Leaflet 4 - Money Matters

Many carers and people who are ill or disabled experience financial difficulties. This may be due to a loss of earnings or due to additional expenses involved in caring. There are a number of benefits available which may help to ease the financial burden.

Remember if you are entitled to benefits, it is your right to receive them. Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed about making a claim - those extra few pounds could make all the difference.

Benefits are paid by
Jobcentre Plus or The Pension Service section of The Department of Work and Pensions (formerly The Benefits Agency)

Contact details
Jobcentre Plus, Bede House, Tynegate Precinct, Sunderland Road, Gateshead. NE8 1JB
Tel 0191 220 4000

The Pension Service, PO Box 40, Seaham. SR7 7AQ
Tel 0845 60 60 265 Textphone 0845 60 60 285
or
The Tax Credit Office, Inland Revenue, PO Box 145, Preston. PR1 0GP
Tel 0845 300 3900 Textphone 0845 300 3900

Lines are open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

If you think you, or the person you care for, may be entitled to a particular benefit, apply today. It can sometimes take a while for the application to be processed and for payments to be made.

This section outlines the benefits which you, or the person you care for, may be entitled to. However, the system can be quite complicated and changes do occur, so please contact one of the agencies listed at the end for help and advice.

Benefits for carers

Carers Allowance (CA)
(Previously Invalid Care Allowance - ICA)
For carers aged 16 or over. You must be caring for at least 35 hours a week, earn less than £77 (after expenses) and must not be in full time education, or receiving another benefit which compensates you for not being able to work, for example, Incapacity Benefit. CA is treated as income in calculations for other benefits.

The person you care for must be in receipt of either Attendance Allowance, or the higher or middle rate of the 'care' component of Disability Living Allowance (or equivalent).

Apply to Jobcentre Plus/The Pension Service

The Carer Premium
This is an extra amount of money paid to carers.

It is only paid to people who get Carers Allowance (CA) or qualify for CA but do not receive it because they get another overlapping benefit, for example Incapacity Benefit or Retirement Pension. In this case you would receive a letter saying that you are entitled to CA but cannot be paid it.

The Carer Premium is paid as part of Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, upon proof that you are eligible for CA.
Apply to Jobcentre Plus/The Pension Service

Benefits for the person you care for

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
A benefit for people under the age of 65. The benefit is made up of a 'care' component and a 'mobility' component.

To get DLA, the person must have needed help for the last three months and be likely to need help for the next six months, unless they are terminally ill in which case there are special rules.

The 'care' component is for people who need help or supervision at home. It is paid at three different rates - lower, middle or higher, depending on the level of care needed.

The 'mobility' component is for people who have problems walking or need guidance when they are out. It is paid at two different rates depending on how much difficulty the person has in moving around.

Getting DLA can mean extra Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. If the person gets the middle or high rate 'care' component, the carer can make a claim for Carers Allowance.

Getting the high 'mobility' component can mean getting a Blue Badge for the car and Road Tax Exemption.

Apply to Jobcentre Plus.

Motability
Motability is a scheme set up to help people buy or lease a car using the Mobility part of their Disability Living Allowance.
For further information see Section 8 - Getting out and about.

Attendance Allowance (AA)
A benefit for people over the age of 65 who have significant care needs. There are two rates. The higher rate is for people who need care during the day AND night; the lower rate is for people who need care during the day OR night. There is no help for mobility.

Getting Attendance Allowance can mean extra Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. The carer can also apply for Carers Allowance.

Apply to Jobcentre Plus.

Incapacity Benefit
For people who cannot work because of illness or disability, who have paid enough National Insurance contributions and who cannot get Statutory Sick Pay.

A person who is terminally ill or on the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance 'care' component can get the highest rate of Incapacity Benefit after the first 28 weeks of not working.

Apply to Jobcentre Plus.

For people on low income

Income Support
For people under 60 who have no, or low, income that needs to be topped up to meet the level set by the Government. People with children, lone parents, pensioners, people who are ill or have a disability, and carers, can sometimes get an extra amount.

Claiming Income Support normally means you can also get help with rent and Council Tax, help with mortgage interest, free health benefits (prescriptions, eye tests and so on) and other benefits (for example, free school meals).

You cannot usually get Income Support if you work for 16 hours a week or more. If you have savings of over £3000, it may affect the amount of Income Support awarded. You are not eligible for Income Support if your savings are £8000 or over.

Apply to Jobcentre Plus.

Pension Credit
(Previously Minimum Income Guarantee MIG)
For people aged 60 and over, it guarantees a weekly income set by the Government. For the first time people aged 65 and over may also be rewarded for some of the savings and income they have for their retirement.

Apply to The Pension Service on 0800 99 1234

Working Tax Credit (WTC)
Working Tax Credit can be paid to a person responsible for a child and who works more than 16 hours a week.

People without children can claim if they are aged 25 or over and work at least 30 hours a week or aged 16 or over and work 16 hours a week and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job.

People aged 50 or over can claim if they work at least 16 hours a week and are returning to work after time spent on qualifying out of work benefits.

Child Tax Credit (CTC)
Child Tax Credit is a payment to support families with children. The person responsible for a child can claim if they have at least one child who is under 16 or under 19 if in full time non advanced education.

Both WTC and CTC are claimed on the same form. The form is available from the Inland Revenue and Job Centre Plus offices.

Tel 0845 300 3900 Textphone 0845 300 3900

Housing Benefit
A tax-free benefit paid by the Finance Department of the Council to help with paying rent.

You should apply if:

• You have a low income
  
• You have less than £16 000 in savings (this may not apply if you are aged over 60)
  
• You are paying rent to a landlord or living in a hotel, guest house, hostel or similar

Housing Benefit can be paid whether you are employed, unemployed, self-employed or retired.

Apply to the Benefits' section at the Finance Department of the Civic Centre, or the local housing office, or contact the Housing Benefit Enquiry Line on 0191 433 4646.

Council Tax reductions and Benefit
The amount of Council Tax you have to pay depends upon:

• The value of the property
  
• The number of people living there
  
• The income of the people living there

There is a complicated system of discounts and rebates which means that some people do not have to pay the full tax. This includes some carers.

Council Tax rebate is a benefit paid by the Council to help with your Council Tax if you have a low income. You can also apply for Council Tax reductions and discounts which are not based on your income.

Council Tax rebates and reductions can be quite complicated so it is well worth getting some advice.

An information booklet is available from Gateshead Carers Association. (See Section 13 - Caring contacts).

If you think you may be entitled to a reduction or rebate, contact any local housing office or the Finance Department at the Civic Centre on 0191 433 3600.

The Social Fund
Awards lump sum payments, either as a grant or a loan, to people who are on a low income to help with one-off expenses.

For example:

• Funeral payments.
• Cold weather payments.
  
• Crisis loans - if you need money in an emergency.
  
• Budgeting loans - for people getting Income Support. Can be used to buy things like furniture.

Loans must be paid back, but are interest free. To claim from the Social Fund, you must be in receipt of either Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance.

Apply to Jobcentre Plus.

Other sources of income
Community Care Grants
Can be paid to people with disabilities, mental ill health, learning difficulties or older people to help them live independently in the community.

Grants could cover:

• Travel costs
  
• Buying furniture
  
• Minor house repairs, and so on

The Community Care Grant does not have to be repaid.
To claim, you must be in receipt of Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance or have a low income.

Apply to the Jobcentre Plus

Independent Living Fund (ILF)
Is a regular cash payment available to disabled people to enable them to continue living in their own home. The money can be used to pay for practical help, when and how the disabled person wants it.

To apply individuals must:

• Have been assessed as needing at least £200 of services per week from Gateshead Community Based Services.
• Be between 16 and 65.
  
• Be receiving the higher rate of the 'care' component of Disability Living Allowance.
  
• Be able to live in their own home for at least the next six months.

How to apply
Contact the nearest Community Based Services office to arrange for an assessment and to discuss whether the person you care for would be eligible for the Independent Living Fund.
For further information contact Disability Gateshead. (See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Direct Payments
A Direct Payment is money which is given to someone by Gateshead Council to arrange their own care services. Direct Payments promote choice, flexibility and independence.

A Direct Payment can be offered where a person with care needs or a carer has had either a Community Care Assessment (done by a Social Worker), or a Care Co-ordination Assessment (done by a Care Co-ordinator which is a Social Worker, Community Psychiatric Nurse or Occupational Therapist). You must be identified as needing assistance and you must meet the eligibility criteria.

Who can get a Direct Payment?
Carers, older people, people with a learning, physical or sensory impairments, people with mental ill health and parents of children with a disability.

Direct Payments can be used to purchase
A short break, a place in an independent day service, transport that is individual and flexible, small pieces of equipment, the recruitment of a Personal Assistant or anything else that has been assessed as a need.

'Making the Connection' Project
'Making the Connection' Project is run by Gateshead Crossroads. The project can offer advice, support and information on the uptake of Direct Payments.

Arrangements can be made for one-to-one support through visits to your home or at a location convenient to you. Advocacy can also be arranged on an individual needs basis.

Contact Making the Connection Gateshead Crossroads Tel 0191 478 2423
Freephone helpline Tel 0800 195 1145
Minicom 0191 478 6284

For advice and information on recruiting Personal Assistants, Contact Leonard Cheshire, (See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Charitable Trusts
Carers, disabled and older people may be eligible for extra financial assistance. There are a number of organisations that give grants, one-off payments or a small regular income to cover the purchase of aids, holidays, education and so on.

Small funds are available from Gateshead Carers Strategy Group and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, for further information contact Gateshead Carers Association. (See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

A guide produced by Funding Information North East (FINE), the North East Guide to Grants for Individuals, is available to purchase from Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council (GVOC).

Alternatively, GVOC's reference library has a copy that can be accessed on request. Use of the library MUST be booked in advance. A copy is also available in the Gateshead Carers Association Resource Room.

GVOC also maintains People in Need - a database of funders. If you wish to apply for financial help contact GVOC. A questionnaire will be sent to you by post and the worker will provide details taken from the database of charitable organisations relevant to you.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact
Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council (GVOC)
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Helping agencies

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
CAB provides a free and impartial, advice and information service on welfare benefits, money matters such as debts, fuel bills and income tax credits. They have a worker who can give advice and help you to claim Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance.

They have a free Home Visiting service for people who are unable to get to the CAB because they are elderly, disabled or progressively ill, or because they care for someone who is elderly, sick or disabled.

Personal or telephone enquiries can be made between 10am and 3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Telephone enquiries only on Wednesday between 10am and 1pm.

Contact Citizens Advice Bureau
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)
Citizens Advice Bureau - Home Visiting Service
Tel 0191 478 6132

Welfare Rights Service
Offers free advice and information on any aspect of Welfare Benefits. They can offer advice over the telephone or by appointment at the local Community Based Services office or, if you are unable to get into the office, at your own home.

Contact the nearest Community Based Services office.
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Gateshead Crossroads
Gateshead Crossroads' Outreach service offers, help to access services and help to fill in forms. Carers can be visited at home or another convenient place to discuss their needs.

Contact Gateshead Crossroads
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Gateshead Carers Association
Can provide further information booklets on all the benefits outlined within this leaflet. Gateshead Carers Association is working with a number of different organisations at different locations in Gateshead to provide advice sessions.

Contact Gateshead Carers Association
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Disability Gateshead
Can provide further information about Direct Payments and the Independent Living Fund.

Contact Disability Gateshead
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Gateshead Law Centre
Provides advice and information on a wide range of issues including housing, employment, community care, discrimination and welfare rights.

Contact Gateshead Law Centre
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Help with housing repairs, improvements and adaptations
The person you care for may be able to get a grant to help with the cost of repairing, improving or adapting their home, or you may be able to get a grant for your home if the person you care for lives with you.

How to apply

Contact Gateshead Council's Housing or Community Based Services Departments
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Useful telephone numbers
Benefit Enquiry Line - General 0800 88 22 00
Benefit Enquiry Line - Completing forms 0800 44 11 44
Benefit Enquiry Line - Textphone Users 0800 24 33 55

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