Benefits for people who are sick or disabled

If you are sick or disabled, you could claim a number of different benefits and tax credits available in the UK. Some of those claims are:

* Attendance allowance
*Employment and support allowance
*Working tax credit
*Disability living allowance
*Caretaker’s allowance

Enquiry Line for benefits:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) runs the Benefits Enquiry Line (BEL)

In England, Wales and Scotland, you can contact the Benefits Enquiry Line or use the RNID Typetalk service.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to get other benefits as well, ie. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. if you are unable to work or you are a caretaker you may be able to get national insurance credits. Apart from benefits and tax credits, you might get cheaper public transport, parking concessions and practical help with care from your local council. You also have the right not to be discriminated against at work or when you receive goods or services.
Working while getting Employment and Support Allowance:

Although Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is usually paid to people who are too ill or disabled to work, you may be able to get it even if you are doing certain types of work. Examples include working as a councillor, being a caretaker and doing work known as permitted work.

Incapacity Benefit:

This is paid at different rates, depending on how long someone has been getting it.

Severe Disablement Allowance:

SDA is not taxable. You can get it as long as you are incapable of work and if you go into hospital.

Statutory Sick Pay:

You are paid by employer Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for the first 28 weeks that you are off sick. If you're self-employed, you cannot get SSP. You should claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Instead.

Benefits for accidents at work and industrial diseases:

You can only get these benefits if your disability or disease was caused by work for an employer, not if you were self-employed.

Benefits for people injured in the armed forces:

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme provides help for injuries, illnesses or deaths caused by service in the Armed Forces. You also can get help from the War Pension scheme as well, run by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), which is part of the Ministry of Defense. If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, see Benefits and bereavement for more information.

If you need help to claim or collect benefits:

An appointee can take on the responsibility of claiming and collecting your benefit if you are unable to do this yourself.

Benefits abroad:

If you are getting a benefit for sickness or disability and you want to know what will happen to your benefit if you go abroad, you can ring the Benefits Enquiry Line.