The Childrens Chronic Arthritis Association

There are a wide range of social security benefits that parents who have
children with JIA can claim - if they are eligible.

If you are caring for a disabled child, you may be eligible for cash benefits so check you are getting all that you are entitled to:

	Invalid Care Allowance (ICA)
	Fares to hospital
	Family Credit
	Income Support
	Social Fund
	Housing Benefit
	Council Tax Benefit.

Further benefits at 16:

	Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
	Disability Working Allowance (DWA).

All benefits require a claim to be made either in writing or in person at your local Benefits Agency office. You can find the address in the phonebook under Benefits Agency or perhaps in the community pages of the local services directory.

You can usually pick up the specific claim form for the different benefits from Benefits Agency offices, post offices, local Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx) and other advice agencies.
Don’t delay in getting your claim in. Be frank about your child’s needs, and don’t be put off by the length of claim forms. Make sure you answer all the questions and seek help if you need it in making your application. The Benefits Agency offers a free enquiry line. For this and others sources of help see page 35. Arthritis Care, Children’s Chronic Arthritis Association and the Lady Hoare Trust can also offer help with benefits advice and applications.
Outline information on the benefits to which you may be entitled is listed here. The different benefits and their qualifying rules can be confusing, so seek advice to make sure you have the right benefits to which you are entitled and on the best way to present your circumstances when applying, equally you should seek advice on how to challenge any unfavourable decisions.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Is a tax-free non-means-tested social security benefit for people with disabilities. It is for people who need help looking after themselves (care) or to get around (mobility). DLA is divided into care and mobility components which are paid at different rates. The DLA care component can be paid from three months old but carers have to show that the care or supervision s/he needs is more than that which a non-disabled child of the same age would need. Children under five rarely qualify for the lower care com- ponent as to do so they must need more supervision than is normally required at their age. Claim at least three months before your child's fifth birthday to avoid any delay.
If your child gets the higher rate DLA mobility component, you should be sent a Road Tax Exemption (Vehicle Excise Duty) form by the DSS. It is important to complete and return this to the address given on the form if you wish to claim exemption from the payment of road tax.

Invalid Care Allowance (ICA)

Is a weekly benefit for women and men under 65, whether married or single who are caring for a severely disabled person/child for at least 35 hours a week. The person/child they care for must receive DLA at the higher or middle rate. The person claiming CA must not earn more than a weekly limit (ESO from 1 April 1997) after deductions. There are additional rules around earnings of a partner which may affect this amount. It does not matter whether a carer is related to or living with a disabled child.

Income Support (IS)

Is paid to provide a basic income to help people who work less than 16 hours a week. This is a means-tested benefit. It is calculated by comparing your weekly income, if any, to a set rate called your ‘applicable amount’ based on certain personal circumstances. There are weekly additions called ‘Premiums’ for those with extra needs, such as people with children.
Family Premium is paid if you have at least one child. Disabled Child Premium is paid if you have a child who is getting DLA care or mobility components at any rate. Lone Parent Premium is paid if you are bringing up one or more children on your own. People who get Income Support are automatically entitled to maximum housing benefit, council tax benefit, certain social fund payments free school meals and help with other costs, such as free prescriptions and the cost of travelling to hospital.
If you get Income Support you may be able to get a Community Care Grant to pay for certain items which you cannot afford out of your weekly benefit. Any savings you have over £500 may be deducted from the grant. If you are turned down for a grant, you could be offered a loan instead. If you accept this, it will have to be paid back out of your weekly benefit.

Family Credit (FC)

Is an income-related weekly benefit for couples or single parents with dependent children who work at least 16 hours a week. Your savings cannot be more than £8,000.
The amount of Family Credit depends on the number of children you have, how old your children are and how much your income is. If you qualify for Family Credit, you are automatically entitled to certain other types of help. These include dental treatment, fares to hospital and vouchers for glasses but not free school meals.

Further benefits at 16

At the age of 16 young people can claim most benefits in their own right. Even if their family was formerly claiming for them, everyone is likely to be better off if you claim in your own right at 16.
You can also claim DLA in your own name. You can use the ‘higher rate’ mobility component to obtain a car through the Motability Scheme. You may be able to claim Income Support (IS) either on its own or to ‘top up’ DLA. Both these benefits can be claimed while you are still at school or in further education. If you get DLA or IS, you will get the Disability Premium.

Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)

Provides a basic income for those who are unable to work because of a disability. If you are under 20 you only need to show you are ‘incapable of work’. You can get SDA even if you are still at school depending on the type and hours of schooling.

Written by Jane Atkinson, Director, Lady Hoare Trust for Physically Disabled Children.