Benefits Available To People With Poor Health
I am disabled, what benefits can I claim?
If you are disabled and you want to claim benefits, one of the key things is whether or not you are working. Because having a disability does not preclude you from working. If you are working, you might want to look at working tax credit, if you are on a low income. Disability living allowance is paid whether or not you are working, if you have a disability. If you are not working, seek advice about claiming incapacity benefit. In addition to those benefits, there may be other benefits you may be entitled to such as income support. You might be able to get help with your rent or mortgage or with your council tax, and so many other things which depend on whether you have a partner and whether you have children and other household type issues. So seek advice to get full entitlements.
I am off sick from work, what should I be receiving?
If you're off sick from work, and you are employed, then your employer should probably be paying you statutory sick pay from the fourth day of sickness. Ask them about that. If you're off sick from work, and your work is self employment, then depending upon your national insurance records, you may or may not be entitled to incapacity benefit. If neither of those benefits apply, or in fact if they do apply but you are still on a low income, then you might be entitled to other benefits in addition to that. This could be in the form of income support or help with your rent or mortgage, or cancel tax benefit, or help with prescriptions. Seek advice and take long details of your household income and savings.
I am a carer, are there any benefits available to me?
If you are a carer, there's only one specific benefit that is for you, which is carer's allowance. If you meet the rules of entitlement, then do claim that. Depending on the circumstances of your household, there may be other benefits that you could also claim, whether you have dependent children or whether you have a partner. Do they work? What savings do you have? Do you pay rent? Do you have a mortgage? Seek advice, and take your details along. Seek advice from your local citizens' advice bureau or your local carers' support group.
A member of my family has died, can I claim benefit to help with funeral costs?
If a member of your family has recently died, it's possible that you may be able to get help with some of the funeral costs, although they are in certain circumstances restricted. You may be able to get a funeral payment from the social fund. You have to be the person who is responsible for organizing the funeral, and that means something very specific within Social Security. You have to be able to qualify and benefit, so seek advice as soon as possible.