Wales Council of the Blind

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Benefits and Disability Benefits.

Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs if you are on a low income, out of work or you cannot work. If you have a health condition or impairment, you may be entitled to an extra amount.

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits:

  • Housing Benefit
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support 

Universal Credit Helpline: 0800 328 5644. Welsh language: 0800 328 1744.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person. Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension. You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

You can apply by phone if you prefer. A friend or family member can call for you if you cannot use the phone.

Pension Credit claim line

Telephone: 0800 99 1234 (Croesawir galwadau yn Gymraeg / Calls are welcomed in Welsh)

Disability benefits

If you are a disabled person, you may be eligible for certain benefits. We’ve given information on these below.

If you require further information about benefits, please contact:

Citizen’s Advice Bureau on 0800 702 02020 to find out more or to make a claim.

Alternatively, contact Wales Council of the Blind on 02920 473 954 to find an organisation that can advise with benefits or help you to complete a claim form.

Disability Living Allowance (Children)

Disability Living Allowance is a tax-free benefit for children under the age of 16 who have care or mobility needs.

You can apply for DLA for a child if one of the following apply:

  • They required more care, attention and supervision than a child of the same age who isn’t disabled.
  • They have difficulty walking or getting around outdoors in unfamiliar places, compared to a child of the same age who isn’t disabled.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP is money for people aged 16 or over and have not reached State Pension age who have extra care or mobility needs as a result of a disability. PIP is not means tested and can be claimed in addition to most other benefits.

PIP comprises two parts:

  • Daily Living - if you need support with everyday tasks.
  • Mobility – if you need help with getting around.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who have reached State Pension age to help with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.

The payment is not means tested and how much you can get will depend on the level of care that you need. The allowance does not cover mobility needs.

You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim for Attendance Allowance.

You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit (being replaced by Universal Credit) or Council Tax reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.

Carer’s Allowance

The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:

  • Personal Independence Payment - daily living component
  • Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate
  • Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Pension Age Disability Payment
  • Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • Child Disability Payment - the middle or highest care rate
  • Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
Your eligibility

All of the following must apply:

·         you’re 16 or over

·         you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone

·         you’ve been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)

·         you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces (you might still be eligible if you’re moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland)

·         you’re not in full-time education

·         you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more

·         you’re not subject to immigration control

·         your earnings are £196 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses

You cannot get Carer’s Allowance if you share the care of someone and the other carer is already claiming:

·         Carer’s Allowance for that person

·         Carer Support Payment for that person

·         the extra amount of Universal Credit for caring for someone who gets a disability-related benefit for that person.

Employment Support Allowance.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)ESA can help with living costs if you have difficulty working because you are sick or disabled. You can also receive support to help you get back into work.

There have been some changes to the ESA. 

The primary difference is that New Style ESA is a benefit based on your National Insurance (NI) contributions, while Income-related ESA (now being replaced by Universal Credit) is based on your income and savings. You can no longer apply for Income-related ESA, but you can apply for New Style ESA if you have the correct NI record and a health condition that limits your ability to work. You can also receive New Style ESA alongside Universal Credit. 

New Style ESA

Eligibility:

You must have paid enough National Insurance contributions in the past two or three years. 

Basis:

Your eligibility and payment amount depend on your NI contributions, not your income or savings. 

Claiming:

This is the type of ESA you can claim for if you're starting a new claim. 

With Universal Credit:

You can claim New Style ESA on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit. 

Income-related ESA (now being replaced by Universal Credit) 

Eligibility:

You must have an illness or disability that prevents you from working and have low income and savings.

Basis:

Your eligibility and payment amount are based on your income and savings, not your NI contributions.

Claiming:

You cannot make a new claim for Income-related ESA; it has been replaced by Universal Credit.

Current Claimants:

If you are already getting Income-related ESA, you will continue to receive it for now but will eventually be moved to Universal Credit.

You can apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you’re under State Pension age and you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

You also need to have both:

  • worked as an employee or have been self-employed
  • paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years - National Insurance credits also count

Disability Premiums.

Disability premiums are extra amounts of money that can be added to your:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Housing Benefit

There are 3 types of disability premium for adults:

  • disability premium
  • enhanced disability premium
  • severe disability premium

This article first appeared in WCB Roundup 40, 2022.