Welfare Rights

Announcements

November 2011

Lone Parents

From 1st November 2011 people can only claim Income Support as a lone parent until their child is age 5. If unsure which benefit to claim at this time advice is available by telephoning Enquiry and Information on 01292 268119.

Winter Fuel Payment

An annual tax free lump sum to assist with fuel bills. Payments are normally automatic and issued between November and December. If you haven't been paid by the end of December, contact the Pension Service in January. You can call the Pension Service on 08456 060 265 (textphone 0800 731 7339).

To qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment in 2011-12, you must live in the UK and have been born on or before January 5 1951. If you're 80 or over on or before 25 September 2011, you'll receive a larger payment than younger claimants.

Amount payable : £300 for each household if you were born on or before September 25 1931
OR £200 for people born between September 26 1931 and January 5 1951 inclusive.

(You won't receive payment if you've been in hospital for more than a year, you're serving a prison sentence or you're living in a care home and receiving Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. You won't be paid if you're subject to immigration control in the qualifying week.)

Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides £120 rebate on your electricity bills in winter 2011/12.

Who qualifies?

Pension Credit customers who are automatically considered for the rebate
You may qualify for this energy rebate if on the qualifying date of 11 September 2011 all the following apply:

• you got only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (no Savings Credit)
• your name, or your partner’s name was on your electricity bill
• your electricity account was with one of the energy suppliers participating in this scheme – see ‘Energy suppliers participating in this scheme’ below

If you meet the conditions above you do not need to do anything now to get your rebate.

If you do not qualify automatically because you get the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit see "Can other people get a Warm Home Discount" below.

Can other people get a Warm Home Discount?

Energy suppliers may also give a £120 rebate to some other customers in vulnerable groups (called the broader group). Each electricity supplier has different eligibility criteria they will use to decide who may get the rebate. See ‘Financial support from energy suppliers’ to find out more.

February 2011

Registered Blind? From 11 April 2011 you may be entitled to extra benefit

Disability Living Allowance rules have been changed from April 2011 to award the higher rate mobility component to people under age 65 who are registered or certified as severely sight impaired (ie blind) and match the requirements for visual acuity and visual field. i.e If a Snellen eye test reveals your visual acuity to be:

• less than 3/60, meaning you only can read the top line of an eye test chart from 3 metres away, you will qualify for the higher rate or

• more than 3/60 but less than 6/60, meaning you can only read the top line of the eye test chart from 6 metres away, your visual field will need to be considered as well.

If your visual acuity falls into the second category, then you will only qualify if you also have both:

• a complete loss of your peripheral vision
• and severely restricted central vision ("tunnel vision"), meaning no more than 10 degrees in diameter.

If your visual acuity is better than 6/60 you will not qualify, for example if your acuity is 6/36 or 6/18.

What if my sight cannot be measured?
If your sight is too poor to be measured in this way, for example if you can only count fingers or you only have light and dark perception, you will qualify.

How to claim?
If you already receive Disability Living Allowance the Depart for Work and Pensions will be in contact before March 2011. Look out your BP1- Blind registration Certificate. (A more up to date assessment can be arranged if needed)

If you do not have Disability Living Allowance you may need to make an application.

Call the Enquiry and Information Team for further details on 01292 268119
Or Royal National Institute for the Blind on 0303 123 9999

Quick Benefits Guide 2010/11

December 2010

Welfare Rights Service/ Enquiry and Information Service will be unavailable between 4 pm on Fri 24 December 2010 until 5 January 2011. We will also be moving office during January. Please telephone before calling in to check our address.

Jobcentreplus

Jobcentres will be closed on 27 and 28 December 2010, and on 3 and 4 January 2011. Crisis loans will not be available between 3.30 pm on 24 December 2010 until 8.30 am on 29 December 2010 and from 3.30 pm on 31 December 2010 until 8.30 am on 5 January 2011.

September 2010

Winter Fuel Payment

Winter fuel payment details for this year:

The new maximum rate for those born before 5 July 1950 is £250 and if you are aged 80 or over the new maximum rate is £400.

NB. Please be aware that the qualifying age for the lower level of Winter Fuel Payment is going to gradually increase over the next 5 years alongside the increase in women's state pension age. Qualifying dates for the next five Winter Fuel Payments are as follows:

• Winter - Born on or before
• 2010/11 – 5th July, 1950
• 2011/12 – 5th January, 1951
• 2012/13 – 5th July, 1951
• 2013/14 – 5th January, 1952
• 2014/15 – 5th July, 1952

July 2010

Tax credits: Please return your Tax Credit forms before 31 July 2010 to protect your award of benefit.

Lone parents- From 25 October 2010 lone parents will only be able to claim Income Support as a lone parent until their youngest child reaches 7 years of age.

£80 Fuel rebate for some older people: People over age 70 years who receive guarantee pension credit will be eligible for an automatic payment of £80.00. There is no need to apply for the payment as the government has authorised fuel companies to make the payments on their behalf. It will show as a rebate on fuel bills; fuel companies will also make an offer of energy efficiency advice.

Fit note: Sick notes from your General Practitioner have been replaced by fit notes. The new fit notes will not only confirm what you suffer from; they will also give details of what work you may be able to do.

Incapacity Benefits will begin to change from October 2010: People receiving Incapacity Benefits will be referred for a new type of medical assessment. If they pass the medical test they will switch over from Incapacity Benefit to Employment Support Allowance. Their benefit rate will then remain at the same level without any increase until the Employment Support Allowance benefit reaches the same level. If they fail the medical test; they will have to:

• Appeal against the decision if appropriate
• Claim Jobseekers Allowance
• Find work or
• Claim Income Support for another reason. Eg Being a Carer.

April 2010

Independent Living Fund: Any new applications will only be accepted from people who work 16 hours or more per week from 1st May 2010. Further details are available by clicking on the following link: www.ilf.org.uk

Retirement Pensions: from April 2010 there are changes to retirement ages and qualifying rules. Please click on the following link for further details: betterfuture.direct.gov.uk/index.html