A-Z Guide to Benefits

Information

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) manages most benefits through Jobcentre Plus offices. Benefits and entitlements for pensioners are dealt with through a network of pension centres which provide a face-to-face service for those who need additional help and support.  Council Tax benefit and Housing Benefit are dealt with by Pendle Council.

B

Bereavement Allowance

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
  • Benefit for: widow, widower or surviving civil partner over age 45 and under state pension age
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Bereavement Payment (formerly Widow's Payment)

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
  • Benefit for: widow, widower or surviving civil partner of someone who was not entitled to a category A Retirement Pension when they died
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Budgeting Loan

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
  • Benefit for: if you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Pension Credit and you need money to pay for certain expenses
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

C

Carers

  • Apply to: Wrexham County Council Social Services
  • Benefit for: You may be able to get help with things like adapting a home for a disabled person, respite care or other support. Respite care is help looking after the person you care for while you have a break.
  • More information: http://www.Wrexham.gov.uk/social-services

Christmas bonus

  • Apply to: Job Centre Plus 
  • Benefit for: people who are already receiving certain benefits may be entitled to the one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas.
  • More information:  Ask at your Job Centre Plus office

Cold weather payment

Community Care Grant

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions. 
  • Benefit for: if you are leaving institutional care or a care home, need help to stay in your own home, are part of a family under exceptional pressure, are caring for a prisoner or young offender on release / licence, are setting up a home as part of a planned resettlement programme or incurring travel costs for certain specified reasons
  • More information: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

Council Tax Benefit

  • Apply to: Wrexham Borough Council 
  • Benefit for: If you need financial help to pay your Council Tax bill. You may also get Second Adult Rebate if you share your home with another adult (not your partner or civil partner) who's unable to pay towards the Council Tax.
  • More information: http://www.Wrexham.gov.uk/taxbenefit

Crisis Loan

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions. 
  • Benefit for: if you need immediate help with day-to-day living costs or something else in an emergency
  • More information: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

F

Funeral Payments

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: helping towards the cost of a funeral for people who already receive benefits or tax or pension credits
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

H

Help with Health Costs

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: helping towards the cost of prescriptions, eye tests, travel to hospital, etc for people who already receive benefits or tax or pension credits
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Housing Benefit

  • Apply to:  Wrexham Borough Council 
  • Benefit for: If you're on a low income and need financial help to pay all or part of your rent.
  • More information: www.wrexham.gov.uk/housebenefit

I

Incapacity Benefit

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: payment if you are incapable of work because of sickness or disability and are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay.
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Income Support

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: people aged from 16 years up to age 60 that are on a low income.
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: people who are disabled as a result of an accident at work or are disabled by a disease or deafness caused by a job you have done
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

J

Job Grant

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: if you are taking up full time work of at least 16 hours per week you may be entitled to a one off payment to help with expenses. 
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Jobseeker's Allowance

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: people who are actively seeking work can claim an allowance while looking for a job 
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

M

Maternity Allowance

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: taking time off work after the birth of a baby.  For people who are not already entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay  
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Materntiy Grant

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions. 
  • Benefit for: if you need help to buy things for a new baby and you or your partner get a low-income benefit or tax credit.  
  • More information: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

Mortgage Interest Run On (MIRO)

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus
  • Benefit : is an extra four weeks of money you can get towards paying your mortgage or home loan interest if certain other benefits are stopping because you're returning to work, earning or working more hours.  
  • More information: Ask at your Job Centre Plus office

P

Parental Leave

  • Apply to:  Your employer. 
  • Benefit for: parents have the right to 13 weeks' parental leave to care for your child and you can have time off to deal with emergencies.   
  • More information: Free confidential advice is available from Acas on 08457 47 47 47 or visit the Department of Trade and Industry website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/

Pension Credit

  • Apply to:  The Pension Service. 
  • Benefit for: people aged 60 or over living in Great Britain. It guarantees everyone aged 60 and over a certain level of income.   
  • More information: http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/

R

Rapid Reclaim

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: people who need to reclaim Jobseeker's Allowance again after starting a job that didn't last.  To give you the confidence to start a job if you are not sure it will last and are concerned it will be difficult to claim benefit again.
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

Reduced Earnings Allowance

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit for: help if you cannot earn as much as you normally could because of an accident or disease caused by work.
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

S

Severe Disablement Allowance

  • Apply to:  JobCentre Plus. 
  • Benefit: Since April 2001 it has not been possible to make a new claim for SDA. If you are aged under 20 you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit, even if you have not paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions .
  • More information: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

T

Tax Credits

  • Apply to:  Inland Revenue. 
  • Benefit for: 9 out of 10 families with children are entitled to tax credits. But you don't need to have children to qualify for these regular payments.
  • More information: http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/

W

Winter Fuel Payment

  • Apply to:  Department for Work and Pensions. 
  • Benefit for: people aged 60 and over with the costs of keeping warm this winter .
  • More information: http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk