Welfare Rights Training 2010

Please note many of the following will only apply to existing Income Support claims pre April 2003 when Child & Working Tax Credits were first introduced. Income Support claims from this date will have all premiums paid for children paid in their parents Child Tax Credit awards, parents with children over set ages have also been transferred to Child Tax Credits. However many Carers we work with will still get Income Support

Income Support Taxable: No Means Tested: Yes Basic benefit to bring you and your families income up to the minimum amounts set by Parliament

To be entitled to IS a person must : To be entitled to IS a person must : Be aged l6 or over Be aged l6 or overand Be in GB (except in certain circumstances) Be in GB (except in certain circumstances)and Have no income, or an income which does not exceed the applicable amount Have no income, or an income which does not exceed the applicable amountand Not be in remunerative work (working 16 hours or more) Not be in remunerative work (working 16 hours or more)and Not have a partner in remunerative work (working 24 hours or more) Not have a partner in remunerative work (working 24 hours or more)and Not be in relevant education (unless in special circumstances) Not be in relevant education (unless in special circumstances)and Not be receiving JSA Not be receiving JSAor Have a partner who is receiving JSA (I.B), PCGT or IBESA Have a partner who is receiving JSA (I.B), PCGT or IBESAand Be in a prescribed category (See below). Be in a prescribed category (See below).

PRESCRIBED CATEGORIES PRESCRIBED CATEGORIES The following people can receive IS provided they satisfy the basic conditions of entitlement:

lone parents with a child under 10 (Child must be under 7 from October 2010) lone foster parents people temporarily looking after another person regular Carers disabled workers employed & in residential care, nursing home or residential accommodation disabled students (Pre October 2008 claimants only) deaf students blind people pregnant women within 11 weeks of the birth and for a further 15 weeks after the birth certain people in non-advanced / relevant education refugees learning English people required to attend court people affected by a trade dispute certain persons from abroad people in custody members of a couple looking after children whilst partner is temporarily abroad people appealing against a decision that they are not incapable of work people attending YT courses

Amounts Single person 16 – 24 £51.85 Single over 25 £65.45 Couples both under 18 £78.30 Couples one over 18 £102.75

Child Additions For each child add: Aged 0 – 1 £68.07 Aged 1 – 20 £57.57

INCOME SUPPORT ADDITIONAL PREMIUMS The Family Premium (£17.40) The Family Premium of £17.40 can be awarded only once in addition to any other premium The Family Premium of £17.40 can be awarded only once in addition to any other premium Your IS Family must include a Child aged under 20 who you are in receipt of Child benefit for. Your IS Family must include a Child aged under 20 who you are in receipt of Child benefit for. The Premium is fixed at £17.40 whether you have one Child or five Children. The Premium is fixed at £17.40 whether you have one Child or five Children. And And One of the Children you are claiming for must have capital of less than £3,000. One of the Children you are claiming for must have capital of less than £3,000. If you have just one Child and s/he does not count as a member of your Family, you will not get the Child’s personal Allowance, nor will you get the Family Premium or the Disabled Child Premium. For example this would happen where your ex- partner has primary responsibility for that Child or s/he gets Child benefit in respect of that Child. If you have just one Child and s/he does not count as a member of your Family, you will not get the Child’s personal Allowance, nor will you get the Family Premium or the Disabled Child Premium. For example this would happen where your ex- partner has primary responsibility for that Child or s/he gets Child benefit in respect of that Child.

The Disabled Child Premium (£52.08) The Disabled Child Premium (DCP) can be awarded in addition to any of the other Premiums. The Disabled Child Premium is £52.08 for each Child who lives with you and counts as Disabled. The Disabled Child Premium (DCP) can be awarded in addition to any of the other Premiums. The Disabled Child Premium is £52.08 for each Child who lives with you and counts as Disabled. Your Child counts as Disabled if s/he: Your Child counts as Disabled if s/he: Is registered as blind, or was taken off that register within the past 28 weeks Is registered as blind, or was taken off that register within the past 28 weeks or or Gets Disability Living Allowance Gets Disability Living Allowance

or or No longer gets Disability Living Allowance care component because s/he is a patient - so long as s/he is still treated as being a member of your IS Family. However the DCP will not be paid for a Child if that Child has capital of over £3,000. Apart from this point, the rules for paying, not paying, or paying a reduced rate of DCP are the same as the rules for the Family Premium. There is no lower age-limit in law for registering a Child as blind. Apply (in writing) to your social service (or social work) department / or registration as soon as you are given a diagnosis, or you think one likely. If a Child is not registered as blind and is not terminally ill, the earliest age at which you can get the DCP is 3 months (when D.L.A. care component normally first becomes payable). If s/he qualifies for D.L.A. mobility component, the DCP would be paid from the 3rd birthday at the earliest. If none of these apply, no DCP is payable. The Disabled Child Premium (£52.08) (cont)

The Child Maintenance Premium This Premium enables the person with care to retain up to a maximum £20 per week from November 2008, of any child maintenance paid. The figure is calculated by the Child Support Agency and is based upon the amount of maintenance paid by the Non-Resident parent. This Premium enables the person with care to retain up to a maximum £20 per week from November 2008, of any child maintenance paid. The figure is calculated by the Child Support Agency and is based upon the amount of maintenance paid by the Non-Resident parent. IMPORTANT NOTE: IMPORTANT NOTE: From April 2010 all child support / maintenance is now fully ignored by all benefits From April 2010 all child support / maintenance is now fully ignored by all benefits

The Carer Premium (£30.05) The Carers Premium is £30.05 a week for each person who qualifies. It can be awarded in addition to any of the others The Carers Premium is £30.05 a week for each person who qualifies. It can be awarded in addition to any of the others You will qualify for a Carer Premium if: You will qualify for a Carer Premium if: You are actually paid an amount of Carers Allowance (CA). You are actually paid an amount of Carers Allowance (CA). Or Or You have an underlying entitlement to CA: E.g. you are entitled to CA but it cannot be paid because of the overlapping benefit rules (See below). You have an underlying entitlement to CA: E.g. you are entitled to CA but it cannot be paid because of the overlapping benefit rules (See below).

You must have claimed (or re-claimed) CA on or after and and You are entitled to CA but the overlapping benefit rules mean that you cannot be paid CA because you receive another non-means tested income maintenance benefit and and The person you are caring for must continue to receive Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of D.L.A. care component. This extra premium continues for 8 weeks in means tested benefits after Carers Allowance is stopped If you only have an underlying entitlement to CA, there are some extra rules Underlying CA

Notes: That if you have overlapping CA, you can qualify for a Carers Premium and the person you are caring for will still be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium. That if you have overlapping CA, you can qualify for a Carers Premium and the person you are caring for will still be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium. When claiming Carers Allowance always backdate for 3 months or longer if a new or increased award When claiming Carers Allowance always backdate for 3 months or longer if a new or increased award That it is quite possible for you to get CA for looking after your partner (as well as your own care component or Attendance Allowance). If you, or your partner, or both of you, get PAID CA for looking after the other, that excludes you from the single or double SDP but you will get the Carer Premium(s). That it is quite possible for you to get CA for looking after your partner (as well as your own care component or Attendance Allowance). If you, or your partner, or both of you, get PAID CA for looking after the other, that excludes you from the single or double SDP but you will get the Carer Premium(s).

Pensioner Premium: Single £67.15 Couple £99.65 Single £67.15 Couple £99.65 To qualify for the Pensioner Premium To qualify for the Pensioner Premium you (or your partner) must be over the age a woman qualifies for her old age pension you (or your partner) must be over the age a woman qualifies for her old age pension Check if Pension Credit should be claimed!

The Disability Premium: (Single £28 Couple £39.85) If the person is under the age a woman now retires, they may be able to get this Premium if they or their partner are: If the person is under the age a woman now retires, they may be able to get this Premium if they or their partner are: receiving Disability Living Allowance; receiving Disability Living Allowance; or or receiving Incapacity benefit- long term rate; receiving Incapacity benefit- long term rate; or or receiving Severe Disablement Allowance; receiving Severe Disablement Allowance; or or are registered as blind are registered as blind or or Claimant, but not partner, may also get the Disability Premium if they are accepted as being incapable of employment (including periods when they were receiving Statutory Sick Pay) for at least 364 days (196 days if they are terminally ill). Periods of incapacity separated by 56 days or less can be linked together when calculating the qualifying period. Claimant, but not partner, may also get the Disability Premium if they are accepted as being incapable of employment (including periods when they were receiving Statutory Sick Pay) for at least 364 days (196 days if they are terminally ill). Periods of incapacity separated by 56 days or less can be linked together when calculating the qualifying period. or or In receipt of mobility supplement In receipt of mobility supplement

The Enhanced Disability Premium Single £13.65 Couple £19.65 Child £21 Single £13.65 Couple £19.65 Child £21 Aged under female retirement age are able to get this extra premium if they are: Aged under female retirement age are able to get this extra premium if they are: Receiving Disability Living Allowance Higher Rate Care Component; Receiving Disability Living Allowance Higher Rate Care Component; or or Have a dependent Child or children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance Higher Rate Care Component Have a dependent Child or children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance Higher Rate Care Component The Enhanced Disability Premium can be awarded in addition to other Premiums. The Enhanced Disability Premium can be awarded in addition to other Premiums.

Severe Disability Premium (Single £53.65 Couple £107.30) The Severe Disability Premium can be awarded on top of the ordinary Disability Premium, Enhanced Disability or the Pensioner Premium. The Severe Disability Premium can be awarded on top of the ordinary Disability Premium, Enhanced Disability or the Pensioner Premium. To qualify, you must be: To qualify, you must be: Singles Singles An IS claimant; who gets D.L.A. care component at the middle or higher rate, or Attendance Allowance (or Constant Attendance Allowance); and you technically count An IS claimant; who gets D.L.A. care component at the middle or higher rate, or Attendance Allowance (or Constant Attendance Allowance); and you technically count as “living alone”; as “living alone”;

Couples If you both get DLA middle or higher rate care component or Attendance Allowance, and no one gets PAID Carers Allowance (CA) for looking after either you or your partner, your SDP will be at the couple rate £ If you both get DLA middle or higher rate care component or Attendance Allowance, and one person gets paid CA for looking after you or your partner, your SDP will be at the single rate £53.65 If two people are getting PAID CA for looking after you and your partner, you will not get the SDP. Severe Disability Premium (Single £53.65 Couple £107.30)

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