Find out which benefits you might be able to claim
What are benefits?
Benefits are things some people can apply for to give them money to help to pay for things like personal care, housing, and getting out and about.
You have to apply for benefits as the government The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work. only gives the benefit money to people who meet certain Certain means you are sure about something. standards or conditions.
There are different kinds of benefits you can apply for depending on your own personal needs.
Find out about benefits
Many benefits go unclaimed every year.
This advice tool can help you to identify what benefits you might be able to get, and how to apply for them.
Our Learning Disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. Helpline team created this benefit information for guidance Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well. only. Mencap hold no responsibility Responsibility is managing or being in charge of something. for DWP DWP stands for the government Department for Work and Pensions. processes, timescales, decisions and service A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support. .
How to use this advice tool (Easy Read)
We have made Easy Read instructions on how to use this tool to find the things you want to know about.
Read the instructionsWhich type of support are you looking for?
Benefits for people with a learning disability
Our information and advice team are here to help you understand more about benefits. We can help you to identify what benefits you might be able to get, and how to challenge decisions.
How much money in benefit payments could I get?
Benefit calculators
The government recommend some useful benefit calculators where you can check to see what you could be entitled to.
Visit:
How do savings impact benefits?
Your benefits can be affected by how much you have in savings. It is important to inform the Department for Work and Pensions The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support. (DWP) if you have a changes in your income Income is all the money you get from things like paid jobs and government benefits. .
Need more information about benefits?
You can call our Learning Disability Helpline or, if you want to speak to a local adviser about the benefits you may be entitled to, visit the 'Find a local benefit adviser' page on the advicelocal.uk
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
.
Questions and answers about money and benefits
About reasonable adjustments when claiming welfare benefits with the Job Centre and Department for Work and Pensions:
The
Equality
Equality is when everyone is treated fairly.
Act prevents people from being discriminated against in society and outlines the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
The duty to make reasonable adjustments aims to make sure that a disabled person has access to and is able to use services in the same way (or as close as possible) as a non- disabled person.
This duty is anticipatory which means that the responsibility of making reasonable adjustments is on the
organisation
An organisation are a group of people who work together.
meaning they must think in advance about disabled people and the range of impairments they may need.
When you are applying for or receiving a benefit from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), you have a duty to provide them with certain information if they ask for it.
You also have a general duty to tell them (either in writing or by telephone) of any change of circumstances that you might reasonably be expected to know would affect your continued entitled to the benefit you are receiving. For example, if you would need to tell them if your partner moved into your home or if you started a new job.
You must tell the DWP about the change of circumstances “as soon as reasonably practicable”.
As it is sometimes difficult for you to know what changes are going to affect your benefits, it is advisable to tell the DWP about any change of circumstances as soon as possible after the change has happened.