Information on Benefits

Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP), replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA).  It is a benefit for people with ill health or a disability who are under 65 years of age.  To get PIP, you must have long-term difficulty with daily living or getting around.  PIP has two parts, the care component and the mobility component.  The care component is paid at two rates depending on how often and how much you need care.  The mobility component is paid at two rates, depending on how much difficulty you have with mobility issues.  Depending on your needs, you may get one component, or both together. This benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks and is tax free. You can claim by post or by phone.

PIP is paid regardless of your working status and how much you earn from work.

Click here for a simple PowerPoint presentation from the Department of Work and Pensions on how to claim PIP.

Click here for a useful page from Citizen’s Advice on PIP.

For more information go to www.gov.uk/pip or to apply by phone call 0800 917 2222

ASPiration has made their own document with advice for autistic adults claiming PIP.  You can access it here.

Claiming Personal Independence Payment from the DWP

Universal Credit

Universal Credit replaces 6 benefits.  These are income support, housing benefit, job seekers allowance, child tax credits, employment support allowance and working tax credit.

To be eligible, you must be on a low income or unemployed.

Use this online benefit calculator to determine whether you may be eligible for this award.

For more information go to www.gov.uk/universal-credit

DWP: What is Universal Credit?

‘New Style’ Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is for people who:

  • can’t work because of sickness or disability, and
  • Aren’t getting Statutory Sick Pay.

You may be able to get ESA if you have paid enough National Insurance over the past 2 or 3 years and are unable to work due to your disability or ill health (plus are not in receipt of SSP).

For more information go to www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

Cold weather payments

Cold weather payments is a scheme that will pay you a certain amount of money to help with energy costs through the cold weather.  The cold weather payment is paid to someone who is on a low income or no income and will be paid out after a 7 day period of the temperature being zero degrees Celsius or below.  You are still eligible for cold weather payments even if you claim some benefits these are: pension credits, income support, job seekers allowance and employment support allowance.

Direct payments

Direct payments from social services are payments made to you or the person you’re looking after so that you can buy care services for yourself.

Direct payments aim to give you more flexibility in how your services are provided.  By giving you money instead of social care services, you have greater choice and control over your life and are able to make your own decisions about how your care is delivered.

What is Direct Payments / People First

Disability person’s allowance

Disability persons allowance is not means tested.  Therefore you do not need to provide information about your income and savings to be eligible.  It is an entitlement to a 25 per cent reduction in rates for any household where both the following criteria are met:

  • a person with a disability lives
  • where the property has been adapted or has additional facilities added
  • There must be a clear link between how the property has been adapted and the disability or the Disabled Persons Allowance (DPA) will not be paid.

Warm Home Scheme

You may be able to claim for some financial support from your gas/electric provider to help you keep your home warm in the winter months.  This is paid directly by the energy provider and is a one-off payment of £140 in the year.

If you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may be eligible.  Contact your energy provider for further details on eligibility and to apply.

Warm Home Discount / Utilita Energy

Mobility allowance

Mobility allowance is a component of the PIP mobility component this component is to help you get about.  The mobility allowance comes in standard rate or enhanced rate.  The standard rate is given to people who need guidance or supervision outdoors and the enhanced rate is given to those who have any other, more severe walking problems.  If you receive the enhanced rate you can choose to use the benefit for a Motability car.

You are also eligible to apply for reduced vehicle tax if you are in receipt of PIP mobility component at the standard rate, or an exemption if you receive the enhanced rate.

Blue Parking Badge

If you receive enhanced PIP mobility component, you are automatically eligible to apply for a blue badge.  You are required to pay £10 for it once your application has been accepted.  If you recieve 10 points under the category ‘overwhelming psychological distress’, you are also automatically eligible for a blue badge.

If you do not get the enhanced mobility and you feel you are still eligible for a blue badge, you are able to apply through your local council, and supply evidence to support this – showing there is a need and that it would really aid in your ability to go out in the community.

Blue Badge / Department of Transport

For help and support with applying for Benefits contact your local Citizen’s Advice service

www.caox.org.uk

Abingdon, Didcot, Henley, RAF Benson, Thame, Wallingford: 0808 2787907

Banbury, Bicester, Brackley, Kidlington: 0808 2787906

Chipping Norton, RAF Brize Norton, Witney: 0808 2787908

Oxford: 0808 2787909