Welfare benefits

 

Access to Work is a scheme for people with health conditions or disabilities that need extra help at work. The scheme is only for things which are not covered by ‘reasonable adjustments’ from your employer.

Access to Work grants can pay for:

• special equipment
• adaptations
• support worker services to help you answer the phone or go to meetings
• help getting to and from work

 

You may be able to make a claim if you:

• have a disability or health condition that makes it hard for you to do parts of your job or get to and from work
• are 16 or over
• have a paid job (or be about to start one)

 

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for severely disabled people aged 65 or over who need help with personal care. You may be able to make a claim if you’re over 65 and:

• you have a physical and/or mental disability
• your disability means that you need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you for your (or someone else’s) safety
• you have needed that help for at least 6 months

 

Blind Person's Allowance is an extra amount of tax-free allowance meaning you can earn more money before you start to pay Income Tax.

You can claim Blind Person's Allowance if you're registered with Lincolnshire's Sensory Services.

 

Disability premium is an extra amount of money added to your Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (if you qualify).

You may be able to make a claim if you’re under state pension and either registered blind or in receipt of an eligible benefit, including, but not limited to:

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Severe Disablement Allowance

If you don’t qualify, you may still get the premium if you’ve been unable to work for at least a year.

You may also qualify for severe disability premium or enhanced disability premium, depending on your circumstances.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Disabled Facilities Grants are an amount of money from your local Lincolnshire Council (district, borough, or city) to allow you to make changes to your home if you are disabled. Examples of what these grants could be used for include:

• access ramps
• widening doors
• installing a stair lift
• adapting heating and lighting controls to make them easier to use

In order to apply for this grant you must be an owner or tenant of the property and live in the property for 5 years.

 

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) are for students that have disability that affects your ability to study, such as a;

• learning difficulty, for example dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD
• mental health condition
• physical disability
• long term health condition

You must also;

• be an undergraduate or postgraduate student
• qualify for student finance from Student Finance England
• be studying on a course that lasts longer than a year
• not be getting equivalent support from another funding source

 

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is for people who are aged 16 to 64 that have a long term health condition or disability. You may be able to make a claim if you:

• have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
• expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months

You can receive PIP whether you are working or not.

 

Specialist Employability Support is intensive support and training to help you into work if you’re disabled. You may be able to apply for this support if you:

• have a disability or health condition that affects the work you can do
• are unemployed
• are between school leaving age and state pension age

To apply for this support you should contact your local Jobcentre Plus.

 

 

It can be an expensive time of year with energy costs rising, it's important to know what help is available. Visit MyBostonUK.com webpage with links to help, support and advice. 

Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire

As it continues to turn colder, more people will begin to worry about their energy bills. The cost-of-living crisis is squeezing household incomes tighter than ever and energy is a growing concern.  At Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire, we can offer energy advice.  Our Adviser can help with energy savings tips, ensuring people are getting all the help they need from their supplier and identifying any grants or available support.  'To refer someone for an energy advice appointment, please complete the link below

https://www.citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk/energy-referral-form/​

This is subject to adviser availability. We will keep you updated if demand exceeds resource

 

Universal Credit is a benefit you may be entitled to. It is a new benefit replacing all of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Working Tax Credit

Home and housing

• Council Tax reductions
• Help with mortgage payments
• Winter Fuel Payment
• Cold Weather Payment
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Extra help from energy suppliers
• TV Licence discount

 

Vehicles and travel

• Blue Badge scheme
• Exemption from vehicle tax
• Motability Scheme
• The Disabled Persons Railcard
• National Concessionary Travel Scheme (bus pass)

 

VAT relief

• VAT relief for disabled people

 Carer benefits and entitlements

If you are a carer you can find out more information on the Lincolnshire County Council carer benefits and entitlements webpage.

 

 

Boston Borough Council has a scheme called Discretionary Housing Payments.  This scheme allows us to make additional payments to people who receive Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit who appear to need further help with their rent.

These are not intended to be long term ongoing payments; they are normally awarded on a short term or one off basis to assist you while you take action to improve your financial circumstances.

To see if you are eligible and for more information click here.