benefits

Information on Social Security can be found at the Department for Work and Pensions:

Jobcentreplus

In the coming year customers will notice a trend towards the use of warm phones and a system based on appointments rather than a drop-in service. Call centres will become a feature for those wishing to make a new claim to any benefit.

Cinderford

32, Market Street, Cinderford

01452 366297

Cirencester

Forum House, Southway Cirencester

01285 662950

There are many other benefits such as...

• Disability Living Allowance
  
  Leaflet DS704
  
  For people who need help with personal care, getting around, or both because they are ill or disabled.
• Incapacity Benefit
  
  Leaflet IB202
  
  People who are incapable of work and are employed, but who cannot get Statutory Sick Pay from their employer or who are self employed, unemployed or non employed may get Incapacity Benefit if they have paid enough national insurance contributions.
• Carers Allowance
  
  Leaflet SD4
  
  For people aged 16+ who are spending at least 35 hours a week caring for a severely disabled person who is in receipt of the middle or highest rate of Disability Living Allowance Care Component or Attendance Allowance.
• Incapacity Benefit
  
  Leaflet IB(Y)1-2001
  
  You can receive incapacity benefit under the youth rules if you:
• Have been incapacitated early in life
• Are unable to work because of illness or disability
• Have not paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions to be able to get incapacity benefit under the normal rules

Can I work and still get benefit?

Leaflets SB16 and GL18

The Social Fund encompasses two very different systems:

The Regulated Social Fund

• Under the Regulated Social Fund your right to a Sure Start Maternity Payment, Funeral Payment or Cold Weather Payment is based on legal entitlement. If you disagree with any decisions you have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal.

Discretionary Social Fund

• The Discretionary Social Fund provides lump sum payments for needs that are difficult to meet from weekly benefit. Payment can be made in the form of non repayable grants or interest free loans. Unlike other Social Security Benefits there is no legal entitlement to help. Within the rules laid down in the law the Social Fund Officers have discretion to decide which applications get priority, taking into account local and national guidance.

There are three types of discretionary payment available:

Leaflets GL16 and RR2

• You can normally get housing benefit only if you satisfy all the following conditions:
• You are liable to pay rent on your normal home;
• Your capital is no more than £16,000;
• You are on Income Support or income based Jobseekers Allowance or you have a fairly low income;
• You make a claim and provide all information requested.

Note: the majority of students can no longer get Housing Benefit.

• Your Housing Benefit will be paid by the Housing Benefit section of your local council. It is not paid automatically -?? you must claim for it even if you are receiving income support or income based Jobseekers Allowance.
• If you live in council accommodation your Housing Benefit will automatically be taken off your rent.
• If you live in privately rented accommodation you may receive a giro by post although housing benefit may be paid direct to your landlord.
• The rules for awarding Housing Benefit mean that:
• Your benefit will be decided on your -??take home' (net) income
• Benefit will not usually be backdated. You will only be paid Housing Benefit from the Monday after your claim is received.

It is very important you claim straight away. If in any doubt claim anyway.

What is Jobseeker's Allowance?

• Jobseeker's Allowance is for people who are unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week, and are available for, and actively looking for work.

Can I Claim Jobseeker's Allowance?

Leaflets JSA8 and JSA L5

• As an unemployed 16 or 17 year old you cannot normally receive Jobseeker's Allowance. This is because you are guaranteed a training place with a training allowance or wage. However in certain circumstances you can receive Jobseeker's Allowance for a short period, for example if you:
• Are forced to live away from your parents or
• Will suffer severe hardship if Jobseeker's Allowance is not paid

For a full list of circumstances ask at your local Job Centre.

What is income Support?

Leaflet IS20 or JPS1

Income support is an income related benefit to provide financial help for people who:

• Are unable to work due to illness, because they are a single parent or in exceptional circumstances, and
• Work less than 11 hours per week, and
• Have less money than they need to live on, and
• Have less than £8000 savings

Income support can be paid on its own or, for some people, may be paid as a top up to other benefits.

Income support is not paid to people who are required to be available for work - Job Seeker's Allowance should be claimed instead.

Leaflets CH1 CH7 and CH11

Child benefit is paid to your parents whatever their income. Your parents can continue to get Child Benefit until you are 19 providing you are in full-time education up to A level standard. Child Benefit normally stops shortly after you leave school / college but if you register at your local Connexions shop for training the period for which Child Benefit is paid can be extended. If you leave school during the summer your parents can continue to claim for you until the end of the calendar year. If you leave at Christmas or Easter they can claim for a further 12 weeks.

Leaflet GL19

Most benefits are paid by your local Job Centre Plus or Social Security office. Others are paid by local councils. Get a copy of Leaflet GL19, the Young Peoples Guide to Social Security from your Social Security office or a Grapevine information point in your local youth centre.

Benefits fall into three main groups:

• Contributory Benefits you can only receive if you have paid enough national insurance contributions, e.g. Contributory Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit.
• Non-Contributory Benefits you claim because you are in a specific group of people entitled to them, e.g. Disability Benefits, Child Benefit.
• Income related or means tested benefits which can be claimed if you have no income or your income is below a certain level. The amount depends on your financial resources such as your earnings and savings, e.g. income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit.

Can I get Benefit while I'm still at School?