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Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
This content was last updated:
01 Dec 2025
Part 4: Other benefits
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
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Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
Part 4: Other benefits
Back to previous
Part 4: Other benefits
Chapter 20: Attendance allowance
Key facts
1. Who can get attendance allowance
The disability conditions
2. The rules about your age
If you are getting another disability benefit and reach pension age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
5. Special benefit rules
Renal dialysis
Terminal illness
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
People who are classed as terminally ill
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
Renewal claims
How your claim is dealt with
7. Getting paid
Length of awards
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Chapter 21: Bereavement benefits
Key facts
1. Bereavement support payment
Who can get bereavement support payment
Time limits
The rules about your age
People included in the claim
The amount of bereavement support payment
Starting a new relationship
2. Widowed parent's allowance
Who can get widowed parent's allowance
Eligible child
Time limit
The rules about your age
People included in the claim
The amount of widowed parent's allowance
Reduction if your late spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner had an incomplete contribution record
Starting a new relationship
3. Definitions
Widows, widowers, surviving civil partners and surviving cohabiting partners
Marriage 'by cohabitation with habit and repute'
If you have more than one bereavement
Invalid marriages
Separation, divorce and dissolution
Polygamous marriages
Cohabitation
Industrial accident or disease
4. Special benefit rules
Widows whose husbands died before 9 April 2001
People who have obtained a gender recognition certificate
Surviving cohabiting partners with children whose partner died before 9 February 2023
5. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
6. Getting paid
Priority between claimants
Change of circumstances
7. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Chapter 22: Carer's allowance
Key facts
1. Who can get carer’s allowance
Regularly and substantially caring
Breaks from caring
If the person receiving care dies
Gainfully employed
Earnings from employment
Earnings from self-employment
Notional earnings
Disregarded earnings
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
5. Special benefit rules
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
Claiming in advance
7. Getting paid
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Income
The amount of means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Chapter 23: Child benefit and guardian's allowance
Key facts
1. Who can get child benefit
Who counts as a child
Who is a qualifying young person
Education
Approved training
The extension period
The terminal date rule
Interruptions
Responsible for a child
A child living with you
Contributing to the cost of supporting a child
Priority between claimants
Separation and the priority rules
Residing together
When you cannot get child benefit
16–19-year-olds who work
2. Who can get guardian’s allowance
Entitled to child benefit
Eligible child
Missing parents
Prison sentences
Contributing to the cost of providing for a child
Parents, adoptive parents and step-parents
3. The rules about your age
4. People included in the claim
5. The amount of benefit
6. Special benefit rules
Your child is being looked after by a local authority, or is in prison or detention
Fostering, adoption and kinship care
7. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
8. Getting paid
Interim payments
If someone else has been getting child benefit for the child
Change of circumstances
If a child dies
9. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Electing not to be paid child benefit
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Other sources of help
Chapter 24: Disability living allowance
Key facts
1. Disability living allowance mobility component
Who can get the mobility component
Disability conditions for the higher rate mobility component
'Unable or virtually unable to walk'
People without feet
Blind and deaf
Blind or severely visually impaired
Severe mental impairment and behavioural problems
Disability condition for the lower rate mobility component
The 'additional requirements' test
Supervision
Guidance
Fear and anxiety
2. Disability living allowance care component
Who can get the care component
The disability conditions
The 'additional requirements' test
‘So severely disabled physically or mentally’
Interpreting the conditions
'Requires'
Refusing medical treatment
Attention
‘Attention... for a significant portion of the day’
Frequent attention throughout the day
Continual supervision throughout the day
Night and day
Prolonged or repeated attention at night
Watching over at night
3. The rules about your age
Children
Adults
Transferring from disability living allowance to personal independence payment
Transferring to personal independence payment as an adult
Transferring to personal independence payment on reaching age 16
Claims for personal independence payment
4. People included in the claim
5. The amount of benefit
6. Special benefit rules
Renal dialysis
Terminal illness
7. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Claiming for a child classed as terminally ill
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
Renewal claims
Completing the claim form
How a claim is dealt with
8. Getting paid
Length of awards
Change of circumstances
9. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits and tax credits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Motability
Chapter 25: Discretionary housing payments
Key facts
1. Who can get discretionary housing payments
When discretionary housing payments cannot be made
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of discretionary housing payments
5. Claims, decisions and getting paid
Getting a decision changed
6. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Chapter 26: Contributory employment and support allowance
Key facts
1. Who can get contributory employment and support allowance
Extra rules for contributory employment and support allowance
Employment and support allowance in youth
Disqualification from benefit
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
The assessment phase
Calculating your contributory employment and support allowance
Support component
Work-related activity component
Who can get a component in the assessment phase
Deductions for pension payments and councillor's allowance
Transfers to employment and support allowance
Duration of contributory employment and support allowance
5. Special benefit rules
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Who should claim
If you are employed
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
Starting work when your claim ends
7. Getting paid
Change of circumstances
Waiting days
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Financial help on starting work
Chapter 27: Health benefits
Key facts
1. Who can get health benefits
Full help
Exempt groups
Partial help
The low income scheme
Partial help with items and services
Calculating your requirements
Calculating your income
2. Prescriptions
3. Dental treatment and dentures
4. Sight tests and glasses
Free sight tests
Vouchers for glasses and contact lenses
5. Wigs and fabric supports
6. Fares to receive NHS treatment
7. Claims and refunds
Claiming if you get universal credit
Claiming under the low income scheme
Getting a certificate and when it expires
Overpayments and fraud
Delays and complaints
Refunds
Chapter 28: Industrial injuries benefits
Key facts
1. Who can get industrial injuries benefits
Employed earners
Personal injury
Accident
Accident or process?
In the course of employment
Accidents while travelling
Arising out of employment
Prescribed industrial disease
Prescribed occupations
Time limits
Cause
Onset and recrudescence
Loss of faculty and disablement
A loss of faculty
The extent of disablement
The period covered by the assessment
2. Industrial injuries disablement benefit
Who can get industrial injuries disablement benefit
Disqualification
The rules about your age
People included in the claim
The amount of benefit
Increases of industrial injuries disablement benefit
3. Reduced earnings allowance
Who is still entitled to reduced earnings allowance
The amount of benefit
4. Retirement allowance
5. Special benefit rules
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
Renewal claims
7. Getting paid
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Chapter 29: New-style jobseeker's allowance
Key facts
1. Who can get new-style jobseeker's allowance
Jobseeking periods
Linked periods
How jobseeking periods and linked periods work
Full-time paid work
Limited capability for work
Qualifying for new-style jobseeker's allowance while sick
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the award
4. The amount of benefit
Deductions for earnings
How earnings affect your new-style jobseeker's allowance
Deductions for pension payments
Duration of new-style jobseeker's allowance
Days that count towards the 182-day total
5. Special benefit rules
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Claiming national insurance credits
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The initial interview
The date of your claim
If you fail to attend the initial interview or provide a properly completed claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
7. Getting paid
After you are awarded new-style jobseeker's allowance
Change of circumstances
Waiting days
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Other sources of help
Financial help on starting work
Chapter 30: Maternity allowance
Key facts
1. Who can get maternity allowance
Employment condition
Earnings condition
Earnings from employment
Earnings from self-employment
Maternity allowance period
Reducing your maternity allowance period and statutory shared parental pay
14-week qualifying period
Disqualification from maternity allowance
If you work
If you fail to attend a medical
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
Calculating average weekly earnings
5. Special benefit rules
Miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal deaths
People who have been employed abroad
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
7. Getting paid
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Other sources of help
Chapter 31: Personal independence payment
Key facts
1. Who can get personal independence payment
The disability conditions
The daily living activities
Aids and appliances
Activity 1: preparing food
Activity 2: taking nutrition
Activity 3: managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
Activity 4: washing and bathing
Activity 5: managing toilet needs or incontinence
Activity 6: dressing and undressing
Activity 7: communicating verbally
Activity 8: reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
Activity 9: engaging with other people face to face
Activity 10: making budgeting decisions
The mobility activities
Activity 1: planning and following journeys
Activity 2: moving around
Can you carry out an activity?
Fluctuating conditions
The required period condition
2. The rules about your age
Mobility component for older people
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
5. Special benefit rules
Terminal illness
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
People classed as terminally ill
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The assessment process
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
7. Getting paid
Length of awards
Reviews and renewal claims
Administrative exercises~~
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Motability
Chapter 32 Retirement pensions
Key facts
1. Who can get state pension
Deferring your state pension
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
Transitional rate of state pension
Women who paid reduced-rate contributions
Widows, widowers and surviving civil partners
Inheriting a deferred 'old' retirement pension
Inherited graduated retirement benefit
5. Special benefit rules
People coming from or going abroad
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
If you are a widow
Who should claim
Information to support your claim
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
7. Getting paid
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Chapter 33: Social fund payments
Key facts
1. Budgeting loans
Applying and getting paid
Challenging a decision
Repayments
Methods of repayment
Rescheduling repayment terms
2. Sure Start maternity grants
The amount
Claiming and getting paid
3. Funeral expenses payments
Eligible people
Exclusion of certain close relatives and friends
Accepting responsibility for funeral costs
European Economic Area nationals
The amount
Deductions from awards
Claiming and getting paid
Recovery from the estate
4. Cold weather payments
The amount
Claiming and getting paid
5. Winter fuel payments
Who cannot get a winter fuel payment
The amount
Claiming and getting paid
6. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Chapter 34: Statutory maternity, adoption, paternity and other parental pay
Key facts
1. Who can get a payment
Statutory maternity pay
The maternity pay period
Statutory adoption pay
The adoption pay period
Statutory paternity pay
The paternity pay period
Statutory shared parental pay
The shared parental pay period
Statutory parental bereavement pay
Statutory neonatal care pay
Continuous employment
Breaks in employment
Earnings
What counts as earnings
How earnings are averaged
Pay rises
The lower earnings limit
Working while getting statutory payments for the birth, adoption or death of a child
Working for the employer who is paying you
Working for more than one employer who is liable to pay you
Working for another employer
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
5. Special benefit rules
If you give up your job or are dismissed
Stillbirths, multiple births and adoptions
If you are adopting a child from abroad
Foster parents approved as adopters
If your baby is born with the help of a surrogate
6. Claims
Making a claim
Who should claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
7. Getting paid
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
Contributory employment and support allowance
The benefit cap
Other sources of help
Chapter 35 Statutory sick pay
Key facts
1. Who can get statutory sick pay
Employees
Dismissal from work
Incapable of work
Treated as incapable of work
Period of incapacity for work
Period of entitlement to statutory sick pay
When entitlement to statutory sick pay starts
When entitlement to statutory sick pay ends
When statutory sick pay is not paid
Qualifying days
Waiting days
2. The rules about your age
3. People included in the claim
4. The amount of benefit
People with more than one job
Maximum entitlement to statutory sick pay
5. Special benefit rules
Women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
Telling your employer that you are sick
Information to support your claim
Medical evidence
Who should claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Backdating your entitlement
If statutory sick pay ends or is refused
7. Getting paid
Change of circumstances
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Other sources of help
Chapter 36: Other payments and support
Key facts
1. Council tax reduction
Common rules for all applicants
Common rules for applicants over pension age
If you are under pension age
England
Wales
Scotland
2. Support for mortgage interest loans
Who can get a support for mortgage interest loan
Which loans qualify
Liability for payments
Occupying the accommodation as a home
The amount of loan payments
Deductions for non-dependants
When loan payments start and end
Mortgage interest run-on
Repaying the loan
3. Local welfare assistance schemes
4. Healthy Start food and vitamins
Healthy Start food
Who can claim
~The ~amount of credit
Claims
Healthy Start vitamins
5. Education benefits
Free school lunches
School transport, school clothes, activities and equipment
Free milk for children
Free period products
Education maintenance allowance and 16 to 19 bursaries
6. Help with childcare costs
Free early education and childcare
England
Wales
Scotland
Tax-free childcare
7. Payments for former members of the armed forces
8. Financial help when preparing for and starting work
Flexible Support Fund
Travel discount card
Scottish Job Start Payment
9. Warm Home Discount
10. Help to Save
11. Other financial help
Food banks
Repairs, improvements and energy efficiency
Special funds for sick or disabled people
Help from social services
Charities
Christmas bonus
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CPAG. "Part 4: Other benefits." In
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26.
, 2025. Accessed March 10, 2026.
CPAG,
https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-264496CITANCHOR.
CPAG. "Part 4: Other benefits." In
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26.
, 2025. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-264496CITANCHOR.
Contributor(s):
CPAG
Title:
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
Site name:
CPAG
Publisher:
Publication date:
March 21, 2025
Date accessed:
March 10, 2026
URL:
https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-264496CITANCHOR
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