STATE BENEFITS SUMMARY 2014/2015
State Benefits - Not means tested
Benefit
2014/15
Amount
Qualification
Taxable
Attendance Allowance (AA)*
Higher rate
£81.30pw
Age 65+. Day and night care required.
Lower rate
£54.45pw
Age 65+. Day or night care required.
Bereavement Allowance
Age 55 to State Pension
Age (SPA)
Age 45 to 54
100% is £111.20 for one year
maximum
Paid 1 year max, amount
dependent on age
Bereavement Payment
£2,000 lump sum
Carer’s Allowance
(not paid to anyone in
receipt of a State
Retirement Pension)
£61.35pw
No
Disability Benefit
HelpLine 08457 123456
NI: 0800 220674 or
www.nidirect.gov.uk/
disability.
Yes
Form BD8 (344S1 in
Scotland) on back of
death certificate & send
for form BD1 or call Job
Centre Plus on 0845
6060 265
N.I. call 0800 085 0295
Dependent on National Insurance
Contribution (NIC) record of deceased.
Paid to widow/widower/civil partners.
Mainly new widows/widowers/civil partners
under State Pension Age. But if over this
age, where deceased not entitled to State
Pension on own record or partner was
under SPA when they died.
Caring for someone in receipt of AA, middle
or higher rate care component of DLA or
Daily living component of PIP, or Constant
Attendance Allowance for at least 35 hours
a week, but earnings limit of £100pw (net).
(Occupational and Personal pensions not
earnings.) Allowance can be reduced by
amount of certain other benefits received,
eg State Pension.
How to
Claim
No
As Above.
Yes
Carer’s Allowance Unit
0845 608 4321
NI: 0800 220 674
or online using a step by
step form:
www.gov.uk/carersallowance
N.I. www.nidirect.gov.uk/
N/A
Contact local Council
No
Disability Benefit
Helpline: 08457 123 456
NI 0800 220674 or claim
online using easy stepby-step form.
www.direct.gov.uk/
disability
N.I. www.nidirect.gov.uk/
Council Tax
Exempt
No council tax payable.
Usually for 6 months but
could be 12 months under
certain circumstances.
Empty property if e.g. in hospital, care
home or living with someone who provides
personal care.
Disabled
Lower Council Tax band
Property has certain features necessary for
a disabled person.
Discounts
50% or 25% reduction
No people or one person living in the
property (mentally impaired people are not
counted). Can also apply to a carer in some
cases.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)*
Care Component
Higher rate
£81.30pw
Age below 65. Day & night care required.
Middle rate
Lower rate
£54.45pw
£21.55pw
Age below 65. Day or night care required
Age below 65 needing some care
£56.75pw
High mobility needs
Mobility Component
Higher rate
Lower rate
£21.55pw
Some mobility needs
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) [formerly Incapacity Benefit]
Single for 13 weeks
£72.40pw
Thereafter if work thought
unlikely
Thereafter if work thought
likely – Payable for 1 yr.
£108.15pw
Couple (Income-related
ESA only)
£113.70pw
£101.15pw
Under SPA and unable to work due to
illness or disability. Evidence required.
Contributory ESA dependent on NIC. Not
generally means tested, but if receiving
gross pension of more than £85pw, benefit
will be reduced by 50p for every £1 in
excess of £85pw. Income-related ESA is
for those with insufficient contributions.
Contributory
ESA is a
taxable benefit.
Incomerelated ESA
is not
taxable.
No initial forms
required. Phone 0800
055 6688.
www.gov.uk/employm
ent-support-allowance
N I: 0800 085 6318
www.nidirect.gov.uk
Benefit
Jobseeker’s Allowance
(JSA)
2014/15
Amount
Qualification
Contribution-based JSA is
£72.4pw for up to 6 months,
reduced £ for £ if company
pension is more than £50pw.
Income-based JSA payable if
insufficient NIC. May get help
with mortgage interest
Unemployed or working less than 16 hrs
pw. Must be under SPA and seeking full
time job. Full rate NIC must have been paid
for the contribution-based JSA.
For Income-based JSA, have to be on low
income and savings under £16,000.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Replacing DLA for people of working age (16-64) from 8th
April 2013*
Daily LivingComponent
Enhanced rate
£81.30pw
Age below 65. Must have a long term
health condition or disability and have
Standard rate
£54.45pw
difficulties with activities related to “daily
living” and mobility. Must have had these
difficulties for months and expect them to
last at least 9 months (not applicable if
terminally il.l)
Taxable
Yes
No
Mobility Component
Enhanced rate
£56.75pw
Standard rate
State Pension
£21.55pw
Basic retirement
£113.10pw
Spouse/Female Civil
Partner (Male Civil
Partner after 6-4-15).No
longer available for
Spouse/Civil Partner
below SPA on or after 64-16..
£67.80pw
Below age 65. May get the mobility
component if you are assessed as needing
help with going out or moving around.
Basic pension based on full rate NICs paid
for 30 years.
Paid if reached SPA & qualify for less than
60% of full pension based on own
contributions. Spouse/civil partner must
have reached SPA.
How to
Claim
Phone 0800 055 6688.
Northern Ireland 0800 353
530
Online
www.direct.gov.uk/jobseek
ers-allowancet
N.I. www.nidirect.gov.UK/
PIP Claim Line: 0800 917
2222
NI 0800 220 674
PIP Enquiry Line: 0845
850 3322
www.direct.gov.uk/
disability- benefits
N.I. www.nidirect.gov.uk/
Phone 0800 731 7898.
NI 0808 100 2658
Yes
www.gov.uk/state-pension
N.i.www.nidirect.gov.uk/st
ate-pension
State Pension Forecast (Form BR19)
If below SPA , phone 0845 300 0168 or online at www.directgov.uk/state-pensionsatementt
Television Licence
£145.50 frozen until 2016;
may be free or 50% reduction
Free if age 75 (main residence only); 50%
reduction if registered blind
£200 lump sum
Must be born on or before 5 July 1952 for
2014/15 payment
N/A
Winter Fuel Payment
Can now be claimed if
living in EEA or
Switzerland.
N/A
Tel 0300 790 6131
www.tvlicensing.co.uk
Winter Fuel Claim Line
08459 151515 or online
www.direct.gov.uk/winterfuel-payment
£300 lump sum
Age 80+
*Note: People who are terminally ill can claim AA (higher rate) or PIP (enhanced rate daily living component) without the three or six months waiting
period. They will be considered to be terminally ill if they have a progressive illness that is likely to limit their life expectancy to six months or
less.Mobility components will depend on individual needs.
State Benefits - Means tested
Benefit
Housing & Council Tax
Benefit (to be replaced
by Universal credit)
Heating repairs,
improvements &
adaptations
Income support
Personal allowance for
couple age 18+
Personal allowance for
single person age 25+
2014/15
Amount
Qualification
Maximum is 100% relief for
housing rent and council tax.
Reduced for working aged
local authority tenants
considered to have one or
more spare bedrooms.
Subject to benefit cap rules.
Dependent on income & capital must
not exceed £16,000. £6,000 is
disregarded. If entitled to guarantee
part of Pension Credit, there is no
capital limit. (£10,000 disregarded).
Loans or grants for the home,
eg for disabled facilities.
Based on local authority published
procedures (varies from council to
council).
£113.70pw
£72.40pw
Age under Pension credit age
(increasing in line with increase in
SPA) & don’t have to sign on for
work. Savings must not exceed
£16,000 per household (£6,000
disregarded).
Taxable
How to
Claim
No
Contact local council
No
No
Pension credit
Standard minimum
guarantee (couple)
Will top up income to
minimum guarantee of
*£226.50pw
Standard minimum
guarantee (single)
Will top up income to
minimum guarantee of
*£148.35pw
Age 60+ (increasing in line with
increase in SPA). Income will be
assumed to be £1pw for every £500
of savings over £10,000. Amounts
can be increased for severe
disability, carers and those with
housing costs (eg mortgage interest)
* These figures may be higher due to illness or disability or for a carer.
Savings credit (couple)
Maximum of £20.70pw
At least one person in household
must be age 65+
Savings credit (single)
Social Fund Funeral
Payment
Maximum of £116.80pw
Various funeral costs,
reduced by any money from
deceased estate
Universal Credit - Single
Standard allowance for
single person age 25+
£314.67pm
Standard allowance for
single person below age
25+
£249.28pm
Universal Credit - Couple
Standard Allowance for
joint claimants both 25+
Standard Allowance for
joint claimants both below
25
Contact housing
department of local
authority.
Contact local Jobcentre
Plus office or phone 0800
055 6688 (NI 0800 353
530)
www.gov.uk/incomesupport
N.I. www.nidirect.gov.uk/
Freephone 0800 991 234
Northern Ireland, 0808
100 6165
www.gov.uk/pensioncredit
No
N.I.:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/
Pension Credit Calculator
www.gov.uk/pensioncredit-calculator
No
Age 65+
The person claiming is receiving a
means tested benefit
Universal Credit is a new
benefit that has started to
replace 6 existing benefits with
a single monthly payment. It
will eventually replace:
Income-based Jobseeker’s
Allowance, Income-related
Employment and Support
Allowance, Income Support,
Working Tax Credit, Child Tax
Credit, Housing Benefit.
Dependent on income and
capital. Capital must not
exceed £16,000. £6,000
disregarded.
No
Contact the Bereavement
Service Helpline to obtain
claim form SF200 or
phone 0845 6060 265
(NI 0800 353 530)
www.gov.uk/funeralpayments
N.I.:
www.nidirect.gov.uk
Claim online at:
www.gov.uk/applyuniversal-credit
No
If you need help claiming
Universal Credit online
call the Universal Credit
helpline:0845 600 0723