Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
This is a benefit you can get if you need help getting around and/or looking after yourself because you are ill, disabled or terminally ill. You must claim before you reach age 65. Help to clear debts without a loan if disabled and on DLA benefits only is available from E-insolvency.
Attendance Allowance (AA)
This is a tax-free benefit for people aged 65 or over who have an illness or disability and need help with personal care.
Incapacity Benefit (IB)
If you can't work because of illness or disability you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit. It is paid in weekly rates which vary depending on how long you've been unable to work.
Direct payments - arranging your own care and services
If you have been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you may want to choose direct payments. They allow you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of receiving it directly from social services.
Equipment for independent living
You may be entitled to help towards the cost of equipment to enable you to live independently in your own home, or towards the cost of getting standard home equipment adapted so that you can use it.
Health equipment, prescriptions and hospital travel
You may be entitled to help towards health costs such as free NHS prescriptions, dental care, hospital travel costs, plus equipment such as wheelchairs and hearing aids.
Value added Tax (VAT) relief on equipment and services
Some goods may qualify for VAT 'relief' if the item has been designed, or adapted, solely for a disable person's use. This includes some medical appliances, certain adjustable beds and hoists and some adapted vehicles.
Services that may qualify for relief include: installation of equipment, adaptation of equipment and certain building alterations.
Independent Living Fund
Payments awarded from the Independent Living Fund help to support severely disabled people to enable them to live independently rather than in a care home. The money is for payment towards personal and domestic care.
Working Tax Credit
If you are in work but on low pay, you can apply for Working Tax Credit to top-up your earnings. You may get extra if someone in your household is disabled.
Income Support
If you are aged between 16 and 60, on a low income, not working or working on average less than 16 hours a week you can claim Income Support. Income Support is affected by savings.
You may qualify for the Disability Premium, the Severe Disability Premium or the Enhanced Disability Premium.
If you are sick and are not getting Statutory Sick Pay, you should claim Incapacity Benefit as well as Income Support.
You will also automatically qualify for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and may receive help towards health costs, such as prescriptions.
Blind person's allowance
The blind person's allowance allows you to receive an amount of income without having to pay tax. It is added to your personal tax allowance.
Common Reasons for debt from disability
The debt and disability team have identified the most common situations that can lead to debt problems for disabled people and their carers such as the following:-
- Due to a sudden drop in income.
- Financial concerns tend to be neglected at times of personal crisis.
- Resolving debt problems can be more difficult with clients with deteriorating mental and physical health due to the process of dealing with debt.
- Some clients get into debt because they have to cut back on expenditure related to their disability such as:-
- Debt from disability from the cost of respite care
- Debt from disability transport costs
- The use of special food for special diets can be expensive and lead to debt.
- Making debt repayments drastically reduces disposable income.
- Cost of carers.
- Carers also cut back on their own quality of life in order to help meet the needs of the disabled person.
If you are a disabled person seeking advice when refused loans to consolidate debts in England, Scotland, Wales please call 0800 074 6918