Tax & Benefits

Information about benefits which you may be entitled to and tax reductions which may apply to you.

Attendance Allowance – this is paid to a person to cover the extra costs associated with a physical disability, it is paid to people aged over 65, is not dependent upon previous national insurance contributions or any savings and is not taxed. There are different levels of payment depending upon needs.  A medical examination is rarely required.

Disability Living Allowance – this benefit is paid to people aged under 65 for personal care and mobility needs.  The mobility component is aimed at people with walking difficulties and the lower rate is paid for people who are more prone to getting lost or who need guidance when moving around.  The application forms are detailed and need to be completed carefully so it is advisable to take advice before making your application.

Carer’s Allowance – is paid to a carer aged 16 or over who cares for someone for more than 35 hours per week.  They do not have to be related to the looked after person or even live with them.  This benefit is taxable, not all carers are eligible and some of the looked after person’s benefits may be cut.  The looked after person must be in receipt of either Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance at the middle or higher rates.  There are other circumstances when a carer is not eligable so seek advice before making an application.

Council Tax Reductions which are not means tested and Council Tax Benefit which is means tested and is payable to anyone whose income is low.  For people in receipt of the guarantee element of Pension Credit there is no upper capital limit, for everyone else the limit is £16,000.  The benefits section of your Council will have the necessary forms for you to complete.

You can contact the Benefit Enquiry Line for people with disabilities.  It’s a freephone number  0800 882200 and can give confidential advice to people with disabilities and their carers.  Advisors can go through a claim form over the phone and fill it in for you.  The enquiry line is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm and Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm.

For more details about social security benefits or specific information you could contact the Department of Work and Pensions Public Enquiry Office on 020 7712 2171 Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.  Or you could write to

Department of Work and Pensions, Correspondence Unit, Room 112, The Adelphi, 1 – 11 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6HT

If you don’t feel you can apply for benefits etc. on your own you can speak to a trained volunteer at your local Citizens Advice Bureau, they can help with concerns regarding any benefit queries.  They can offer independent advice and prepare you for making applications for benefits.  Or you can contact Warwickshire Welfare Rights for advice, publications and information about local partnership projects and news.

You can also check your entitlement to benefits with the PHILLIS Team (Promoting Health and Independence through Low Level Integrated Support).  It is a service to provide some support for things like shopping, gardening services and home safety checks.  It is for people over 50 whose needs are not critical.  All people referred to the service have a benefits check to ensure that they are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.  Contact the PHILLIS Team on 01926 731142.