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