Ukrainian Help Frome

Help and information for Ukrainian Refugees and Host Families in the Frome and Mendip area

Benefits Guide

A guide to applying for Universal Credit and other welfare benefits

Overview
Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Financial help if you’re disabled
Carers Allowance
Child Benefit
Contact information (including local Job Centre and Citizen Advice
Bureau)

Overview

The UK has a welfare system which is designed to help those who face financial hardship, or who have specific needs. Your local Job Centre Plus (contact details below) will be able to help you find out which benefits you may be able to access. This may include:

  • Universal Credit – a payment for those of working age, to help with your living costs if you’re on a low income. You could be working (including self-employed or part time) or be out of work;
  • Pension Credit – extra money to help with your living costs if you are over the age of 66 and on a low income. Applications for Pensions is online or via telephone.
  • Disability benefits – extra money to help with additional costs if you have a long term physical or mental health condition or disability.
  • Carer’s Allowance – extra money if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week.
  • Child Benefit – extra money to help with the cost of raising a child. A link to the different types of benefits you could receive can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits

People fleeing Ukraine and arriving in the UK can claim benefits immediately and are not subject to the usual 3-month residency rule (sometimes known as the “habitual residency test”). (See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/immediate-benefit-support-for-those-
fleeing-the-invasion-in-ukraine)

For further general information see the UK Government’s Guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK (Section 2.2).

Universal Credit

What Universal Credit is

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

What you’ll get

Your Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that apply to you, for example if you:
• have children
• have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working
• need help paying your rent

How your earnings affect your payments

If you’re employed, how much Universal Credit you get will depend on your earnings. Your Universal Credit payment will reduce gradually as you earn more – for every £1 you earn your payment reduces by 55p. There’s no limit to how many hours you can work.

How you’re paid

Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account.

How to claim

You can apply for Universal Credit online. Here: https://www.universal-
credit.service.gov.uk/start

You need to create an account. You use it to make a claim. You must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again.
If you live with your partner, you will both need to create accounts. You’ll link them together when you claim. You cannot claim by yourself.

If you don’t have a National Insurance number you can still apply for Universal Credit and a National Insurance number will be allocated during the new claim process. You should not delay your claim for Universal Credit.
If you cannot claim online, you can claim by phone through the Universal Credit helpline.

Universal Credit helpline

Telephone: 0800 328 5644

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 328 5644

Textphone: 0800 328 1344

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Help to claim

You can get free support from trained advisers to make a Universal Credit claim. They can help you with things like online applications or preparing for your first jobcentre appointment. You can request a translator if you require one.
The Help to Claim service is provided by Citizens Advice and is confidential. They will not share your personal information unless you agree. For further information – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim

What you need to apply

To apply online you’ll need:

  • your bank, building society or credit union account details
  • an email address
  • access to a phone

If you do not have these, you can call the Universal Credit helpline or go to a jobcentre. You can also get support from the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service.

You’ll also have to prove your identity. You’ll need some identity documents for this, for example your:

  • driving licence
  • passport
  • debit or credit card
  • payslip or P60

To complete your claim you will need to provide information about:

  • our housing, for example how much rent you pay
  • your earnings, for example payslips
  • any disability or health condition that affects your work
  • how much you pay for childcare if you want help with childcare costs
  • your savings and any investments, like shares or a property that you rent out

You might need an appointment with the Universal Credit team if:

  • they need more information
  • you cannot verify your identity online

You’ll be told if this appointment will be in a jobcentre or on the phone.

Your first payment

It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment. If you need help with your living costs while you wait for your first payment, you can apply
for an advance.

Pension credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income.

If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:

  • Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
  • Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
  • Council Tax Reduction
  • a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over
  • help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital
  • appointments
  • help with your heating costs

What you’ll get

Pension Credit tops up:

  • your weekly income to £182.60 if you’re single
  • your joint weekly income to £278.70 if you have a partner

You may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs.

Apply online

https://apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk/start

Apply by phone

A friend or family member can call for you if you cannot use the phone.

Pension Credit claim line

Telephone: 0800 99 1234
Textphone: 0800 169 0133
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 99 1234

Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users – check you can use this service

Monday to Friday – 8am to 6pm

Apply by post

To apply by post, print out and fill in the Pension Credit claim form or call the claim line to request a form.

Send the claim form to the Pension Service or ask someone to do it for you.

The Pension Service 8
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton, WV99 1AN

Help to claim

Contact a voluntary organisation like Citizens Advice (details below) or Age UK if you need help with the form.

Age UK Advice Line 0800 678 1602.

Free to call 8am – 7pm – 365 days a year

Information you’ll need

You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:

  • National Insurance number
  • Information about any income, savings and investments you have
  • Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to
  • backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age)

You’ll also need your bank account details if you’re applying by phone or by post.

Financial help if you’re disabled

There is a wide range of disability-related financial support, including benefits, tax credits, payments, grants and concessions.

Some benefits you might get are:

  • Universal Credit
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Attendance Allowance

Disability Living Allowance for children

Disability Living Allowance for children (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for children under 16 to help with the extra costs caused by long-term ill health or a disability.
More information available here: https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a tax-free benefit for people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age. It can help with the extra costs caused by long term ill-health or a disability.

More information available here: https://www.gov.uk/pip

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who are State Pension age or over, have a disability and need someone to help look after them.

More information available here: https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance

Vehicles and transport

If you’re disabled you can apply for the following:

  • exemption from paying vehicle tax
  • parking benefits – Blue Badge
  • disabled persons bus pass or Disabled Persons Railcard
  • help to buy or lease a car from The Motability Scheme

Carers Allowance

Carer’s Allowance is extra money to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.

How it works

You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.

If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.

Make a claim

Before you apply make sure you have your:

  • National Insurance number (if you have a partner you’ll need theirs too)
  • bank or building society details (unless you get your State Pension)
  • employment details and latest payslip if you’re working
  • P45 if you’ve recently finished work
  • course details if you’re studying
  • details of any expenses, for example pension contributions or the cost of caring for your children or the disabled person while you’re at work

You also need details of the person you care for. You need their:

  • date of birth and address
  • National Insurance number if they’re 16 or over
  • Disability Living Allowance reference if they’re under 16

You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months.

Apply online: https://www.carersallowance.service.gov.uk/ui-citizen-claim/allowance-benefits

If you cannot apply online, you can apply by post. The address to send your application to is at the end of the form.

Forma available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carers-allowance-claim-form

Child Benefit

How it works

You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:

  • under 16
  • under 20 if they stay in approved education or training

Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.

It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.

What you’ll get

There are two Child Benefit rates. Who the allowance is for Rate (weekly)

  • Eldest or only child £21.80
  • Additional children £14.45 per child

Make a claim for the first time

Fill in Child Benefit claim form CH2 and send it to the Child Benefit Office. The address is on the form.

You can apply for Child Benefit before registering the birth, if you cannot get an
appointment with a register office before your child is 3 months old.

If your child is adopted, send their original adoption certificate with the form. You can order a new adoption certificate if you’ve lost the original.

If you do not have the adoption certificate you need, send your claim form now and send the certificate once you’ve got it.

If your child’s birth was registered outside the UK
When you send your claim form, include your child’s:

  • original birth certificate
  • passport or travel document used to enter the UK

If you’ve lost the original you can order a new birth certificate.
Your child’s documents will usually be returned within 4 weeks.

Contact Details

Contacting Job Centre Plus
(also known as the Department for Work and Pensions)

Telephone: 0800 169 0190
Textphone: 0800 169 0314

NGT text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0190

Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users – check you can use the service

Monday to Friday – 8am to 6pm

Child Benefit – general enquiries: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-
revenue-customs/contact/child-benefit

Citizens Advice (England): https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Local information:
Bath Job Centre Plus
Somerset Hall
Somerset Street
Bath
BA1 1TS
Opening hours:

Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 08:30 – 17:00
Tuesday: 08:30 – 17:00
Wednesday: 09:30 – 17:00
Thursday: 08:30 – 17:00
Friday 08:30 – 17:00

Trowbridge JobCentre Plus
Aplin House
Bythesea Rd
Trowbridge
BA14 8XR
United Kingdom

Monday – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday – Closed
Sunday – Closed

Trowbridge Citizens Advice

Trinity House
Bryer Ash Business Park
TROWBRIDGE
Wiltshire
BA14 8HE
http://www.citizensadvicewiltshire.org.uk/

0800 144 8848

About our advice service: For advice by email please use the form on the ‘Contact us’ page on our website: www.citizensadvicewiltshire.org.uk

We’re currently providing advice over the phone, by email and web chat, while reserving our face to face support for when it’s most needed. However, we are not running a drop-in service, so please ring us, or email us first. Please see above for our contact details.

Telephone advice times:
Monday 09.00 – 17.00
Tuesday 09.00 – 17.00
Wednesday 09.00 – 17.00
Thursday 09.00 – 17.00
Friday 09.00 – 17.00

Mendip (Frome) Citizens Advice
5 King Street
FROME
Somerset
BA11 1BH
http://www.citizensadvicemendip.org.uk/

Somerset Adviceline

0808 27 87 842 (freephone)

All of our offices are closed for face to face advice until further notice, due to coronavirus / COVID-19.

For telephone advice, please call our Somerset Adviceline on 0808 27 87 842 (freephone) – open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm.

To request email advice, visit our website www.citizensadvicemendip.org.uk and use the Contact form. We aim to respond to emails within 5 working days.