife or partner. You don’t have to be married or in a civil partnership. You can’t get Pension Credit if you move abroad permanently. You can claim via 0800 99 1234 (textphone 0800 169 0133) or www.gov.uk State Pension You can claim State Pension when you have reached pension age. If you were born after 6 September 1954 your pension age is 66, this is changing constantly. The amount you receive is based on your National Insurance contributions or the contributions made by your spouse or civil partner. The Pension Service should automatically send you a claim form about 4 months before you reach State Pension age. If you don’t receive your form contact 0845 6060 265 (textphone 0845 6060285) or use www.gov.uk A Carers Guide to Benefits

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What other help might I get? Salford Discretionary Support Scheme This locally administered support replaces social fund crisis loan payments and community care grants for vulnerable people on low incomes. It can only help with the most essential items. Awards are discretionary. All other options for support should be investigated before an application is made. The scheme now has Immediate Emergency Assistance, Resettlement Grants and Council Tax Support. Ring freephone 0800 694 3695 or 0161 607 1626 www.salford.gov.uk/discretionarysupport Other payments from the Social Fund such as Budgeting Loans, Funeral Payments, Maternity Grants, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments will continue to be dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions as part of the Social Fund. For further information, visit www.turn2us.org.uk some of these benefits are not clearly listed on the government website. Budgeting loans Help pay for essential things like rent, furniture, clothes or hire purchase debts. The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. They are are interest-free so you only pay back what you borrow. You normally have to repay the loan within 104 weeks. You can apply for a loan if you’ve been getting income-related benefits for at least 26 weeks. You must still be getting income-related benefits when your application is assessed. They won’t affect your other benefits. Download and fill in claim form SF500 from www.gov.uk Or contact your local jobcentre plus to claim 0345 603 6967.

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Short Term Benefit Advance (STBAs) are available to people claiming any contributory or meanstested benefit, including Universal Credit. You cannot get a STBA without having claimed a benefit first. You must also be able to show that you are in financial need. This means that if you don't get a STBA there is a serious risk of damage to the health and/or safety of you and/or your family. There is no set list of situations this covers but as an example not being able to pay for gas or electricity could be a risk to your health. A STBA could help if: You have made a new claim for a benefit but will be in financial need until you receive your first payment. If you have had a change in your circumstances that will increase the amount of benefit you are entitled to. If it is not possible to pay your benefit on the due date. This could, for example, be due to a technical problem in processing your claim or payment. If you request a STBA after making a new claim, the decision maker won't give you an advance unless they believe that you are likely to be awarded the benefit once the claim has been processed. A STBA provides an advance payment of your future benefit award. The amount you receive will be taken out of your benefit payments once they are set up. The money will be paid into your bank or building society account. In some cases, it can be paid at a post office. The maximum amount of STBA available is based on: your personal allowance as part of the benefit you have claimed, and the number of days you have been due that benefit. If you are already making repayments for previous Social Fund loans or STBAs, then these may be taken into account. You can declare your need for a STBA to the Jobcentre Plus contact centre or an adviser in your local Jobcentre. They will then send an STBA request to the benefit centre to be decided. You can declare your need for STBA to the Jobcentre Plus 0800 055 6688 (textphone: 0800 023 4888)

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Benefit cap There’s a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called the benefit cap.The cap applies to the total amount that the people in your household get from the following benefits: Bereavement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (unless you get the support component), Guardian’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Universal Credit, Widowed Parent’s Allowance/ Widowed Mother’s Allowance/ Widows Pension you started getting before 9 April 2001. Who won’t be affected? You might still be affected by the cap if you have any grown-up children or non-dependants who live with you and they qualify for one of the benefits below. This is because they won’t normally count as part of your household. You’re not affected by the benefit cap if anyone in your household qualifies for Working tax Credit or gets any of the following benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Industrial Injuries Benefit (and equivalent payments as part of a war disablement pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme), Employment and Support Allowance, if you get the support component, War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension, War Pensions, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, Armed Forces Independence Payment. If you’re seeing a Jobcentre Plus adviser, Work Programme or Work Choice provider, they’ll continue to help you look for work and get skills you may need for a job.

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Care in the Community and Carers Assessment Social care services help people live independently and safely in the community (eg. adaptations or personal care services). You can request an assessment for community care services on behalf of the person you are looking after. You, the carer, also have the right to request a separate assessment of your needs to make sure that you get the help and support you need to continue looking after the person you care for. This might include: • Ways of enabling you to take a break from caring • Help you can get with looking after the person you care for • Looking at what the person you care for needs so that they can manage more of their needs for themselves. For further information contact your local Social Services office or your local carers centre for further information (telephone numbers on the back of this booklet)

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More Information for Support and Advice on Claiming Benefits Salford Carers Centre A local, independent charity, advising and supporting carers in Salford. A team of support workers offer one to one advice and support. Also, a specialist Drug and Alcohol Carers Support Worker and Young Adult and Young Carers Services. Telephone: 0161 833 2017 www.salfordcarerscentre.co.uk [email protected]

Carers Trust www.carers.org and www.youngcarers.net

Carers UK www.carers.org Carers line 0808 808 7777 www.carersuk.org

Government www.gov.uk is the official government website that provides access to detailed information on benefits although other benefits websites may be more comprehensive.

Salford Citizens Advice Bureau Offer advice and support on claiming benefits as well as reviews, sanctions and appeals. If there is going to be a change to your benefits or review it is advisable to seek support as early as possible calling from landline, 0844 826 9695, calling from a mobile, 0300 456 2554, health and wellbeing service for people who are sick or disabled 0161 206 0274. See www.salfordcab.org.uk/visit-us for bureau drop in times.

Turn to us www.turn2us.org.uk is sometimes more comprehensive than the government site which does not include information on all available benefits.

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More Information for Support and Advice on Claiming Benefits Shelter Provides confidential housing, welfare benefits and debt advice through a network of advice services. Telephone advice helpline 0808 800 4444. Opening times from 8.00am to 8.00pm between Monday and Friday and 8.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday and Sunday

SAIN Is a very useful local online resource with much information about benefits www.salfordadvice.org.uk Telephone: 0161 787 7840

Salford Welfare Rights Service provide advice, support and representation on benefits and tax credits. Telephone advice line 0800 345 7375. Mon-Fri 10am-12noon

Salford Adult Social Care Team Contact Centre Telephone: 0161 909 6517 For an assessment of the case needs of the person you look after and to request a carers assessment for yourself.

Salford Housing Options Provide advice and support with immediate housing problems or future housing needs. alford Husing Options point, Unity House, Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 5AW [email protected]

Social Landlord They may offer support services for these issues to tenants so it is worth enquiring with your housing officer.

Salford Job Centre Plus Telephone: 0845 604 3719

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