Benefits

While we cannot provide welfare rights advice or personal medical reports, we do have some resources that will help with your application and can signpost you to further sources of support. Your haemophilia centre is also there to help you with your benefit application forms.

Here’s a summary of the main categories for benefits available in 2024, including recent changes.

• Financial Support for Families:
  • Universal Credit (UC): This is the main benefit for working-age people and families on a low income or out of work. It is a monthly payment that replaces multiple previous benefits such as Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Housing Benefit (for working-age people), Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit. Throughout 2024 and 2025, claimants on these benefits will be switched to UC.
  • Child Benefit: This is a tax-free payment to the main carer for most children under 16 (or 20 if they’re in approved education or training).
• Support for People with Disabilities:
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP): This benefit helps with the extra costs of living with a long-term physical, mental, or sensory disability. For assistance, please refer to our PIP form guide.
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA): This benefit is for children under 16 and depends on the level of help the child needs. For assistance, please refer to our DLA form guide.
  • Attendance Allowance (AA): This benefit is for people over the age of State Pension who need help with daily tasks or supervision due to a disability.
  • Adult Disability Payment (ADP): In Scotland, ADP replaces Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and is for people aged 16 to State Pension age with a long-term disability or health condition that affects their daily living or mobility.
  • Child Disability Payment (CDP): In Scotland, CDP replaces the Disability Living Allowance for children ( DLA for children) and provides financial support for children with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
  • Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): If you are ill or have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work, you may be able to get contribution-based ESA. You must have worked within the last 2 to 3 years and made (or been credited with) Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions, which are not means-tested.
• Support for Carers:
  • Carer’s Allowance (CA): This benefits people who care for someone who needs help because of their illness, disability or frailty.
  • Carer Support Payment (CSP): In Scotland, Carer’s Allowance has now been replaced by CSP. It provides financial support for those who care for someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit.
• Support for Renters:
  • Local Housing Allowance (LHA): LHA sets the maximum amount the government will contribute to your rent in the private sector. It’s based on Area: Rates are set for different areas across the UK, with higher costs in places like London. Household size: The number of bedrooms you’re entitled to depends on your family’s needs. It’s not a guaranteed benefit – you must claim Universal Credit or Housing Benefit to be eligible for LHA.
• Support for Older People:
  • State Pension: This is a weekly payment from the government to people who have reached state pension age.
  • Pension Credit: This is extra money to help with living costs if you’re over state pension age and on a low income.
• Other Benefits:
  • Council Tax Reduction: This is a reduction in your council tax bill if you’re on a low income.
  • Winter Fuel Payment: This is a one-off payment to help with the cost of heating your home during winter.
  • Incapacity Benefit: This is a benefit for people who have a disability or health condition that prevents them from working and who claimed before April 2013. New claims for Incapacity Benefit are no longer being accepted, but people who already get it will continue to receive it.

To learn more about these benefits and whether you might be eligible, visit the government website or contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.