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Types of benefits for disabled people

Welfare benefits fall into two main categories:

Means tested such as Income Support (IS), Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA) Pension Credit (PC), Housing Benefit (HB), Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB), which are only available if you meet certain criteria and have limited income and capital.
Non means tested, to which you are eligible, regardless of income or capital, if you satisfy basic conditions such as being disabled, for example Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or sick and unable to work, Incapacity Benefit (IB)

Non-means tested benefits are further divided into contributions based and non - contributions based benefits. Eligibility for the former, for example IB, is normally determined by the amount of national insurance contributions paid whilst working. For the latter, eligibility is based on specific need such as being disabled (DLA) or having children (Child Benefit)

Some benefits are available to compensate for the loss of earnings because of unemployment (Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance), or inability to work because of sickness or disability (IB, SDA), , caring responsibilities (Carer's Allowance) or old age (State Retirement Pension). Other benefits exist to meet a particular need for example disability (DLA) or having children (Child Benefit) irrespective of your ability to work.

The government department responsible for overall administration of social security benefits is the Department of Work and Pensions. The administration is actually dealt with by a number of executive agencies but information about most benefits can be found at www.direct.gov.uk. There are certain exceptions; the Inland Revenue deal with Tax Credits and the local authority administers housing benefit, local housing allowance and council tax benefit.

Benefits for Disabled People

People unable to work because of long-term sickness, caring responsibilities or disability receive income maintenance help through Income Support (IS), Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA), Incapacity Benefit (IB) or Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA). These benefits are paid via Jobcentre Plus information about these benefits can be obtained from the following web link Jobcentre Plus -. (SDA has been abolished for new claimants although there are people who still receive it)
Disabled adults and children may incur extra costs because of the effects of their disability. Help is provided through Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 65 with care and/or mobility needs. People who need to claim additional help for care and supervision, once they have reached 65, will be eligible for Attendance Allowance (AA), mobility needs are not covered by this benefit. Both of these benefits are administered by The Disability Benefits Centre, contact details can be found on the following web link DWP - Contact us.
Working adults who, because of disability, have had their earnings capacity diminished may qualify for Working Tax Credit. The Inland Revenue administers this and information about this can be found on their web site IR Tax Credits Online.
In recognition of the additional living costs incurred because of disability, additional support is provided for disabled people on low incomes through premiums in Income Support (IS) for higher living costs (disability premium) and care costs (severe disability premium). This is administered by Jobcentre Plus, further information can be found on the following web link Jobcentre Plus -. Pensions Credit provides similar support for people 60 or over, however this is administered by the Pensions Service, more information can be found on their web page http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PensionCredit/index.htm.
People whose disability has arisen because of an industrial accident or through service in the armed forces are compensated through Industrial Injuries Benefits or War Pensions. Jobcentre Plus and The Ministry of Defence Veterans Agency administer these respectively. More information can be found on the following web pages Jobcentre Plus - and http://www.veterans-uk.info/
People with caring responsibilities who do not work full-time may receive support through Carer's Allowance (formerly Invalid Care Allowance). For people entitled to Carer's Allowance and who are also in receipt of IS an additional Carer Premium applies.
Help with housing costs is met via Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance if your client is in rented accommodation or Support for Mortgage Interest if your client has a mortgage. The first two are administered by the local council, the last by Jobcentre Plus. Jobcentre Plus -. Both are means tested benefits.
Council Tax Benefit helps people on low incomes to pay council tax (but not water rates). It is means tested and administered by the local council. In some circumstances if a room in your client's property has been specifically adapted for the use of a disabled person, the council tax band can be lowered reducing the council tax bill.
Child Benefit is a benefit for people bringing up children. It is paid for each child and not affected by income or savings. It is administered by the Inland Revenue Inland Revenue:Child Benefit

Detailed information about all benefits including rates, can be found at www.direct.gov.uk or at the Citizens Advice Bureau advice web site Adviceguide - Scotland.