Benefits available to Younger People with Dementia
Some financial help available to people with dementia will be the same whatever their age, for example Council Tax Reduction. However the benefits system is different for people who are of working age. Some of the benefits you are most likely to receive if you have dementia under the age of 65 are listed below.
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance is a non-means-tested and tax free benefit, that relates to disability (e.g. dementia).
Disability Living Allowance is for those who claim when they are aged under 65, but can then continue to be paid whatever the individual's age.
Disability Living Allowance is paid at different levels, depending on the person's level of mobility, and care needs. A medical is not normally required, but having help to fill in the claim form may be beneficial.
For more information choose from the following links:
- Disability Living Allowance - general information
- Disability Living Allowance - rates and how to claim
- Alzheimer's Society Welfare benefits factsheet
- Benefits Now: this website provides comprehensive information about Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. It enables you to assess yourself for these benefits before you apply, and has details of the appeals process if your claim is unsuccessful.
Statutory Sick Pay and Incapacity Benefit
If you are unable to work because of ill health, your employer pays Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for a maximum of 28 weeks.
If your Statutory Sick Pay has ended, or you don't get SSP, you may be entitled to Incapacity Benefit.
Council Tax Reduction
Anyone with a severe mental impairment, including dementia, who lives alone and receives an appropriate disability benefit (such as the higher or middle care components of disability living allowance), is entitled to exemption from paying any council tax. If the same criteria apply but you live with one other adult, they can claim a 25% reduction on the council tax.
To contact your local council tax office:
- Oxford City Council 01865 252870
- Cherwell District Council 01295 227000
- South Oxford District Council 08456 122422
- Vale of White Horse District Council 01235 540331
- West Oxon District Council 01993 861040
More details can be found in the Alzheimer's Society factsheet Council tax.
Child Tax Credit
If you have children, don't forget to keep the Tax Credits Helpline informed of any changes in your circumstances. Although working tax credit will stop if neither you or your partner is working 16 hours or more a week, child tax credit may increase if your income falls (this can be worth thousands of pounds a year to families on low incomes).
Carers Benefits
Carers Allowance
Carers Allowance is a means tested benefit: whether or not you receive payment will depend on your circumstances. To claim you must care for the same person for 35 hours a week or more, and be aged over 16. Receiving Carers Allowance may affect benefit entitlement for yourself or the person you care for, so it is wise to seek advice before claiming, e.g. from a Carers Centre.
Further information is available on the Directgov website.
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) protects your entitlement to the state pension if you are not paying National Insurance contributions due to caring commitments.
You should claim for HRP if you regularly spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone getting Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal care, or Constant Attendance Allowance.
If you get Carer's Allowance you should automatically get National Insurance credits and will not usually need Home Responsibilities Protection.
More information is available on the Home Responsibilities Protection page of the Directgov website.
Further Information
For further information on benefits that may be available to you, please click on the links in the following list:
- Alzheimer's Society Welfare benefits
- Citizens Advice Bureau advice guide to benefits
- Directgov Guide to financial support for disabled people
