28 Apr, 23

Benefits and Entitlements if you have Mobility and Daily Living Needs

If you’re living with a long-term disability or condition and you have difficulties with mobility and/or daily living tasks you could be entitled to welfare benefits. If you care for someone who is disabled, you might also be entitled to an allowance.

With the cost of living being a very real challenge for many of us it’s now more important than ever to know your entitlements and how to apply for them. At the same time, it’s equally important to manage your outgoings. Go Compare have made a great tool available in the interactive Energy Cost Calculator which enables people to compare appliances and how much it costs to run them. It’s completely free to use and could well help you manage your energy bills and make significant savings.

Turning back to the subject of potential income sources, we’ve provided an outline of the various benefits available below using online government sources to give you an overview. Have a read and click the links for further details.

Disability Benefits and Entitlements

The main disability and sickness benefits are:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

• Attendance Allowance

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

What you’re entitled to depends on your circumstances – use this benefits calculator produced by entitledto.co.uk to see what you might receive.

You could also qualify for:

An extra amount of Universal Credit
Blue Badge scheme
Community and Public Transport discounts and benefits
The Motability Scheme
VAT Relief on Equipment and Vehicles
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Compensation if you were injured while serving in the Armed Forces
Compensation for Health Problems caused by Mining
Diffuse Mesothelioma Payments
Reduced Earnings Allowance
Work and Health Programme
Access to Work: get Communication Support at a Job Interview
Access to Work: get Support if you have a Disability or Health Condition
Becoming Disabled whilst in Employment
Intensive Personalised Employment Support
Blind Person’s Allowance
Disabled Facilities Grants
Vaccine Damage Payment
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
Special Rules for Terminally ill people
Carer’s Allowance

And you might also be able to get:

Exemptions for certain types of Equipment and Home Adaptations
Council Tax Discounts
TV licence Discount

There’s quite a bit to get through and not all of it will apply to you but take the time to see what’s available – there might be some entitlement you haven’t come across before. If you need some help there are lots of support groups out there only too happy to help. We’ve listed some of them at the end of this article.

If you’re in England you can get a health and social care assessment from your council to find out what help you can get for example equipment, home care, day centres).

And Citizens Advice provide lots of guidance filling in applications forms. Click here for help filling out applications forms.

So, let’s have a look at each of these benefits and entitlements in turn.

A Closer Look

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

The DLA has been replaced by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). If you’re still receiving a DLA it will continue until the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) writes to you inviting you to apply for a PIP.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

The PIP can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability; and

• difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

There’s great guidance from Citizens Advice here should you need help completing the PIP application form.

If you live in Scotland there’s a different procedure to follow:

You need to apply for the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead of PIP.

If you currently get PIP, you’ll be automatically moved to ADP by summer 2024.

When the move begins, you’ll get letters from DWP and Social Security Scotland. Click here to read more about the transfer process.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children

You can still apply for the DLA for Children if the child lives in England or Wales. This allowance may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

is under 16; and
has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.

The DLA rate is between £24.45 and £156.90 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs.

If your child lives in Scotland there is a different procedure:

You need to apply for Child Disability Payment instead of DLA for children
If you currently get DLA for children, you’ll be automatically moved to Child Disability Payment by summer 2023
When the transfer begins, you should get a letter from Social Security Scotland

If your child lives in Northern Ireland:

The government website regarding Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children only refers to England, Wales and Scotland but as far as we can see the procedure in Northern Ireland follows the same procedure as England and Wales. Nevertheless, for further guidance click here for more information about benefits in Northern Ireland.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

The ESA gives you:

• money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work; or

• support to get back into work if you’re able to

You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.

Universal Credit and Health Conditions or Disabilities

Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with your living costs, if you’re on a low income or out of work.

Your monthly payment is based on your circumstances, for example, your health condition or disability, income and housing costs.

You might get an extra amount of Universal Credit if you have a health condition or disability that prevents you from working or preparing for work.

If you made a new Universal Credit claim on or after 3 April 2017 and have limited capability for work, unfortunately you will not get an extra amount.

Blue Badge scheme

This Scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or as passengers. Go to your local council’s website for more information about the scheme by plugging in your postcode here.

Community and Public Transport Discounts and Benefits

Your local council may operate dial-a-ride or taxi schemes, for example, using vouchers or tokens.

You can apply for a disabled person’s bus pass or Disabled Persons Railcard railcard if you have a condition that makes it hard to get around. You don’t need to have a physical health problem – people with learning disabilities can apply too. Enter your postcode, find your local council and go straight to the official council page handling bus passes.

Someone else can apply on your behalf, if you need help with the application.

You’ll be able to travel for free by bus or get 30% off your train tickets.

Click on the links below for more detailed information and how to go about applying.

1. Trains

2. Planes

3. Cars, buses and coaches

4. Taxis and minicabs

5. Ships

6. Wheelchairs

Your nearest Citizens Advice Centre can help you with the application if you need it.

The Motability Scheme

The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. To qualify for the Motability Scheme you’ll need to be receiving one of the following:

• Higher rate of the mobility component of DLA

• Higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment

• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

• Armed Forces Independence Payment

• Enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP

• Enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment

See our News Post here for further information about the Motability Scheme and here for our Motability Dealers Directory.

VAT relief on equipment and vehicles

You may be entitled to VAT relief on having a vehicle adapted to suit your condition, or on the lease of a Motability vehicle.

Work-related Benefits and Payments

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

You might get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if you became ill or are disabled because of an accident or disease either:

• at work or

• on an approved employment training scheme or course

The amount you may get depends on your individual circumstances.

Compensation if you were injured while serving in the Armed Forces

You can claim compensation if you were injured or got an illness while serving in the armed forces (including the reserve forces). Compensation may include a lump sum or regular payments.

Compensation for health problems caused by mining

You may be able to claim compensation if you have pneumoconiosis caused by coal mining.

Diffuse mesothelioma payments

You may be able to get a payment if you’ve been diagnosed with the asbestos-related disease, diffuse mesothelioma.

There are 2 types of payment you can claim for:

• diffuse mesothelioma payments (the ‘2008 scheme’); and

• the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS)

Reduced Earnings Allowance

If you cannot earn as much as you used to because of an accident or disease caused by your work, you could get up to £75.44 per week Reduced Earnings Allowance. You can only get it for accidents that happened, or diseases that started, before 1 October 1990. You may also be able to get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB).

Work and Health Programme

The Work and Health Programme helps you find and keep a job if you’re out of work. It’s a voluntary programme unless you’ve been out of work and claiming unemployment benefits for 24 months.

Access to Work – Communication Support at a job interview

You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview.

The money pays for a communication support worker to go to your job interview with you. You can use this service if you:

are Deaf or hard of hearing and need a British Sign Language interpreter or lip speaker; and
have a physical or mental health condition or learning difficulty and need communication support

Access to Work – Support if you have a Disability or Health Condition

Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

The support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for:

• a grant to help pay for practical support with your work

• support with managing your mental health at work

• money to pay for communication support at job interviews

At this stage it might also be worthwhile to take a look at the rights designed to protect you from discrimination if you become disabled which of course is relevant beyond the employment sphere.

Becoming Disabled whilst in Employment

Your employer cannot discriminate against you because of your disability – you’re protected by the Equality Act 2010.

They must also keep your job open for you, must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for you so that you’re not disadvantaged compared to non-disabled people and cannot put pressure on you to resign just because you’ve become disabled. And your employer cannot dismiss you or be selected for redundancy just because you’ve become disabled.

For advice about work issues, talk to ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), Citizens Advice or your trade union representative.

If you’re an employee and cannot work because of your disability, you may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Some employers have their own sick pay scheme instead.

If you still cannot work after 28 weeks, or you cannot get Statutory Sick Pay, you can apply for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Time off from work should not be recorded as an ‘absence from work’ if you’re waiting for your employer to put reasonable adjustments in place.

Check your employment status if you’re not sure whether you’re an employee or not.

Intensive Personalised Employment Support

Intensive Personalised Employment Support is one-to-one support and training to help you into work if you have a disability.

Other kinds of support include:

Blind Person’s Allowance

Blind Person’s Allowance is an extra amount of tax-free allowance. It means you can earn more before you start paying Income Tax.

Disabled Facilities Grants

You could get a grant from your council if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home, for example to:

widen doors and install ramps
improve access to rooms and facilities, for example, stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom
provide a heating system suitable for your needs
adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

A Disabled Facilities Grant won’t affect any other benefits you receive.

Click here to find your local council official website page dealing with Disabled Facilities Grants and here for Home Improvement Agencies who might deal with any application or work required.

Vaccine Damage Payment

If you’re severely disabled as a result of a vaccination against certain diseases, you could get a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000. This is called a Vaccine Damage Payment.

You can also apply for this payment on behalf of someone who has died after becoming severely disabled because of certain vaccinations. You need to be managing their estate to apply.

You do not need a legal representative, such as a solicitor, to apply for a Vaccine Damage Payment.

Vaccine Damage Payments are not a compensation scheme which means you can still take legal action to claim compensation, even if you get a Vaccine Damage Payment.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get. The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs – not your household income. You do not need to pay back DSA.

Help if you have a disabled child

Your local council can provide help if you have a disabled child, including:

• short break services

• holiday play schemes

• care at home

• some aids and adaptations

• financial help, for example, money towards travel costs for hospital visits

Your council has a duty to provide these services under the Children Act 1989. Some are free of charge but the council might ask you to contribute towards others.

If you think your child may qualify, contact the social services team at your local council.

Special Rules for terminally ill people

The ‘Special Rules’ allow people nearing the end of life to:

• get faster, easier access to some benefits

• get higher payments for some benefits

• avoid a medical assessment

Clinicians, such as a GP, hospital consultant, hospice doctor or registered nurse, can be asked to provide medical evidence (currently a DS1500) for a benefit claim under the ‘Special Rules’ process. Click here for more information.

Carer’s Allowance

It’s worth noting that your Carer could qualify for an Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.

They could get £69.70 a week if they care for you at least 35 hours a week and that you receive certain benefits.
Your Carer does not have to be related to or live with you.
There is no extra payment if they care for more than one person.
If you have multiple carers only one can claim Carer’s Allowance.
The Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that your carer and you get. Your Carer will have to pay tax on the Allowance if their income is over the Personal Allowance.

Click here for our Directory of Council pages dealing with Carers Assessment to find out more. We have produced a number of articles regarding Carers and their entitlements, click here to start exploring.

Support Groups

Click on a link below to find more information about the specific services offered and how you can get assistance with state benefits and entitlements.