Benefits checklist for elderly clients
A useful checklist setting out the benefits which elderly clients may be able to claim.
1 ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE (AA)
Available to ill or disabled people aged 65 or over who need help/encouragement with personal care.
2 DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA)
Available to ill or disabled people aged under 65 who need help/encouragement with personal care or mobility. It has two parts:
- Care component
- Mobility component
Both AA and DLA are not taxed or means-tested and do not depend on client having paid any National Insurance contributions.
3 CARERS ALLOWANCE
Paid to carers looking after people receiving AA or DLA.
4 INCAPACITY BENEFIT OR THE NEW EMPLOYMENT & SUPPORT ALLOWANCE (claim made after 26/10/08)
Available to people who are assessed as incapable of work.
5 INDUSTRIAL INJURIES DISABLEMENT BENEFIT
Paid to those who have suffered disablement caused by an industrial accident or prescribed disease
6 THE WAR PENSION SCHEME
Provides benefits for disablement caused or worsened by Armed Forces Service.
7 INCOME SUPPORT
Means-tested benefit for people not in work.
8 PENSION CREDIT
It has two parts:
• Guarantee Credit
This benefit tops up a pensioner’s income to certain minimum levels.
• Savings Credit
Extra money paid to ‘reward’ people who have savings or additional pensions
9 HOUSING BENEFIT
Means tested benefit for people who live in rented accommodation.
10 COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT
Means-tested benefit for people who have to pay council tax.
11 COMMUNITY CARE GRANT
These are one-off payments from the social fund.
12 WORKING TAX CREDIT
Provides a top up to the wages of low income workers.
13 CHILD TAX CREDIT
Paid to people with children whether they are in work or not.
Reviewed in 2015