Benefits information
Benefits information
This information can help you find some of the benefits you may be entitled to depending on your circumstances, calculate your own benefits, deal with benefit problems and avoid getting into benefit trouble.
For those struggling with money and bills, go to: Support in Newcastle for those affected by the cost of living crisis
- What benefits can I receive in the following situations?
- In urgent financial need or crisis
- Online benefits calculators
- Dealing with and avoiding benefit problems
- Self help factsheets and guides
- Where can I go for further information and advice?
More detail about the benefit system can be found in our Introduction to Benefits and Tax Credits guide below
Bereaved
You may be entitled to...
Caring for someone
You may be entitled to:
- Carer's Allowance
- Extra amount in means tested benefits like Universal Credit
See also the useful Carersuk website
Responsible for a child
You may be entitled to:
- Child Benefit
- Guardian's Allowance
- Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food
- Free school meals
- Extra amount(s) in means tested benefits like Universal Credit
Disabled
You may be entitled to:
- Attendance Allowance
- Cold Weather Payment
- Disability Living Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment
- War Disablement Pension
- Extra amounts in means tested benefits like Universal Credit
Incapable of work
You may be entitled to:
- Universal Credit
- New-Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Extra amount(s) in means tested benefits like Universal Credit
Managing on a low income
You may be entitled to...
Also see our Debt and money advice page for help and advice
Need help with paying housing costs (rent or mortgage) or Council Tax
You may be entitled to...
Need help with NHS costs
- Online eligibility checking tool to see if you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and other NHS health costs such as sight tests
- NHS Low Income Scheme for help with the cost of NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and more
- Maternity exemption certificate for free NHS prescriptions (this is valid until your child is one, and can also be used to prove your entitlement to free NHS dental treatment)
An older person - of pension age
You may be entitled to...
See also benefits for older people from AgeUK
Pregnant
You may be entitled to...
- Healthy Start food vouchers and vitamins
- Maternity Allowance
- Shared Parental Pay
- Sure Start Maternity Grant
- Statutory Maternity Pay
See also know your rights from Maternity Action
Unemployed and looking for work
You may be entitled to...
In urgent financial need or crisis
As well as the above weekly benefits, the DWP and jobcentre also provide single payments in certain situations, for example:
- Budgeting loans, funeral and maternity grants from the Social Fund by the DWP
- Repayable 'short term benefit advances' for those waiting for a benefit payment and in financial need.
See help with urgent and one-off needs by the Council and others on our Debt and Money Advice page.
Found out about grants you could get from turn2us
Online benefit calculators
Visit our page check your benefits online to get an estimate of the benefits you may be able to claim. Some provide a comparison between benefits
Dealing with and avoiding benefit problems
- If you have a benefit overpayment, see guides from the Government and turn2us
- What happens to benefits if I or a family member goes into prison?
- See our leaflet benefit sanctions and how to avoid them (pdf, 399kb), by us and Jobcentre Plus
Your Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support may be cut if you do not comply with work related requirements - See Advice Now guides to help deal with various benefit problems
- See How do I challenge a benefits decision? by Citizens Advice
Self help factsheets and guides
- Benefit tips for Newcastle residents and who can help (pdf, 245kb)
- The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit incapacity for work test (pdf 533kb)
- Ways to avoid losing Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (pdf 197kb)
- What to do if you disagree with an incapacity for work decision for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit (pdf 278kb)
- Personal Independence payment. A guide to making a claim - by Disability Rights UK
- What to do if you disagree with a Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance decision (pdf 468kb)
- Working families and Working Tax Credit. Exceptions to the 24 hour rule for couples (pdf, 207kb)
- Redundancy, finishing work and benefits (pdf, 330kb)
- Benefits in work (pdf, 268kb)
- Advicenow have guides on challenging a Work Capability Assessment for ESA and UC decision, a Personal Independence Payment decision and a Disability Living Allowance decision.
Where can I go for further information and advice?
Visit Benefit advice services in Newcastle and benefit offices
Visit the government webpage on benefits
Visit the Citizens Advice webpages on benefits
Did you know?
For those struggling with money and bills, go to: Support in Newcastle for those affected by the cost of living crisis
Professionals can also get support on benefits. For example, regular information, consultancy line and so on. See our webpage: Financial inclusion information for professionals and volunteers
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