Benefits for kinship family members with a disability or long-term illness

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 

New Style Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit you can claim if your disability or long-term illness affects your ability to work.

It is a contributory benefit, which means you will only be able to claim it if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions.

It is not means-tested, so other income or savings do not usually affect the amount you’ll get.

You may be eligible to receive Universal Credit alongside New Style ESA in some cases – such as if you have additional financial needs such as housing costs or caring for children.

Eligibility criteria for New Style ESA 

To qualify for New Style ESA, you will need to:

• be over 16 years of age
• be under State Pension age
• not be entitled to statutory sick pay, Jobseeker’s Allowance or statutory maternity pay
• not be in work, although some work is considered ‘permitted work’
• have worked as an employee or as self-employed and paid enough National Insurance contributions in the last two full tax years
• have limited capability for work

To see how much you could get, and to apply, visit GOV.UK

Disability Living Allowance 

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit paid by the government to help with the extra costs of bringing up a disabled child. You can claim DLA if your child is:

• under 16
• has difficulty with their mobility
• needs more care than a non-disabled child of the same age

DLA is made up of two components – a care component and a mobility component. Your child may be entitled to one or both of these parts, depending on their needs. Each part has different rates of pay – lowest, middle and highest.

DLA is based on the needs of your child and not their condition or disability. You do not need to have a formal diagnosis to apply.

The amount of DLA you can get is not affected by your income or savings, nor is it taxable.

Find out more about DLA rates and how to apply on GOV.UK.

Personal Independence Payment 

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit to help with extra living costs for adults who:

• are aged 16 or over, but under State Pension age
• have a long-term physical disability or mental health condition
• have trouble with everyday tasks and mobility

PIP is made up of two parts – a daily living part and a mobility part both at a higher and lower rate. Your mobility and ability to carry out everyday tasks will affect how much you get, and whether you get one or both parts.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will assess how your condition affects you day-to-day. You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply. They decide if you qualify for PIP, which parts you’re eligible for, and how much you get.

To see what the PIP rates are and how to apply, visit GOV.UK

Attendance Allowance 

Attendance Allowance is a disability benefit for people over State Pension age who have a disability that means they need someone to help look after them. You might need support with things like getting dressed, washing, moving around the home or eating.  This benefit does not cover mobility needs.

To claim Attendance Allowance, you should be:

• physically or mentally disabled
• State Pension age or older

You will need to show you require regular support either through the day or through the night, or all day and all night and that you have needed help with your personal care (for example, washing and dressing), or supervision to keep you safe, for at least 6 months before claiming.

Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates, depending on the level of support that you need. To find out how much you could get, and to apply, visit GOV.UK.

Universal Credit 

Universal Credit is a payment from the government to help you cover your living costs if you’re of working age.

You can get Universal Credit if you’re a kinship carer and:

• over 18 but under State Pension age
• have money and savings of less than £16,000
• are out of work
• in work but on a low income
• sick or disabled
• caring for children

Universal Credit is a single means-tested benefit that replaced 6 previous benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Working Tax Credit

If you receive one or more of the above benefits, you should get specialist advice before you claim Universal Credit, because you could be financially worse off. Contact your local Citizens Advice to speak to a benefits specialist.

If you claim Universal Credit, you will not be able to make a new claim for any of the benefits above.

Find out more about Universal Credit, how much you could get and how to apply on GOV.UK.

Carer’s Allowance

Carer’s Allowance is a government benefit you can claim if you care for someone else for 35 hours a week or more.

This means you are providing significant and regular care to someone who needs assistance with daily living activities due to an illness or disability. This can include helping them with their personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning, managing medications, transportation, and providing emotional support.

The person you care for should be getting one of these benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment (daily living component)
• Disability Living Allowance (middle or highest care component)
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

You can claim Carer’s Allowance whether you are working or not.  If you are working, your earnings cannot be more than £151 a week (after deductions) to qualify for Carer’s Allowance.

In some cases, claiming Carer’s Allowance could make you or the person in your care worse off financially. Before making a claim, check the effect it will have on other benefits.

You can seek specialist advice from your local Citizens Advice or use an online benefits calculator.

To check if you’re eligible for Carer’s Allowance, how much you could get and how to apply, visit GOV.UK