A-Z Guide to Benefits

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) manages most benefits through Jobcentre Plus. Benefits and entitlements for pensioners are dealt with through a network of pension centres which provide a face-to-face service for those who need additional help and support.  Council Tax benefit and Housing Benefit are dealt with by Pendle Council.

DirectGov has a Beginners Guide to Benefits that explains the benefits system, what benefits are available, who is eligible and how to claim.

A

Attendance allowance

• Apply to:  Department of Work and Pensions
  
• Benefit for: people aged 65 or over who need someone to help look after them because they are physically or mentally disabled.

B

Bereavement allowance

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
• Benefit for: widow, widower or surviving civil partner over age 45 and under state pension age

Bereavement payment (formerly Widow's Payment)

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
• Benefit for: widow, widower or surviving civil partner of someone who was not entitled to a category A Retirement Pension when they died

Budgeting loan

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
• Benefit for: if you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Pension Credit and you need money to pay for certain expenses

C

Carers benefits

• Apply to: Lancashire County Council Social Services
• Benefit for: You may be able to get help with things like adapting a home for a disabled person, respite care or other support. Respite care is help looking after the person you care for while you have a break.

Christmas bonus

• Apply to: Job Centre Plus 
• Benefit for: people who are already receiving certain benefits may be entitled to the one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas.

Cold weather payment

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus.  The payment is made automatically with the other benefits / credits you receive.

• Benefit for: periods of very cold weather if you already receive Pension Credit.  Some people on Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance will also qualify.

Community care grant

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions. 
• Benefit for: if you are leaving institutional care or a care home, need help to stay in your own home, are part of a family under exceptional pressure, are caring for a prisoner or young offender on release / licence, are setting up a home as part of a planned resettlement programme or incurring travel costs for certain specified reasons

Council tax benefit

• Apply to:  Pendle Borough Council 
• Benefit for: If you need financial help to pay your Council Tax bill. You may also get Second Adult Rebate if you share your home with another adult (not your partner or civil partner) who's unable to pay towards the Council Tax.

Crisis loan

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions. 
• Benefit for: if you need immediate help with day-to-day living costs or something else in an emergency

D

Disability living allowance

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions.
• Benefit for: children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.

E

Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: payment if you are incapable of work because of sickness or disability and are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay.

F

Funeral payments

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: helping towards the cost of a funeral for people who already receive benefits or tax or pension credits

H

Help with health costs

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: helping towards the cost of prescriptions, eye tests, travel to hospital, etc for people who already receive benefits or tax or pension credits

Housing benefit

• Apply to:  Pendle Borough Council 
• Benefit for: If you're on a low income and need financial help to pay all or part of your rent.

I

Income support

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: people aged from 16 years up to age 60 that are on a low income.

Industrial injuries disablement benefit (accidents)
Industrial injuries disablement benefit (diseases)

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: people who are disabled as a result of an accident at work or are disabled by a disease or deafness caused by a job you have done

J

Job grant

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: if you are taking up full time work of at least 16 hours per week you may be entitled to a one off payment to help with expenses. 

Jobseeker's allowance

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: people who are actively seeking work can claim an allowance while looking for a job 

L

Local Housing Allowance

• Apply to:  Pendle Borough Council. 
• Benefit:If you are a private tenant renting a property or room from a private landlord and you are on a low income, you may be able to claim and receive Local Housing Allowance.

M

Maternity allowance

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: taking time off work after the birth of a baby.  For people who are not already entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay  

Maternity grant

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions. 
• Benefit for: if you need help to buy things for a new baby and you or your partner get a low-income benefit or tax credit.  

Mortgage interest run on (MIRO)

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
• Benefit : is an extra four weeks of money you can get towards paying your mortgage or home loan interest if certain other benefits are stopping because you're returning to work, earning or working more hours.  

P

Parental leave

• Apply to:  Your employer. 
• Benefit for: parents have the right to 13 weeks' parental leave to care for your child and you can have time off to deal with emergencies.   
• More information: Free confidential advice is available from Acas on 08457 47 47 47

Pension Credit

• Apply to:  The Pension Service. 
• Benefit for: people aged 60 or over living in Great Britain. It guarantees everyone aged 60 and over a certain level of income.   

R

Reduced earnings allowance

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit for: help if you cannot earn as much as you normally could because of an accident or disease caused by work.

S

Severe disablement allowance

• Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
• Benefit: Since April 2001 it has not been possible to make a new claim for SDA. If you are aged under 20 you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit, even if you have not paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions .

T

Tax Credits

• Apply to:  Inland Revenue. 
• Benefit for: 9 out of 10 families with children are entitled to tax credits. But you don't need to have children to qualify for these regular payments

W

War disablement pension

• Apply to:  Department for Work and Pensions. 
• Benefit for: people who have been injured or disabled during a time of war or as a result of service in Her Majesty's (HM) Armed Forces.

Winter Fuel Payment

• Apply to:  Department for Work and Pensions. 
• Benefit for: people aged 60 and over with the costs of keeping warm this winter .