Here is a brief guide to some of the benefits that kidney patients may be entitled to. Benefits not mentioned in this article include Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. For a definitive explanation of those and the following benefits you should get expert advice from an organisation such as The Citizen’s Advice Bureau. They have a very useful website www.adviceguide.org.uk which gives more information. Another useful website with more information is www.direct.gov.uk.
Working Tax Credit. You may be able to claim Working Tax Credit if you are disabled and work at least 16 hours a week. Working Tax Credit is paid by the HM Revenue and Customs, and depends on your income. It is paid in addition to benefits for the extra costs of disability such as Disability Living Allowance. However, Working Tax Credit may affect other income related benefits you get - for example, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Child Tax Credit. This is a payment to support families with children. It can be claimed by those responsible for at least one child or young person. The amount of the payment depends on your circumstances and income levels, but could include a baby element, disability element or severe disability element.
Job Grant. (over 25 only). You may claim this grant, which is currently £100 for a single person, if you take up full-time work (at least 16 hours a week). You must have been claiming certain benefits, including incapacity benefit, for at least 26 weeks. You can spend the grant in whatever way you want, for example on new clothes or transport.
Statutory Sick Pay is payable to someone who is incapable of work because of sickness or disability. It is only paid to someone who is employed and who earns more than the National Insurance lower earnings limit (currently £87 ).When Statutory Sick Pay runs out or you stop being employed, you may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit or Income Support.
Incapacity Benefit. To get Incapacity Benefit you must be 16 or over and under state pension age, (60 for a woman, 65 for a man). You must be unable to work because of sickness or disability, and not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay. You must usually have paid enough national insurance contributions, although if you became unfit for work before you were 20 (in some cases, 25), you do not have to meet the contribution conditions or have paid national insurance.
You can carry on getting short-term Incapacity Benefit for up to five years after state pension age, if you would be entitled to Retirement Pension if you claimed it.
Incapacity Benefit continues if you go into hospital.
Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance are benefits to help you pay for personal care and the costs of getting around. However, it does not matter what you use the money for. Disability Living Allowance is for people under 65 and Attendance Allowance for people of 65 and over.
You can get Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance whether or not you are working, and they are not affected by any work you do. The benefits do not affect any income related benefits you get, as Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance do not count as income when these benefits are worked out. The care component of this benefit is, however, taken into account for Home Care charges.
You may commit a benefit fraud if you give incorrect or misleading information, or fail to report a change of circumstances that could affect your Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. Even if you are not committing fraud, you can cause an overpayment that will have to be repaid. Your circumstances can be checked at any time while you are claiming. Benefit fraud is a criminal offence and you can be prosecuted or asked to pay a penalty. If you are being investigated for benefit fraud, your benefit may be suspended.
If your circumstances change you should tell the Department for Work and Pensions as soon as possible.
Disability Living Allowance is payable to someone who is sick or who has a physical disability before the age of 65. It is not payable for the first three months of the disability. There are two components, the care component and the mobility component. As a kidney patient you may be entitled to the middle rate of the Care Component if you receive renal dialysis during the day, or night, or both day and night. However, you must require the attendance or supervision of another person, for instance help may be needed in lifting the dialysis bags. If you have renal dialysis but don’t need supervision with it, you may still qualify for DLA if you have other care needs.
The mobility Component of DLA is if you are physically disabled and are unable, or virtually unable to walk.
Attendance Allowance is similar to DLA but is for someone who has care needs and who is aged 65 or over.
Both DLA and AA are important qualifying or ‘passport’ benefits to other benefits and premiums paid with them. For example if you qualify for either of those benefits it may mean that you could get the disability premium paid with Housing Benefit and Income Support.
The forms for both DLA and AA are very long and complicated. It might be a good idea to get some help with the forms from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who are giving regular and substantial care to disabled people in their own homes. Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit and forms part of your taxable income.
You can get Carer’s Allowance if you are at 16 or over. There is no upper age limit, but is not paid in addition to Retirement Pension but your eligibility for the allowance could make you eligible for Pension Credit. You must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person who gets a benefit for the extra costs of disability. The benefits for the extra costs of disability are Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, or the middle or higher rate of Disability Living Allowance. You must not have gross income of more than a set amount each week – this is £87.00 from 9 April 2007.
Prescription Charges are free if you have diabetes or a permanent fistula requiring continuous surgical dressing. Ask your pharmacist or hospital for Form FP92A to claim.
Sight Tests are free for those with diabetes, are registered blind or who have or have been advised that they have a risk of glaucoma.
Disabled Facilities Grant is a local council grant to help towards the cost of essential adaptations to your home to enable you to continue to live there.
Television Licence Discount. If you are registered blind with your local council you can get a 50% discount on the cost of a TV licence.
Blind Person’s Tax Allowance. This allows you to receive an amount of income without having to pay tax. It is added to your personal tax allowance.
Blue Badge Scheme gives concessionary parking to disabled drivers. For example you can park free of charge with no time limit at on-street parking meters and ‘pay and display’ on-street parking. You can also park for up to 3 hours on a single or double yellow line (and, in Scotland, without any time limit). However, you still cannot park where you could cause an obstruction.
You qualify automatically for a Blue Badge if you are registered blind or if you qualify for Higher Rate of the Disability Living Allowance mobility component. You may qualify if you have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or has considerable difficulty in walking. In this case a doctor may be asked to complete a form on your behalf.
To apply for a Blue Badge contact your local Social Services Dept.
London Congestion Charge (www.cclondon.com). There is 100% discount for Blue Badge holders. You do not need to own the vehicle or drive a vehicle to register for the discount. You may however, register up to two vehicles that you would normally use to travel into Central London. This could be your vehicle, or a vehicle that you regularly travel in. Registration of your car(s) initially costs £10. Once you have received a discount approval letter you can drive into the Congestion Charge zone without having to pay the standard daily charge.
Patients who are clinically assessed as being too ill to travel to an appointment on public transport may be eligible to claim a reimbursement of the Congestion Charge from their treating hospital. Be sure to keep your receipt so that you can reclaim.
Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) exemption You can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.
Council Tax Benefit. For peritoneal dialysis patients who dialyse at home and who have to store their fluid in the home the local council should give a reduction of one valuation band in the council tax. To apply, write to your local council.
The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only.
Page created: 11 July 2007
Last updated: 11 July 2007
This website is intended for UK residents only.
If you have any comments about this site, please EMAIL the webmaster
