This post describes the information given to the UK HSP Support Group at one of their AGM presentations via Zoom in 2022.
The presentation was given by Janet McBride from Citizens Advice (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/). It was an overview of the different types of benefits that those in the UK with HSP may be entitled to. Janet began by summarising the four main types of benefit which are likely to be relevant:
- Disability
- Sickness
- Low income
- Carer
Each of these is covered in a section below. The general approach for these benefits is to begin your claim by telephone, so that the date you claim the benefit from is as early as possible. Using the telephone makes the start point the day you contact them rather than the date that they have finished processing your application.
You can check which benefits you may be entitled to using one of these tools before spending a long time filling in complex forms and attending appointments. Entitled to: https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ or turn to us: https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
You can get help from citizens advice on any of these. If you dont like the decision on benefits then you can challenge the decision - but challenges can be difficult to be agreed unless there is new compelling evidence. You need to tell the benefit department if you have a change in circumstances. Further information can be found on https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/.
You can watch the presentation directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgAImXb5YI0
Disability Benefits
The disability benefit is not means tested. The specific benefit you would apply for depends on your age. Those under 16 would apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), those in retirement would apply for the Attendance Allowance, with all others applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
DLA is available for children who need more care than children who aren't disabled and/or who have difficulty moving around/safely compared with children who aren't disabled. Children must have been disabled for at least 3 months and are expected to remain so for at least another six months. There are two elements for DLA, a care element and a mobility element. There are different rates within each element, and you may get one or both elements, paid weekly. This benefit is available from the DWP: https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children
PIP is available for adults who find everyday tasks hard, who have found these things hard for at least three months and are expected to find them hard for at least another nine months. Needs are assessed against 10 daily living different activities and two mobility activities. Each activity is scored, and there are thresholds for a 'standard' and 'enhanced' allowance. You may get either the daily living part and/or the mobility part, paid weekly. This benefit is available from the DWP: https://www.gov.uk/pip
Attendance Allowance is for people who need others to physically attend to them during the day and/or the night. There are two elements, the day element and/or the night element. This benefit does not cover mobility issues. Further details here: https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance
Sickness Benefits
If you are ill whilst you are employed you are likely to be able to get Statutory Sick Pay, otherwise the New-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or New-style Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) are potentially available.
Statutory sick pay is payable to employees (i.e. not self employed) when you are sick for at least four days in a row and you have followed your employers rules. This is payable weekly up to 28 weeks. You may be entitled to contractual sick pay, so check with your employer if this is the case. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay
New-style ESA is available if you are self employed or if you are still sick after your 28 weeks of statutory sick pay. You must have sufficient national insurance contributions. This is paid weekly. Details here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance
New-style JSA applies if you have decided that you are not likely to be able to return to your original job, but you are likely to return to work in a different role. You must have sufficient national insurance contributions. This is paid weekly. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
Low Income
Universal Credit is available if you are too ill to work and you don't have enough to live on. It is the main means tested benefit for people of working age. There are a number of elements to this benefit above the standard amount, including housing, children, childcare, sick or disabled and carer. There are a whole host of criteria which need to apply. If you are sick or disabled you may get more money, and you may not have to look for work whilst claiming this benefit. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Pension Credit is for people who are above pension age and who dont have enough to live on. There are two parts, guarantee credit and savings credit (savings credit for people who reached state pension age before 6 Apr 2016). Claiming pension credit can increase the value of other benefits. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
Carers Allowance
This is available if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone and you earn less than £132 a week after deductions. The person you are caring for must also be getting at least one of specific benefits. If you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week you can get carers credits to help with national insurance and allow you to claim some other benefits. This benefit is an income replacement benefit. You can only apply for one income replacement benefit, so for example you could not receive carers allowance at the same time as getting a state pension or contributory JSA/ESA. But, you may be able to get a premium added to other benefits. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
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