Welfare Benefits (Adults)

 Back
Lady on computer

Welfare Benefits

Each year, more than £3.5 billion of pension credit and housing benefit goes unclaimed by older people in the UK. Are you eligible?

Find a benefits calculator to check whether you are eligible

This page includes information on a nunber of welfare benefits. 

More information can be found on the Information Sheets - Welfare Benefits page. 

Attendance Allowance

What is attendance allowance?

Attendance Allowance is a payment available to people aged over 65 who, due to an illness or disability, would benefit from help with washing, dressing or eating, during the day or overnight.

There is lots of useful information about Attendance Allowance on the Which? page.

You can also find out more on the gov.uk website.

Carers Allowance

Caring for someone?

Paid if you care for another person - who receives certain benefits - for more than 35 hours a week.

Find out more on www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

What does PIP do?

Can help you with some of the extra costs if you have a long term ill-health or disability.

Find out more on www.gov.uk/PIP

Disability Peterborough also have comprehensive help and guidance on their website.  You can find out more by clicking here to go to their website

Universal Credit

What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs.

It replaces the following benefits:

  • Child Tax Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Working Tax Credit

This website produced by The Department for Work and Pensions is really useful if you are:

Universal Credit for sick and disabled people

The Money Advice Service produce useful information on their website explaining about Universal Credit for sick and disabled people.

A Guide to Universal Credit and You

For more information on claiming Universal Credit, your commitments, sanctions and working while claiming download this useful guide.

Contact also have some useful information about Universal Credit.

What is not included in Universal Credit?

The following benefits currently remain outside of Universal Credit and will not be affected by the changes:

  • council tax support
  • carer's allowance
  • contribution-based jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance
  • disability living allowance / personal independence payment (PIP)
  • child benefit
  • social fund
  • statutory sick pay
  • statutory maternity pay
  • maternity allowance
  • industrial injuries disablement allowance
  • bereavement benefits

Find out more on www.gov.uk/universal-credit

Disability Living Allowance

What is disability living allowance?

Currently being phased out and replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

You can find out more on www.gov.uk/dla-disability-living-allowance-benefit

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

On low income?

Housing Benefit/Universal Credit and Council Tax Support can help you to pay some or all of your rent and council tax costs if you are on a low income.

You can find out more on the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support page.

Pension Credit

A top up

Pension Credit tops up your income if it is below a certain level.

You can find out more on www.gov.uk/pension-credit

Related Pages

  1. Adults Information Sheets - Welfare Benefits
  2. Money Matters (Adults)
  3. Paying for your care at home (Adults)
  4. Paying for your care in a care home (Adults)
  5. Personal Budgets and Direct Payments (Adults)

External Links

  1. Benefits Calculator
  2. Which? Information on Attendance Allowance
  3. Age UK information on Attendance Allowance
  4. Independent Age Benefits Information
  5. Support with the cost of living
  6. Disability Peterborough - Your guide to Disability Benefits

Actions

Skip back to top of page