DO YOU NEED HELP WITH MONEY & BENEFITS?
It is important to claim benefits (MONEY) if there is a chance you could be entitled to them. If you do not, you could lose out on a lot of money. Getting certain benefits is the key to getting other help.
There are several different benefits you or your carer could get. You can often get more than one benefit at a time. Some benefits help you qualify for others. Some benefits depend on your level of disability. Others, called means tested benefits, are paid to you if you do not have enough money to live on.
Your Fairway Facilitator would support you to find out your benefit entitlement. The facilitator would then help you to fill in the appropriate forms and or seek the appropriate guidance if required. If you are between 16-18 you will be required to go along to your Social Security Office and if you are over 18 you are required to phone:
0800 055 66 88 or textphone 0800 023 48 88
Again, your Fairway Facilitator will help you every step of the way!
Types of Benefits you may be entitled to
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit paid to you if you need help to look after yourself (care) or help getting around (mobility). It does not matter if you’re working or at school or college – it’s your care and mobility needs that matter.
Employment and Support Allowance can help you move into work. For new claims it has replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income support paid because of a disability. If you already receive Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to receive it.
The Independent Living Fund (ILF) makes payments to you to help you lead a more independent life. You can use payments from the fund to pay a care agency or to employ someone to give you personal and domestic care in your home.
Carer's Allowance is a taxable benefit for your carer to help look after you.
There is a useful guide to financial support online to help you understand the different types of benefits available.
How are benefits paid?
Direct Payment is the normal way benefits are paid to you. It is a safe, convenient and straight forward method of payment. When benefits are paid by Direct Payment they are paid directly into your bank or building society account.
You can also access your benefits through a Post Office card account and if necessary you can still receive your benefit in the way of a cheque (or sometimes called a giro).
Other Information
Direct payments (these are different from Direct Payment of benefits) are payments from your local council if you have been assessed as needing help from social services, and you would like to arrange and pay for your own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from the local council.
You must be able to give your consent to receiving direct payments and be able to manage them even if you need help to do this on a day-to-day basis.
Useful Links:
Benefit Enquiry line contact details
