| Armed Forces Compensation scheme | This scheme replaces the War Pensions scheme for those who have suffered an injury, illness or death caused by service on or after 06.04.05. If a injury, illness or death caused by service occurred before 06.04.05 please see the War Pensions Scheme information. | Long-term ill / disabled, Bereaved |
| Attendance Allowance | A non taxable weekly benefit paid to people who are 65 or over who have attention and supervision needs due to an illness or disability.
| Long-term ill / disabled |
| Bereavement Allowance | An allowance paid for 52 weeks to those who have been widowed or who have lost a Civil Partner. You must be 45 or over but under Pension Age to qualify. | Bereaved |
| Bereavement Payment | A one off payment of £2000 paid to those who have been widowed or who have lost a civil partner. | Bereaved |
| Budgeting loan | An interest free loan for those in receipt of particular benefits and intended to meet household expenses that it would otherwise be difficult to budget for. You must re-pay the money through weekly deductions from your benefit payments.
| Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Unemployed / part time workers |
| Carer's Allowance | A weekly benefit paid to those who care for someone with an illness or disability. | Carers |
| Child Benefit | This is a benefit payable to all parents and carers of children and young people up to the age of 19. | Carers, Families |
| Child Tax Credit | This is a benefit payable to people with children, who have a low income. | Unemployed / part time workers, Have a disabled child, Families |
| Child Trust Fund | It is no longer possible to qualify for a Child Trust Fund. If your child has a Child Trust Fund it will continue but you will no longer receive contributions to it from the Government. If your child was entitled to a Trust Fund you should have been sent a voucher when you claimed Child... | Families |
| Christmas Bonus | An extra payment of £10 paid automatically (you do not have to apply) just before Christmas, to people in receipt of certain benefits (see below).
| Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Carers, Bereaved |
| Cold Weather Payment | An extra payment of £25 per week, paid automatically if in receipt of certain benefits (you do not have to apply) for every week in which the average temperature is equal to or below 0 degrees Celsius. | Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Carers, Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| Community Care Grant |
These grants are no longer available. They were a Social Fund grant payable for items such as furniture, equipment, clothing and certain expenses, which did not have to be paid back.
You may be entitled to a payment through The Nottinghamshire Welfare Assistance Fund (NWAF).... | Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Carers, Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| Council Tax Benefit | This benefit is coming to an end. This was a benefit paid to help you with the costs of paying your Council Tax. From 1st April 2013 this benefit will be replaced by local Council Tax Support Schemes. | Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| Council Tax Support/Reduction Schemes | Each City, Borough or District Council has been allocated its own budget to provide a local Council Tax Support/Reduction scheme from 1st April 2013.
These schemes are to replace Council Tax Benefit to help you with your Council Tax.
| Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| Crisis Loans |
This loan is no longer available. This was an interest free Social Fund loan which was paid to help you meet immediate expenses in an emergency or crisis.
You may be entitled to a payment through The Nottinghamshire Welfare Assistance Fund (NWAF). This provides emergency... | Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Carers, Unemployed / part time workers, Pregnant / recently given birth, Bereaved, Have a disabled child, Families |
| Disability Living Allowance | A non taxable weekly benefit paid to people from birth to 65 who have attention or supervision needs because they have an illness or disability, or who have difficulty with their mobility. If you claim before the age of 65 your claim can continue after this age.
| Long-term ill / disabled, Have a disabled child |
| Education Benefits |
Transport – Please see our School Travel and Passes page for further information.
Free school meals – You may qualify for free meals and milk for your child if they attend school full time and you receive Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit only) Income Support,... | Families |
| Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) | It is no longer possible to make a claim for EMA although some people with existing claims may still be eligible. EMA has been replaced with the Sixteen to Nineteen Bursary. | Families |
| Employment Support Allowance | An earnings replacement benefit paid because you are unable to work due to illness or disability. You will be medically assessed as part of the claim process and then put into one of two groups depending on the severity of your health needs.
| Long-term ill / disabled |
| Funeral Payment | This is a lump sum payment to cover the costs of a funeral and other expenses. | Bereaved |
| Guardian's Allowance | A weekly benefit which you can claim if you care for a child who’s parents have died, are in prison or their whereabouts are unknown. It does not matter what other income, benefits or savings you have although you must be entitled to Child Benefit for the child you are claiming for. | Carers |
| Health Benefits | You will be eligible for free Sight Tests, Dental Treatment, Hospital Fares and Prescriptions for yourself and your family, if you are in receipt of particular benefits. | Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| Health in Pregnancy Grant | It is no longer possible to claim a Health in Pregnancy Grant. To qualify you must have reached the 25th week of your pregnancy before 01 January 2011. | Pregnant / recently given birth |
| Healthy Start Food and Vitamins | You can claim for vitamins and vouchers worth £3.10 each to exchange for healthy food at specific places.
| Pregnant / recently given birth |
| Housing Benefit | A benefit paid to help you with the costs of your rent. You must be liable for the rent for your property. If your rent is too high or the property is too big for your household then Housing Benefit may not cover all of your rent.
| Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| Incapacity Benefit | An earnings replacement benefit paid because you are unable to work due to illness or disability. Except in a few limited circumstances it is no longer possible to make a new claim for Incapacity Benefit. Instead you need to make a claim for Employment and Support Allowance.
| Long-term ill / disabled |
| Income Support | A weekly benefit paid to certain categories of people on a low income who don't have to sign on as unemployed. It can also be paid as a top up of other benefits. You can get help with your mortgage and some other housing costs as part of your Income Support. | Long-term ill / disabled, Carers, Pregnant / recently given birth |
| Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit | This is a weekly benefit payable to those who have had an injury at work, or who are ill as a result of their work or work environment. You must have a medical assessment as part of the claim process and the amount of money you receive will depend on the severity of your condition. IIDB includes... | Long-term ill / disabled |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | You can claim JSA if you are currently unemployed or working under 16 hours per week and are actively able and looking for work. If you are part of a couple you can make a joint claim for JSA. | Unemployed / part time workers |
| Local Housing Allowance | This is a way of calculating Housing Benefit entitlement for private tenants. It does not apply to Local Authority or Housing Association tenants. You will be awarded a set amount of Housing Benefit according to the area you live in and the size of your household. If the property you choose has a... | Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Carers, Unemployed / part time workers, Have a disabled child, Families |
| Maternity Allowance | You may receive this if you are pregnant or have recently had a baby and you are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay. You must satisfy the employment rules, but you do not have to have paid National Insurance Contributions. | Pregnant / recently given birth |
| Minimum Wage | The minimum amount of money most workers should receive per hour for remunerative work
The current rates are –
Aged 16 - 17 - ... | Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| Motability Scheme | A Government funded scheme which allows you to exchange your Higher Rate Mobility payment from Disability Living Allowance for a car. | Long-term ill / disabled |
| Nottinghamshire Welfare Assistance Fund (NWAF) | The Nottinghamshire Welfare Assistance Fund (NWAF) provides emergency financial support to people who cannot get help from anywhere else. The fund can only help when there is no other financial support available. You must already have tried to get help from other suitable places or applied for... | Long-term ill / disabled, State pension age, Unemployed / part time workers, Have a disabled child, Families |
| Pension Credit | A weekly benefit called Guarantee Credit is paid to those over Pension age to guarantee they have income of an appropriate level. It can be paid as a top up of your Retirement Pension.
You may receive an additional amount called Savings Credit once you turn 65.
You can get help with... | State pension age |
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) | Personal Independence Payment (PIP) started to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people of working age (16 – 64) with a health condition or disability from 8 April 2013. | Long-term ill / disabled |
| Road Tax Exemption | If you are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at the Higher rate of the Mobility component you are entitled to exemption on your Road Tax. If you do not drive, but someone else has a vehicle which is primarily for your use, such as your partner, parent or carer, they can claim the exemption. | Long-term ill / disabled |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | An earnings replacement benefit paid because you are unable to work due to illness or disability. It is no longer possible to make a claim for Severe Disablement Allowance, instead you need to make a claim for Employment and Support Allowance.
If you are already in receipt of Severe Disablement... | Long-term ill / disabled |
| Sixteen to Nineteen Bursary | The 16-19 Bursary has replaced EMA since September 2011 and is intended to support young people whilst they are studying. It is made up of two parts. You will be automatically entitled if you are a Young Person in or leaving care, or you are receiving Income Support or you are receiving both... | Long-term ill / disabled, Have a disabled child, Families |
| State Retirement Pension | Your State Retirement Pension is based on the National Insurance Contributions you have paid throughout your life. It is payable once you reach the State Pension Age.
If you have not worked or not paid enough National Insurance Contributions you can claim a State Retirement Pension based on your... | State pension age |
| Statutory Adoption Pay | A payment made by your employer whilst you are on leave after adopting a baby or child. It can be paid for a maximum of 39 weeks. | Families |
| Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) | A payment made by your employer whilst you are on leave before and after having a baby. It can be paid for a maximum of 39 weeks.
| Pregnant / recently given birth |
| Statutory Paternity Pay | A payment made by your employer if your partner has recently given birth to or adopted a baby. It is normally paid for 1 or 2 weeks, although you can also receive additional SPP for up to 20 weeks. You must satisfy the earnings and employment criteria in order to qualify. You may be entitled to an... | Pregnant / recently given birth, Families |
| Statutory Sick Pay | A payment made by your employer whilst you are unable to work due to ill health. You must provide sick notes from your GP to your employer in order for your employer to pay you. SSP can be paid for up to 28 weeks, after which time you may be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance. You may... | Long-term ill / disabled |
| Sure Start Maternity Grant | You may be entitled to a payment of £500 if you are expecting a baby or have recently given birth. You must be in receipt of certain benefits to claim this. You can normally only receive a grant for your first child.
| Pregnant / recently given birth |
| Universal Credit | A new benefit that will start to replace Income Support, Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income based Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Working and Child Tax Credit for working age people from October 2013. We will be adding more information about this during 2012... | Long-term ill / disabled, Unemployed / part time workers, Families |
| War Pensions Scheme | The scheme remains in place for those with existing awards on 06.04.05 and for any new claimants whose injury, ill health or bereavement was caused by service before 06.04.05. The Armed Forces Compensation scheme replaces the War Pensions scheme for injuries, illnesses or death caused by... | Long-term ill / disabled, Bereaved |
| Widowed Parents Allowance | A benefit paid to Widow’s, Widower’s or surviving civil partner who are under pension age and who are pregnant or are receiving Child Benefit. | Pregnant / recently given birth, Bereaved, Families |
| Winter Fuel Payment | This is a payment to help with the costs of heating during the winter. | State pension age |
| Working Tax Credit | This is a benefit paid to those who are working and on a low income.
| Long-term ill / disabled, Unemployed / part time workers, Have a disabled child, Families |
