Some of the rules about benefits depend on the applicant's age. In many cases, the rules change from the age of 60.
Advice Now (Advice Service Alliance)
Find out here how the benefits system works and how to claim. There is also information about the benefits you may be able to claim if you are caring for a disabled person and benefits you may be able to claim if you have children aged under 18. Includes child benefit and benefits with extra payments for children.
Essex County Council
A series of benefits factsheets published by Essex County Council.
CAB Advice Guide
Provides independent advice on your rights - practical, up-to-date information on a wide range of topics, including benefits and housing, employment rights and discrimination, debt and tax issues
Information given here relates to attendance and disability allowances and various concessions and is provided by Age Concern and help the Aged fact sheets.
A brief guide to money benefits
This factsheet provides information about state pensions, benefits and other sources of financial help for older people. Only brief information is given here but reference is made to more detailed Age Concern factsheets throughout.
The Social Fund and other sources of financial help
This factsheet gives information about lump sum payments from the Social Fund and other grants that may be available to older people on low incomes.
Help the Aged's section on
Help claiming benefits
lists a number of benefits available.
The Be Smart Be Safe fact sheet on Benefits and money worries offers help on managing your money, understanding pensions, and finding out about the different benefits you could be entitled to and how to claim them.
Attendance and disability benefits
Attendance Allowance
This information sheet contains basic information on the Attendance Allowance. An Attendance Allowance (AA) is a weekly benefit paid to help people for the extra costs associated with having a disability or long-term health condition.
Disability Living Allowance
This information sheet contains basic information on the Disability Living Allowance. If you need help with personal care or have difficulty walking, you may be able to get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) but you must make a claim before you turn 65.
Benefits for sick or disabled older people
Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Industrial Injuries Benefits, War Pensions, other sources of financial and practical help
Concessions
Concessions for older people
This information sheet contains details of the concessions available to older people.
TV Licence concessions
This is available for older people who are: registered blind, living in accommodation such as care homes and sheltered housing, are aged 75 and over.
Housing and carers allowances
Supporting people: paying for supported accommodation
There are many different types of supported accommodation to meet the needs of a wide range of people. Residents may have extra needs due to disability, their age or other reasons. This information sheet explains how housing-related support services are provided by local authorities.
Carer's Allowance - support for you, so you can care for someone else
Carer's Allowance is a benefit for people who are unable to work full-time because they are caring for a severely disabled person. It doesn't matter whether the carer lives with the person they care for or lives somewhere else. The
Carers section
provides information about support for carers.
Older home owners -financial help with repairs and adaptations
This factsheet gives information to older homeowners about help available to them to fund repairs and adaptations.
It includes information on:
> Assistance available from local housing authority (council)
> Disabled Facilities Grant
> Assistance from Social Services
> Home Improvement Agencies
> Home Improvement Trust
Further information about housing options can be found in
Housing
Energy advice and benefits
The Home Heat Helpline
This is a free national helpline offering access to grants for free home insulation and reduced or 'social' tariffs from energy suppliers, as well as advice on managing your bills and reducing your energy use.
Energy Saving Trust
The Trust's local advisers provide free, impartial advice on making your home more energy efficient. They can also tell you about grants for implementing energy efficient measures that may available in your local area.
National Energy Action
This charity campaigns for affordable warmth and better energy efficiency for people who are particularly vulnerable to the cold.
National Insulation Association
This site provides information on installing insulation and how to find an approved National Insulation Association installer in your area who can arrange a free survey and quotation for your property, and provide details of the grants available.
