If you have care needs or a disability – or you’re caring for someone who does - there are benefits to help you manage with the extra costs. Some of these benefits aren’t affected by income or savings, and you might be able to keep them if you have to go into a care home.

What benefits can I claim?

These are main benefits you can claim to help with the extra costs of your personal care needs or disability:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance (if you've reached state pension age) – these are designed to help with the extra costs you face because of your care needs or disability. They’re not means-tested, so don’t depend on your income or savings
• Council Tax reduction – some of these relate to your disability or care arrangements. They’re are not means-tested.
• Universal Credit – more details below.

If your income and savings are low

You might also qualify for means-tested benefits to top up your income. Depending on your age and circumstances, these might include:

• the housing cost element of Universal Credit if you're under state pension age
• Housing Benefit if you (and your partner if you have one) have reached state pension age
• housing costs support
• Council Tax reduction
• Pension Credit (which might include an extra amount if you have a disability).

If someone spends a lot of time looking after you and has a low income, they might be able to claim carer’s benefits. This might include Carer’s Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit.

Why it’s important to claim all the benefits you’re entitled to

These benefits can help you to live safely, comfortably and as independently as possible. Even if you feel you can manage without them, if you qualify – you have a right to claim them. Here are some reasons why it’s important to claim:

• Claiming everything you’re entitled to now might help your income and savings last longer.
• When your local authority (or Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland) assesses your care needs, they’ll usually also carry out a financial assessment. This is to see whether they’ll help pay for the support you need. They’ll help you assess what benefits you’re entitled to claim. But you’ll need to make sure you claim these benefits as they’ll assume you’re getting them.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is tax-free and isn’t affected by your savings or income. You might be entitled to it if:

• you’re State Pension age or over
• you need help with personal care because of illness or disability. This could be a physical or mental disability, or a learning difficulty
• your disability means you need help caring for yourself or supervision to ensure the safety of yourself or others.

You must have been in need of care and support for at least six months. But if you’re terminally ill, you can claim Attendance Allowance immediately and don’t have to wait six months.

Attendance Allowance is based on the care you need – not the level of care you’re currently getting. So even if you don’t get support from a carer at the moment, you might still be entitled to this benefit.

Personal Independence Payment

If you’re under State Pension age and have difficulty getting around or doing everyday tasks, or both, you can make a claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). PIP is tax-free, paid every four weeks and not affected by your income or savings.

There are two parts to PIP:

• A mobility component – which is paid if you need help getting around. Some people call it mobility allowance
• A daily living component – which is paid if you need personal care.

You must have had difficulties for at least three months and expect them to continue for at least nine months. But if you’re terminally ill you can claim PIP straightaway using a fast track process.

Council Tax discounts and exemptions

If you have a disability, you might qualify for more than one of the Council Tax discounts and reductions listed below.

Single person discount

If you live alone, you'll get the single person discount of 25% on your council tax bill.

Some people in certain situations are also 'disregarded' for council tax. This means, if you live alone with one or more 'disregarded' people you'll be treated as single for the purposes of council tax and get a 25% discount on your bill.

Severe mental impairment exemption

You won’t have to pay any Council Tax if your doctor certifies you have a severe mental impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease and you live alone. This exemption isn’t affected by your income or savings.

Council Tax support/reduction scheme

If your income and savings are low, you might qualify for a reduction in your bill. Councils operate their own schemes, so the amount of the reduction varies depending on where you live.

State Pension and Pension Credit

State Pension

The State Pension gives you a regular income when you reach State Pension age. It’s based on National Insurance contributions you’ve either paid in the past or were credited as if you had paid them – for example, while caring for children. The amount you get isn’t affected by your other income or savings.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum. The amount you get depends on your income and savings.

Pension Credit is the main means-tested benefit for people who’ve reached State Pension age. If you’re younger than this and your income and savings are low, you might qualify for other benefits instead.

Help with housing costs

Rent

If you’re working age, rent your home and your income and savings are low – you might qualify for help with housing costs. This would be through Universal Credit, to help you pay your rent.

Mortgage

Are you getting Pension Credit (or certain other means tested benefits), you own your home and still have a mortgage? Then you can apply for government help to pay the interest on your mortgage through the Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan scheme.

To find out more about other benefits you could be entitled to, click here.