You and your carer, if you have one, may be entitled to a range of benefits. Some are ‘means-tested’, meaning that whether or not you can get them will depend on your financial situation. Others depend on your National Insurance record or your health and individual needs.
The following local and national services provide information and advice about benefits:
- Money Helper is a free impartial service set up by Government to provide advice about money including information on benefits.
- Wakefield Citizens Advice Bureau provides free impartial and independent advice about benefits, either face-to-face, telephone, email or online.
- Age UK provides online information, and an advice line.
- Turn2us is an organisation that helps people access money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other help.
- DIAL Wakefield advises and provides information on a number of aspects of welfare rights and benefits for disabled people. They can also advise on the benefits mandatory reconsideration and appeals dispute process.
If you are state pension age, physically or mentally disabled, and need someone to help look after you, you may be entitled to Attendance Allowance. You do not have to have someone caring for you to claim.
If you are under state pension age and have a disability or long term health condition which means you have difficulties with daily living or getting around, you may be entitled to Personal Independence Payment.
You may also be able to claim a discount on your council tax or apply for a grant or other benefits.
There are online benefits calculators to help you work out which benefits you can claim.
DWP provide explanatory videos about benefits in British Sign Language (BSL).
If you are in receipt of a care service from the Council and have any questions regarding benefit entitlement, please call Social Care Direct on 0345 8 503 503
More information can be found here.
Unpaid carers are also entitled to financial assistance. More information can be found here.
Putting someone else in charge of benefits If you choose to, you can ask someone you trust – known as an ‘appointee’ – to receive and manage the money you get in benefits. To do this, you will need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The appointee will have to prove that they are managing your money with your best interests in mind.