Benefits, Allowances and Support
Families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) in Telford and Wrekin may be entitled to a range of financial support. This page provides clear information about local and national benefits and allowances, including Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer’s Allowance and Universal Credit. You’ll find information on financial support available for care and daily living costs, help with returning to work, assistance with travel and guidance on housing related benefits and grants.
Easy Reads about benefits and extra help
Benefits and financial support if you're disabled or have a health condition
Care and living
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition can get. The money is used to pay for extra help to do things and to get around. DLA for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:
- is under 16
- has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) supports people with disabilities, long-term physical difficulties and mental health conditions to get help with everyday tasks and moving around. PIP can help with extra living costs if you have both:
- a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. The money is to help to pay for your care and support. You can get Attendance Allowance if you:
- you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition
- you’re State Pension age or older
Carers Assessment
A Care Act assessment is when we will discuss with you, your family, friends, carer or advocate, your situation and how well you are managing everyday activities. This could include managing your personal care, having a job, getting out and about and being part of the community or household tasks. This will help us to understand all the strengths that you have in your life, what you are able to do and what support you may need to regain, or develop skills, to continue, or begin, to live as independently as possible.
Following your Carers Assessment your Social Worker/Adult Practitioner will discuss what support is available to you. This can be further advice and information, including signposting to other agencies that may be able to help you.
Carers Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is money for people who care for someone. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You may be eligible for Carers Allowance if you provide support for someone on a regular basis. This can include:
- Helping with washing and cooking
- Taking the person you care for to a Doctor’s appointment
- Helping with household tasks like managing bills and shopping
Universal credit
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs which is paid monthly. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.
You might get an extra amount of Universal Credit if you have a health condition or disability that limits how much work you can do. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) refers to this as your ‘capability to work’. Your monthly payment is based on your circumstances, for example your health condition or disability, income and housing costs.
Work
New Style Employment and Support Allowance
If you are ill or have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work you may be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
New Style ESA is a fortnightly payment that can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit (UC). If you get both benefits, your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.
Eligibility
- To get New Style ESA you usually need to have been working within the last 2 to 3 years, and have made (or been credited with) Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
- This can be through employment or self–employment.
- If you’re not sure how much National Insurance you’ve paid, you can check your National Insurance record online.
Access to Work
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
New Style Jobseekers Allowance
If you’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average you may be able to get New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
New Style JSA is a fortnightly payment that can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit.
To be eligible for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you’ll need to have both:
- worked as an employee
- paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years (National Insurance credits can also count)
Travel
Blue Badge
The Blue Badge scheme provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers.
Disabled Persons Buss Pass
Telford and Wrekin Council’s Concessionary Travel Scheme offers several travel concessions to permanent residents of the borough who are age-eligible or have a disability and qualify under the Department for Transport criteria.
If you are unable to travel without assistance, you may be entitled to a special travel pass called a companion pass (or sometimes referred to as +C) that entitles a companion to travel with you for free. Travel for your companion will be restricted to journeys that start within the Telford and Wrekin area, and the usual time restrictions will apply.
Disabled Persons Railcard
A Disabled Persons Railcard is a discount card that allows the cardholder and one adult companion to receive a third off train fares in Great Britain. The card is for people whose disability makes traveling by train difficult.
Motability
If you receive a benefit because you have a disability or illness that makes it hard for you to get around, you can use it to pay for a vehicle from a charity called Motability. You can choose from lots of different vehicles, for example cars, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs. You’ll only be paying for the lease of the vehicle - it won’t belong to you. If you stop receiving your benefit, you’ll have to return it. It’s possible to claim for a Motability vehicle for a child who is aged 3 or over.
Housing
Universal Credit
If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you can get an extra amount of money to pay towards your housing costs.
The money you get for housing can help pay for your:
- rent to a private landlord
- rent and service charges if you rent from a housing association or local authority, for example council housing
- service charges if you or your partner own the property you live in
Disabled Facilities Grants
You could get a grant from your council if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home. You might need to:
- widen doors and install ramps or grab rails
- improve access to rooms and facilities, for example with a stairlift, or level access shower
- improve access to your garden
- build an extension, for example a downstairs bedroom
- provide a heating system suitable for your needs
- adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use
Housing benefits
Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.
Applying for an additional bedroom allowance due to a disability
You're allowed an extra bedroom if someone in your household is disabled and needs regular overnight care from a carer who doesn't live with you. This won't count as a spare bedroom. You're also allowed an extra bedroom if your child is disabled and can't share a bedroom with another child because of their disability.
Check if you’re allowed an extra bedroom for Housing Benefit
Managing your money
Adult Social Care - Preparing for Adulthood
Transitioning to adulthood brings exciting opportunities but also new responsibilities, especially around money. Telford and Wrekin's Preparing for Adulthood Financial Booklet is designed to help young people and families understand the financial support available when moving into adult life. You’ll find practical advice on:
- Managing your finances after turning 18
- What benefits and funding you may be entitled to
- Decision making
- Paying for care and planning for independence
- Tips for making informed decisions about your future
Benefits calculator
You can use an independent, free and anonymous benefits calculator to check what you could be entitled to. This will give you an estimate of:
- the benefits you could get
- how much your benefit payments could be
- how your benefits will be affected if you start work or increase your hours
- how your benefits will be affected if your circumstances change - for example, if you have a child or move in with your partner
Appointee
A family/carer can apply for the right to deal with the benefits of someone who cannot manage their own affairs because they are unable to due to their disability. If you are receiving benefits then you should check if you would benefit from having an appointee. An application should be made to the Department for Work and Pensions to become an appointee.
An appointee can be:
- an individual, for example a friend or relative;
- an organisation or representative of an organisation, for example a solicitor or the local authority.
An appointee is responsible for making and maintaining any benefit claims. They must:
- sign the benefit claim form;
- tell the benefit office about any changes which may affect what you are entitled to;
- spend the benefit (which is paid directly to you) in your best interests;
- tell the benefit office if they stop being the appointee, for example if you can manage on your own
Deputy/Deputyship
You can apply to become someone’s deputy if they ‘lack mental capacity’. This means they cannot make a decision for themselves at the time it needs to be made. They may still be able to make decisions for themselves at certain times.
People may lack mental capacity because, for example:
- they have had a serious brain injury or illness
- they have dementia
- they have severe learning disabilities
There are 2 types of deputy:
- Property and financial affairs deputy - You’ll do things like pay the person’s bills or organise their pension.
- Personal welfare deputy - You’ll make decisions about medical treatment and how someone is looked after.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
You can make decisions on someone’s behalf if they appoint you using a lasting power of attorney (LPA). You should support them to make their own decisions when possible. The person who appoints you is called the ‘donor’. You’re their ‘attorney’.
There are two types of LPA:
- health and welfare;
- property and financial affairs.
Health and Welfare LPA
Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about things like:
- daily routine, for example washing, dressing, eating;
- medical care;
- moving into a care home;
- life-sustaining treatment.
Property and Financial Affairs LPA
Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about money and property, for example:
- managing a bank or building society account;
- paying bills;
- collecting benefits or a pension;
- selling your home.