Benefits Advice

Raising Funds

2009-08-26T16:14:00.005+01:00

There are estimated to be 1 million old mobile phones in the UK, how may old or broken mobile phones are there in your house ?

Envirofone will give you cash for your old mobiles.

The process is really simple, just log on to there website, click here, once there you can input or search for what old mobile you have, you will an instant quote for how much they will pay. If you accept their quote, you just follow the simple steps to register your details. You get a choice of receiving your payment by cheque or my pal pal.

Once you have filled in the simple details, envirofone will send you a envelope to post your old phone off to them in, postage paid.

Once they receive your phones and ensure they are what you said they were you will receive your payment.

Simple, so dig out your old mobiles now and visit Envirofone, get money for your old and broken mobiles and help the environment too.

Benefit Hints and Tips

2009-08-20T10:25:00.005+01:00

Claiming benefits or trying to claim benefits can often be very frustrating and annoying as you find hindrances put in your way. Below are a couple hint and tips which hopefully save you time and frustration. We will add to this page as we find out more information.

1: The Crisis Line Telephone Call

Any one who has had to apply for a crisis loan over the phone will know that you get an automated system to start , you listen for 30 seconds are told to press a key, listen for another 30 seconds, press another key, listen for another 30 seconds, press another key only to be told all operators are busy and to try later. Now here's a quick tip ,once your call is answered by the automated service just press 1 1 2 on your keypad this will skip you through the automated bit.

2 Tax Credits Stopped

There are several horror stories of people having their tax credits stopped, without warning, it usually happens at this time of year because they allegedly did not send the forms back, or did not complete the full information. If this happens to you contact the tax credit office immediately, most issues can be rectified over the phone, however it will still take up to 6 days to reinstate your money. Your first thought will probably be a crisis loan to tied you over until your tax credits are resolved. How ever before you waste your time on the phone to the crisis loan, you have to try your tax office first. You will go through all the drama of the crisis loan phone call only to be told it is not there responsibility it is the tax offices. Go to the tax office first , explain the situation, they may issue you a cash able giro, if not then go to the crisis loan.

3. Always fill in the application

I have lost count of the times I have spoken to people who were told they were not entitled to something. Let me tell you something, if you don't apply for it, you don't know if your not entitled to it. Never take the person at the job centres word for it, they are not specialists on all benefits, they don't know all your circumstances, so apply, you never know you may just get a little more.

Family Fund

2009-08-05T12:45:00.002+01:00

The Family Fund helps families with severely disabled children to have choices and the opportunity to enjoy ordinary life. They give grants for things that make life easier and more enjoyable for the disabled child and their family, such as washing machines, driving lessons, hospital visiting costs, computers and holidays.

The Fund is a registered charity, helping around 50,000 families in the UK with £30.5 million in grants a year.

They give grants to low-income families that relate to the additional needs of severely disabled children and young person,which help relieve the stress of everyday life.

The value of the grant depends on the items requested, family circumstances and the funding they have available.

They consider all applications individually on the basis of the information provided.

They distribute nearly £30.5 million each year to around 50,000 families with severely disabled children across the UK.

They cover the whole of the UK and receive annual funding from the national governments of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

They design their grants with the needs of the whole family in mind: disabled children, parents and siblings.

There is no entitlement to a grant from the Family Fund. All grants are discretionary and subject to available funding.

How often can we help?

They try to help families caring for a severely disabled child or young person once every year, and will consider a grant application usually 12 months from the date of the last grant.
We do understand sometimes that the need for help can be greater especially if there is an emergency or critical situation relating to a disabled child or young person. If this happens we can be flexible and consider an application.

You can apply online at the family fund, or find information to apply by letter.

What are you entitled too ?

2009-07-28T07:45:00.002+01:00

Do you earn under £66350, yes you read right £66350, a lot of money, yet people who earn under this amount (depending on circumstances) are entitled to certain benefits and tax credits. Many people are simply unaware of their benefits and millions of pounds go unclaimed each year, including a million plus low income pensioners who fail to apply for their pension credit.

You can do a very quick 5 minute benefit check at http://entitledto.co.uk/
There is no charge and it does the work for you: it has a regularly updated calculator that works everything out, in one go, whether you're 22 or 72. It's very simple to use: just input basic details about your personal situation, such as income, council tax bill, and your savings and it reveals what, if any, benefits you're entitled to.

The calculator includes all the main benefits: Working Tax Credit; Council Tax and Housing Benefit; Pension Credit; Child Benefit; Child Trust Fund and Child Tax Credit. It's important to remember, benefits rules do change, so if it's likely you're entitled to benefits then it's worth doing an annual check up.

Free Veterinary Care for your Animals

2009-07-24T11:37:00.002+01:00

If you are receiving housing or council tax benefit then you are entitled to free veterinary care by the PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals. The PDSA was founded in 1917 and as veterinary surgery's all over the UK. You can contact them on 0800 731 2502, to find your local surgery. The free care is for both sick and injured animals. They will also neuter your cats and dogs free of charge.

To register for PDSA help, a person must provide proof of receipt of benefit by showing an award letter from their Council or similar documentation. In addition at Pet Aid hospitals confirmation of personal identification is required. Once registered, the pet owner is provided with a Client Agreement that they are asked to present each time they bring their pet for treatment.

Remember the PDSA is not just for Cats and Dogs but all pets. With Veterinary bills so high this benefit should be utilised.

EHIC (Previously E11)

2009-07-21T11:25:00.002+01:00

I have included this today as I have recently noticed a few companies springing up on the Internet charging a much as £40.00 for you to apply for an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), previously form E11. Do not pay for this, this is a free service and the applications can be made in 3 ways:

Apply by phone - call 0845 606 2030. Your card will be delivered within 10 days.
Apply by post - complete a printed form, available from your local post office, and send it to EHIC Applications, PO Box 1115, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 1SW. Your card will be delivered within 21 days.
Apply on line - visit NHS Website, there should be a link in this page.

If you are travelling in Europe you should apply for each family member travelling. When you apply, for each person, you will need:

their first names and surname (family name),
date of birth, and
NHS number, or national insurance (NI) number.

If you're a UK national (citizen) who normally lives in the UK, an EHIC entitles you to free, or reduced-cost, medical treatment when you're visiting Europe. However, it's not valid if:

you're going to live in Europe, or
getting medical treatment is the main purpose of your trip.

The EHIC lasts for five years. The EHIC entitles you to state-provided medical treatment only. Private treatment is not usually covered.
If you need treatment due to an accident, or illness, it will be provided free, or at a reduced cost. However, some treatment that is free under the NHS in the UK will not necessarily be free in other countries. You may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care, but this can usually be covered by private travel insurance.
The EHIC covers treatment for chronic diseases, or existing illnesses. If you're pregnant, it also covers routine maternity care while you're away.

Healthy start vouchers

2009-07-20T11:10:00.002+01:00

Some people on low incomes can get healthy start vouchers which can be exchanged for free milk, fruit or vegetables. The value of the voucher is £3.10 per week for each child under 4 or if you are pregnant.

You can get healthy start vouchers if you are at least ten weeks pregnant and you're getting:
Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit but are not getting Working Tax Credit and your income is low enough
Working Tax Credit for an extra four weeks after stopping working or reducing your working hours to fewer than 16 per week.
If you are a member of the family of someone who is on these benefits, and you are pregnant you can also get healthy start vouchers. A member of the family in this case is an opposite sex partner, same-sex partner or dependent child of the person who is getting one of these benefits.
You can also get healthy start vouchers if you're under 18 and pregnant, regardless of how much income you or your family have coming in.
Any of your children who are under four are also entitled to healthy start vouchers if you're getting:
Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit, if your income is low enough, and you are not able to get Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit for an extra four weeks after stopping working or reducing your working hours to fewer than 16 per week.
If your child is under one, you can get additional vouchers.
If you are an asylum seeker getting government asylum support, you cannot get healthy start vouchers, but if you are pregnant or have a child under three, you will get an extra payment for milk or infant formula.

You can fill in the application form here: http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/en/qualifier/index.asp

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Form HCTB1 )

2009-07-16T12:00:00.004+01:00

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit ( Form HCTB1) can help towards your rent and Council Tax. Your local authority pays them. You do not have to be receiving any other benefits to qualify for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

If you are on a low income and need help to pay your rent or Council Tax, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit could help you .The maximum Housing Benefit you can get depends on your eligible rent, this may not be the same as your full rent.

If you claim Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or Job seeker's Allowance, you will also get a Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claim form, if not the form HTCB1, can be collected from you local job centre.

The form is lengthy and requires a lot of information, specially if you are working. As rent and council tax are probably the most expensive monthly out-going it is worth taking the time to complete the form.

Funeral Payment Grant (Form SF200)

2009-07-15T12:53:00.002+01:00

If you're on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you're arranging, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund. A Funeral Payment includes necessary burial or cremation fees, certain other specified expenses and up to £700 for any other funeral expenses, such as the funeral director's fees, the coffin or flowers. You can claim a Funeral Payment from the date of death and up to three months after the date of the funeral. The form (SF200) can be collected from your local job centre. The form is 36 pages, over 50% of this is notes. The majority of the detail concerns the deceased and your relationship to them.

You may be eligible for a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund if you or your partner are getting any of the following benefits or tax credits:

Income Support
income-based Job seeker's Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Pension Credit
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit (or the Council Tax payer where you live gets a Second Adult Rebate because you are on a low income)
Working Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element
Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element

To be able to get a Funeral Payment you must also be either:

the partner of the deceased when they died
the parent of the deceased child, or have been responsible for the deceased child (and there is no absent parent) (unless they are getting one of the above qualifying benefits or were estranged from the child at the date of death)
the parent of a still-born child
a close relative or close friend of the deceased (and it is reasonable for you to accept responsibility for the funeral costs)

Free School Meals

2009-07-14T12:00:00.002+01:00

A lot of people on benefits do not apply for free school dinners, as they don't wish for their children to suffer any stigma, but with the average school dinner now costing £2.00, this equates to £10.00 per week and with 195 school days each year that's £390.00 a year for one child only, a benefit worth having.

The form is straight forward, usual personal details ,then tick boxes for what benefits you receive.

You can get the claim form for free school dinners from your local council offices, benefit office and some schools have them too.

Free School Meals can only be awarded if you or your partner are claiming either;
Income Support
Job Seekers Allowance – Income Based
Employment and support allowance - Income Related
Support under part V1 of the immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs that does not exceed £16,040.
Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

School Uniform Grant

2009-07-13T07:05:00.000+01:00

Families who are on benefits or on low income could be entitled to clothing grants or vouchers from their local authorities to assist with the cost of school clothing. Please note not all local councils offer this grant. You should contact your local council offices, where if the grant is available the form can be collected from. The form is very simple, no proof of benefits is required on the form, just your details and details of the children you are applying for.

The amount if the grant is available is £30.00 per child.

If you are on either of the following benefits you should receive the grant:

Income Support
Job Seeker's Allowance (income based)
Employment Support Allowance (Income Related)
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £16,040 for 2009/10 applications
the guarantee element of State Pension Credit

Maternity Grant (Form SF100)

2009-07-09T12:18:00.000+01:00

A maternity grant (Form SF100), the form can be collected from your local job centre, is a fixed amount of £500 to help people on a low income buy clothes and equipment for a new born baby. It does not have to be repaid. It does not matter what you use the money for.

You can get a maternity grant if you or your partner are receiving Income Support, Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or income-based Job seeker’s Allowance when you claim.

If you're getting Child Tax Credit, you may also be able to get a maternity grant if your award of Child Tax Credit is high enough. If you are getting Working Tax Credit with an extra amount because of disability, you will be entitled to a maternity grant.

You can claim a maternity grant if you or your partner is at least 29 weeks’ pregnant, or has given birth, adopted a baby or had a child by a surrogate mother within the last three months. You can also claim a maternity grant for a dependent child who is pregnant or who has given birth in the last three months. To claim a maternity grant, you also have to show that you have received advice from a health care professional.

If you are an asylum seeker getting government asylum support, you cannot get a maternity grant but you can ask for a one-off payment of £300. You must apply before your baby is two weeks old.

The form is simple to complete, just requiring your personnel and benefit information and information on the pregnancy.

Budget Loan (Form SF500)

2009-07-08T09:26:00.000+01:00

The budget loan is probably the easiest form to fill in, I will explain more on this later in this article. The application form can be collected from your local job centre. It is an interest free loan, which is paid back by deduction from your benefits at an agreed rate if your application is successful. From application it usually takes around 7 days to receive a reply. If you have been accepted you will receive the amount they are offering (the maximum this can be is £1500) and the weekly repayment amount. If you wish to accept it you have to sign the form and return it. From this the money will usually be paid into your account within 7 days.

You can apply for a budget loan if you or your partner have been getting one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks:

Income Support
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
income-based Job seeker's Allowance
Pension Credit

Items a budget loan can be applied for are:

furniture or household equipment
clothing or footwear
advance rent or removal expenses for a new home
travelling expenses
things to help you look for or start work
improving, maintaining or securing your home
repaying hire purchase or other debts you took out to pay for any of the above

Please note items outside these, you will not be granted a budget loan for.

The form is very simple, the usual personal information, but when it comes to listing items you require there is a simple 4 check box ( you can tick all if you like, whatever meets what you are applying for the loan for) , so you just tick the boxes applicable to your application, then there is just a little detail in a box below.

Example - You ticked the box saying the budget loan was for HP payments. You just have to enter your current total HP payments and the weekly amount.

Crisis Loan (Form SF401)

2009-07-07T15:10:00.000+01:00

Crisis Loan (Form SF401)

A Crisis Loan is there to help you in an emergency or as a consequence of a disaster. It is interest-free and you don't need to be in receipt of benefits to qualify. The Government state that the amount you can apply for isn't set, but the maximum amount is believed to be £1500, the amount is dependant on what you can afford to pay back from your benefits. The amount is interest free and deducted from you benefits at an amount agreed before the loan is given. I am unable to advise how it is deducted if you are not in receipt of benefits.

A crisis loan can be applied for the following:

unable to pay for basic living costs and this will be a serious risk to the health and safety of you or your family, or unable to pay for something else and this will be a serious risk to the health and safety of you or your family, or need help to pay rent in advance to a non-local authority landlord because you are moving out of institutional or residential accommodation and a Community Care Grant is being paid to establish you in the community.

You can download the form at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm or collect it from your local job centre. There is also a telephone number which your local job centre will give you, but don't be surprised if its constantly engaged.

Most people only apply for a crisis loan when there benefit payments have been messed up. Its is important to note a crisis loan is available if you are unable to meet basic living costs and this will be a serious health and safety risk to your family. For example, you might need to replace an important item of furniture and household equipment urgently. Or, you might need money for living expenses urgently because you have lost your money or it has been stolen or because you have spent all your money.

These are examples of things you cant get a crisis loan for:

medical items, spectacles or dental treatment;
most housing costs, like deposits to secure accommodation, mortgage payments or big repairs to your home (but you can get a payment for rent in advance if the landlord is not a local authority, to pay for board and lodgings, to meet intermittent costs like emptying septic tanks, or for minor repairs to your home);
buying or installing a telephone, or pay call charges;
running costs for a motor vehicle (such as repairs).

Money you don't have to Pay Back

2009-07-06T11:16:00.000+01:00

I am going to start this blog with what money is available that you don't have to pay back.

The first item we will look at is The Community Grant (form SF300) http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017560 or pick the form up from your local job centre.

You can apply for items you require, for example if you are moving into council accommodation for the first time, due to perhaps for example coming out of prison, there are several items you would require, cooker, bed etc. If you are granted the community grant you receive the total amount they have said you are entitled to paid in to your account, you do not receive vouchers.

A community grant is available if:

You are already getting Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance,

The form itself' is quite long but a majority of the information required is just name, address, national insurance number etc.

The important part of the form is the section where you fill in the items you require. You enter the item you require, cost, who will use it and why you require it and what benefit it would give.

An example would be:

Cooker , cost £279.0, myself for the family, My current cooker is broken and I have been advised repair will be over £300. I am unable to afford the £300 or the £279 to purchase a new one. I am currently only able to cook microwave meals, which are expensive and not healthy for my family. Having a cooker again will mean I can afford to and be able to prepare proper healthy meals for my family.

This part of the form is the most important, you should really think about what you require, why and how it will help. Remember you can list as many items as you like, it does not mean you will be given the money for them all, but you can ask. Other items people may need, would be cookers, washing machines, tumble dyer if you live in a flat and have no where to put your washing out, security items .IE window locks, smoke alarms etc, bed, bedding, cloths. These are just a few examples if you think about what is in a house there are lots of essential items.

Community grants can also be applied for to assist with funeral costs, travelling expenses in certain circumstances,i.e visiting someone is ill.

The list is not exhaustive the important thing to remember is the detail for the items you are applying for. You can apply for a community grant more than once a year, but remember you can not apply for something you have applyed up to 26 week previously.

Please feel free to to e-mail me at : jasette11@googlemail.com if you require any assistance with a form.