Benefits and Bills
The information below will give you some details on benefits you
may be eligible to claim and contact details for more
information.
On this page:
Housing and Council Tax Benefit are means
tested benefits administered by Ryedale District Council on behalf
of the Department for Work and Pensions. These benefit schemes
are specially designed to help people who are unemployed or on low
incomes to pay their Rent and/or Council Tax.
Housing Benefit can assist with rent payable to private landlords
or housing associations.
Council Tax Benefit can assist owner-occupiers, people living in
rent-free accommodation and people living in rented accommodation
where they have a liability to pay Council Tax.
Applicants who receive Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers
Allowance or the Guarantee Pension Credit are entitled to maximum
Housing/Council Tax Benefit. Applicants with all other types of
income will have their claim assessed based on their income and
savings and in all these cases, it will be necessary to supply up
to date proof of all income and savings to comply with Verification
Framework. You can apply for Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit if
you have capital/savings of £16,000 or less, or if you have more
than this and are receiving Guarantee Pension Credit.
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Disability Benefits
In this section:
The information below outlines details of some of the disability
benefits that are available and how to find out more information
about claiming them.
Attendance
Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people aged 65 or
over who have an illness or disability and need help with personal
care. To receive Attendance Allowance you are considered to have
care needs if:
- you need help in connection with bodily functions - this
includes things such as eating, drinking and using the toilet;
- you need help with things like washing and dressing
yourself;
- you need supervision to stop you being a danger to yourself or
to others;
- you need someone with you when you are on dialysis.
You can get Attendance Allowance even if you live alone and no
one is actually giving you the care you need. There are 2 different
rates of Attendance Allowance, a higher one and a lower one. The
lower rate is paid to people who require attention or supervision
during the day the night and the higher rate is paid to people who
require attention or supervision during the day the night.
Attendance Allowance is normally paid directly into any account
which accepts direct payment of benefits. This could be a bank,
building society, Post Office or National Savings account.
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Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who
are :
- aged under 65;
- ill, disabled or terminally ill;
- in need of help to care for themselves, help with getting
around or both of these.
You can also claim Disability Living Allowance for an ill or
disabled child.
- you need help in connection with bodily functions - this
includes things such as eating and using the toilet;
- you need help with washing;
- you need supervision to stop you being a danger to yourself or
to others;
- you are terminally ill.
You can get Disability Living Allowance for your care needs even
if no one is actually giving you the care you need.
- you are unable or virtually unable to walk, or have no feet or
legs;
- you are both deaf and blind;
- you are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural
problems and qualify for the highest rate of care component;
- trying to walk would endanger your life or affect your health
(for people aged 3 or over);
- you need help with getting around out of doors (for people aged
5 or over).
If you need guidance or supervision to help you get around
safely, you are considered to have mobility needs.
There are several different rates of each component depending on
how the disability affects you. Some people will be entitled to
receive just one component and others may receive both. Disability
Living Allowance is normally paid directly into any account which
accepts direct payment of benefits. This could be a bank, building
society, Post Office or National Savings account.
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Incapacity Benefit
If you are under state pension age and can’t work because of
illness or disability, you may be entitled to Incapacity Benefit.
You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit if any of the following
apply to you:
- your Statutory Sick Pay has ended or you can’t get any at
all;
- you were under state pension age when you became sick.
You must also have been:
- paying National Insurance Contributions;
- unable to work due to sickness or disability for at
least four days in a row (including weekends and public
holidays);
- getting special medical treatment and unable to work
for two or more days out of seven consecutive
days; or
You must :
- be aged between 16 and 20 (or under 25 if you were in education
or training at least three months before turning 20);
- have been too ill to work because of sickness or disability for
at least 28 weeks;
- have been too ill to work before you turned 20 (or under 25 if
you were in education or training at least three months before
turning 20).
In some circumstances, you may be able to claim Incapacity
Benefit even if you haven’t paid enough National Insurance
Contributions.
Incapacity Benefit is paid at three types of weekly rate:
- short-term lower rate is paid for the first 28 weeks;
- short-term higher rate is paid from weeks 29 to 52;
- long-term rate is paid from week 53.
You may be able to get an ‘age addition’ with your long-term
rate if you were under 45 years old when you became too ill or
disabled to work. You may also be able to get extra benefit for
your partner or the person who looks after your children.
Incapacity Benefit is normally paid directly into any account which
accepts direct payment of benefits. This could be a bank, building
society, Post Office or National Savings account.
Your local Jobcentre Plus office will be able to give you further
information about claiming Incapacity Benefit and details of the
two local offices within the Ryedale area are given at the end of
this section.
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Carer's Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit paid to informal carers of people
who are severely disabled. You are eligible for Carer’s Allowance
if you are aged 16 or over and you spend 35 hours or more a week
caring for someone who is ill or disabled. You do not have to be
related to, or live with, the person.
You can claim Carer’s Allowance if you:
- are aged 16 or over; and
- spend at least 35 hours per week caring for the same relative,
friend or neighbour who is getting one of the following
benefits:
- Attendance Allowance;
- Disability Living Allowance (Care Component) at the highest or
middle rate;
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum
rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or basic
(full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension.
If someone else is also looking after the same person, only one
of you can get Carer’s Allowance. Also, you cannot add together the
hours you spend caring for more than one disabled person.
There is one standard rate of Carer’s Allowance, which can be
reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State
Pension. You may be able to get an additional amount for your
husband or wife, or someone living with you who looks after your
dependant children. Carer’s Allowance is normally paid directly
into any account which accepts direct payment of benefits. This
could be a bank, building society, Post Office or National Savings
account.
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Second Adult Rebate - The alternative
Council Tax Benefit
The information below tells you about who can claim Second
Adult Rebate, how much a person can claim and how it is
paid.
What is Second Adult Rebate
Second Adult Rebate is an alternative Council Tax Benefit which is
calculated based on the gross income of the second adult(s) living
in the household. The income and savings of the person who is
liable for Council Tax is taken into account. Second Adult Rebate
can cover up to a maximum of 25% of the full Council Tax
liability.
Who can apply for Second Adult Rebate
The person who is liable for Council Tax can apply for Second Adult
Rebate based on the gross income and circumstances of the other
adult(s) living in the household. The person claiming must provide
proof of their National Insurance number and two forms of
identification, as well as proof of the second adult(s) gross
income and any interest received from their savings. (There is
further information regarding documentary evidence earlier in the
list of subjects in Your Guide To Housing and Council Tax Benefit).
Any entitlement to Second Adult Rebate is paid to the liable
person.
Who can count as other adults living in the
property?
In order to qualify for Second Adult rebate, the other adult(s)
living in the property must be:
- aged 18 or over;
- not liable to pay you rent for living in the same
accommodation;
- not your husband/wife or partner;
- not liable to pay Council Tax at the same property as you.
on a low income or receiving Income Support. If the combined
gross weekly income of all 'second adults' is more than £220.00,
there will be no entitlement to Second Adult Rebate.
Who cannot count as other people living in the
property?
The following people cannot count as second adults:
- a joint owner or tenant;
- a person who is disregarded for Council Tax purposes;
- a person who is living in the property as part of a
business
arrangement;
- the liable person.
What is a 'disregarded person'?
The main groups of people who may be disregarded for Council Tax
purposes and for the purpose of calculating Second Adult Rebate are
:
- persons in detention;
- people who are severely mentally impaired;
- people for whom Child Benefit is payable;
- students;
- hospital in-patients;
- care workers;
- residents of hostels, care homes and nursing homes.
Further information regarding people who may be disregarded for
Council Tax purposes is available under the heading 'Can I
receive a Discount?' and 'Can I receive an
Exemption on my property?' on the Council
Tax page of this web site. Click on the link below to go
to the Council Tax page.
How much Second Adult Rebate will be paid?
Second Adult Rebate can cover up to a maximum of 25% of the full
Council Tax liability, depending on the circumstances of the other
adult(s). Gross income includes earnings, income other than
earnings and gross actual income received from savings. The amounts
of the reductions which can be paid against the Council Tax
liability are given below:
- Second adults who receive Income Support - 25% reduction;
- Gross weekly income of second adult(s) is less than £168.99 -
15% reduction;
- Gross weekly income of second adult(s) is between £169.00 and
£219.99 - 7.5% reduction;
- Gross weekly income of second adult(s) is £220.00 or more - 0%
reduction (nil entitlement).
The ‘Better Buy" calculation
If you are also entitled to main Council Tax Benefit based on your
own income and savings, Benefit Services will do a 'Better Buy'
calculation to determine which is the higher between the two.
Whichever is the highest, will be awarded.
How to apply for Second Adult Rebate
You will need to complete a Second Adult Rebate application form.
To obtain an application form, contact Benefit Services at Ryedale
House or click on the item below. Any entitlement to Second
Adult Rebate is credited direct to the Council Tax account and an
adjustment notice showing the revised balance will be sent shortly
afterwards.
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Tax Credits
The information below outlines details of the new Tax Credits
which were introduced from April 2003.
What are Tax Credits
Two types of Tax Credits were introduced from April 2003 to
replace, Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit,
Children's Tax Credit, the money for children included in Income
Support and Income Based Job Seekers Allowance and the New Deal 50+
Employment Credit. The new Tax Credits are as follows:
Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit is a payment to top up the earnings of working
people on low incomes, including those who do not have children.
There are extra amounts for working households in which someone has
a disability. It is available to people who are employed and
self-employed and includes support for the costs of qualifying
childcare. You can claim Working Tax Credit if you are:
- responsible for a child or young person;
- aged 16 or over work at least 16 hours a week.
if you are:
- not responsible for a child or young person;
- aged 25 or over work at least 30 hours a week;
- aged 16 or over work at least 16 hours a week and you have a
disability which puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job;
- you or your partner are aged 50 or more work at least 16 hours
a week and are returning to work after time spent on qualifying
out-of-work benefits.
Working Tax Credit is paid in addition to any Child Tax
Credit.
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is a payment to support families with children.
You can claim Child Tax Credit if you are responsible for one child
or young person or more than one. You do not have to be working to
claim. Child Tax Credit will provide support for:
- a child until 1st September following his or her 16th
birthday;
a young person aged 16 to 18 who:
- is in full-time education, up to and including 'A' levels, NVQ
level 3 or Scottish Highers;
- has left full-time education but does not have a job or
training place and has registered with the Careers Service or
Connexions Service (Connexions Service does not apply in Scotland
or Northern Ireland);
- is not claiming Income Support or Tax Credits in his or her own
right;
- is not serving a custodial sentence of four months or more
imposed by a court.
Child Tax Credit is paid in addition to any Child Benefit and
any Working Tax Credit.
Who deals with claims for Tax Credits?
Claims for Tax Credits are all dealt with by the Inland
Revenue.
How Tax Credits affect Housing/Council Tax
Benefit
For Housing and Council Tax Benefit purposes, Tax Credits are taken
fully into account as income. However, arrears of Tax Credits are
(which are paid as a lump sum) are treated as capital, not income
and where the arrears are paid as a result of a change in
circumstances, they can be disregarded for 52 weeks. Changes to the
amounts of Tax Credits, following annual uprating, can be ignored
for 30 weeks. If you are already receiving Housing and/or Council
Tax Benefit or if you have recently made a claim, you should send
any Tax Credit award letter you receive, to Benefit Services at
Ryedale House, as soon as possible.
How to find out more about claiming Tax
Credits
To find out more about claiming Tax Credits, telephone the Inland
Revenue helpline on :
0845 300 3900 (England, Scotland and Wales) or 0845 603 2000
(Northern Ireland) or the helpline on 0845 300 3909 (England,
Scotland and Wales) or 0845 607 6078 (Northern Ireland). The
helplines are open between 8.00am and 8.00pm seven days a week,
except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and Easter
Sunday.
You can check your eligibility or get a claim pack by phoning 0800
500 222 and this line is open between 7.00am and 11.00pm, seven
days a week or visit the Inland Revenue website (see link below).
If you find you are entitled to Tax Credits, you will be able to
make your claim online immediately.
Website: https://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/HomeNew.aspx.
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Pension Credits
The information below outlines details of the new Pension
Credits which are to be introduced from October 2003. Further
information will be available at a later date.
There are two types of Pension Credits being introduced and
these are as follows:
Guarantee Pension Credit
This replaces Minimum Income Guarantee for people aged 60 years and
over
Savings Credit
For people aged 65 and over with capital and/or occupational
pensions
There will be no capital limits for claiming these credits. The
first £6,000 of capital will be ignored and the remainder will be
treated as tariff income. This means for every £500 (or part of)
capital exceeding £6,000, £1 a week will be used as income in the
calculation.
Who will deal with claims for Pension
Credits?
Claims for Pension Credits will be dealt
with by the Pension Service, who will collect the necessary
evidence and information and pass on the details of the Pension
Credit claim to the relevant Local Authority.
How Pension Credits will affect Housing/Council Tax
Benefit
Those people who receive the Guarantee Pension Credit will be
entitled to maximum Housing and Council Tax Benefit. Where there is
no entitlement to the Guarantee Pension Credit but there is
entitlement to Savings Credit, Housing/Council Tax Benefit will be
assessed in the normal way, based on all the income and savings. In
the same way, a claim for Housing/Council Tax Benefit for a person
aged 60 or over who does not receive a Pension Credit, will be
assessed under the normal rules, again, based on all the income and
savings.
How to find out more about claiming Pension
Credits
To find out more about claiming Pension Credits, telephone the
Pension Service on: 0845 60 60 265 (all calls are charged at local
rate) or e-mail through the website from the link below.
Useful Benefits Contact Information
Attendance
Allowance
Disability and Carers Service
Leeds DBC
Government Buildings
Otley Road
Lawnswood
Leeds
LS16 5PU
Disability Living
Allowance
Disability and Carers Service
Warbreck House
Warbreck Hill
Blackpool
FY2 0YJ
Disability Living Allowance and
Attendance Allowance Helpline
Telephone: 0845 712 3456
Textphone: 0845 7224433 (for the deaf/hard of hearing )
Carers
Allowance
Disability and Carers Service
Carers Allowance Unit
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston
PR1 1HB
Telephone: 01253 856123
Website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/
Child Benefit Centre
(Washington)
P.O. Box 1
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
NE88 1AA
Telephone: 0870 1555540
Child Support
Agency
Callendar Business Park
Callendar Road
Falkirk
FK1 1XT
Telephone: 0845 7136000
Fax: 0845 7136134
Website: http://www.csa.gov.uk/.
Citizens Advice Bureau
(Malton)
Community House
Wentworth Street
Malton
Telephone: 01653 692740
Department for Work and Pensions
(Scarborough Office)
19 Market Street
Scarborough
YO11 1EZ
Telephone: 01723 504000
Website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/
Department for Work and Pensions
(York Office)
11-17 Monkgate
York
YO3 7PB
Telephone: 01904 682100
Website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/.
Family Health Services Authority
(North Yorkshire County Council)
Ryedale House
60 Piccadilly
York
Telephone: 01904 631345
Harewood Housing Association
Ltd
Royd House
Low Mills
Guiseley
Leeds
LS20 9LU
Telephone: 0113 2503750
Fax: 0113 2507984
Home Housing
Association
41 Castle Road
Scarborough
YO11 1BJ
Telephone: 01723 507543
Housing 21
North Regional Office
1 Staithgate Lane
Odsal
Bradford
West Yorks
BD6 1YA
Telephone: 01274 744190
Fax: 01274 744191
Inland Revenue (Tax
Credits)
NICO Pensions
Chillingham House
Benton Park View
Newcastle
NE98 1ZZ
Telephone Helpline: 0845 300 3900 (England, Scotland and
Wales)
Telephone to check your eligibility or get a claim pack: 0800 500
222
Website: www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/HomeNew.aspx.
(If you find you are entitled to Tax Credits, you will be able to
make your claim online immediately.)
Jobcentre
Plus
York Clifford Street Jobcentre
5 Clifford Street
York
YO1 9PS
Telephone: 01904 882000
Website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/.
Pension
Service
York Pension Centre
The Pension Service
P.O. Box 89
York
YO1 7WY
Telephone: 0845 6060265
Website: http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/.
Rent
Officer
Unit E
Aviator Court
Clifton Moor Business Park
York
YO30 4UZ
Telephone: 01904 477800
Ryedale Housing
Association
Leat House
Welham Road
Norton
Malton
YO17 9DS
Telephone: 01653 600300
Sanctuary Housing
Association
Hull Office
160 Francis Street
Hull
HU2 8DT
Telephone: 01482 227821
Fax: 01482 218614
Social Services
(Malton)
Ryedale House
Malton
YO17 7HH
Telephone: 01653 600666
Winter Fuel
Payments
Helpline: 0845 915 1515