1. Social Fund
For individuals who have difficulty covering certain expenses from their daily income, including pregnancy, emergency expenses, interest-free loans, community care allowances, etc.
2. Benefits for Low-Income Individuals
1) Income Supplement: Set for individuals over 18 years old, with income below a certain level, and working no more than 16 hours per week. Applicants must be able to work and actively seek employment.
2) Residential Care and Nursing Home Allowance: Applicants who entered a residential care or nursing home for care before March 31, 1993. They can receive a higher amount of income supplement to cover hospital expenses.
3) Council Tax Allowance: Managed by the local council to assist low-income individuals in paying their council tax.
4) Housing Benefit: The council pays rent on behalf of those in need.
5) Medical Expense Assistance: Free medication, dental care, eye examinations, glasses, or contact lenses.
6) Other Assistance: Applicants receiving income support, family allowances, disability working allowances, or having relatives in prison can receive transportation assistance.
3. Benefits for Children and Pregnant Women
1) Child Benefit: Regardless of your income or how much insurance you pay, as long as you have the responsibility of caring for children, you are eligible to receive child benefit. The benefit is for children under 16, and children aged 16 to 18 who are still in non-higher education institutions are also eligible. Application method: Forms can be obtained from hospitals or social security offices.
2) Family Allowance: If you work at least 16 hours a week, have low income, and need to care for at least one child (under 16, or under 19 if a full-time student), you are eligible to apply. The allowance depends on the family's income and the number of children. Application method: Forms can be obtained from post offices or social security offices.
3) Guardian Allowance: Guardians responsible for caring for children whose parents have passed away are eligible to apply for guardian allowance and child benefit. Application method: Obtain forms from social security offices and submit applications.
4) Statutory Maternity Pay: When an employee is pregnant, the employer must pay wages weekly, the amount depends on the employee's income.
5) Single Parent Allowance: Single parents who have to care for children alone can receive single parent allowance. This allowance is only paid for the first child, in addition to child benefit.
6) Maternity Allowance: Set for those who are not eligible for statutory maternity pay. £44.55 per week.
7) Social Fund Maternity Grant: For those receiving income support, family allowances, or disability working allowances, with savings below £500. The amount is £100.
8) Child Maintenance: For claiming appropriate maintenance from a partner with whom you are separated, to support the child's living expenses.
4. Disability and Illness Benefits
1) Care Allowance: For individuals over 65 who require regular care due to disability. If the applicant has a terminal illness, special arrangements can be made for rapid access to the allowance.
2) Work-Related Injury Disability Benefits: Established for individuals unable to work due to work-related injuries or industrial diseases.
3) Disability Living Allowance: For individuals who are ill and require care; applicants who need assistance to walk are also eligible to apply.
4) Disability Working Allowance: Set for individuals who can work at least 16 hours per week. They may be affected in their employment opportunities due to illness or disability; applicants must be over 16 years old.
5) Severe Disability Allowance: Must be over 16 years old and unable to work for 28 weeks.
6) Disability Caregiver Allowance: For individuals aged 16 to 65 who spend at least 35 hours per week caring for a severely disabled person who is eligible for medium or high rates of disability living allowance or care allowance. The applicant's income must not exceed £50 per week after reasonable expenses, or they must be in full-time employment.
7) Incapacity Benefit: For employees who are not eligible for statutory sick pay from their employer, self-employed individuals, and unemployed persons. Applicants must have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions.
8) Statutory Sick Pay: For illness lasting four days or more. For a maximum of 28 weeks. The applicant's weekly income must exceed £58. The available statutory sick pay is £52.50 per week.
5. Retirement Benefits
Basic retirement benefits are set for individuals over retirement age (women over 60, men over 65) who meet National Insurance conditions. Those who care for minor children can receive additional benefits.
6. Widow Benefits
1) Widow's Pension: For widows who are not eligible for retirement benefits when their husband passes away, and who are under 60 years old, the amount is £1,000.
2) Widow Mother Allowance: Widows who care for at least one child are eligible to receive child benefit; or widows who were pregnant when their husband passed away. The allowance is taxable.
3) Widow's Retirement Pension: For applicants aged 45 or older, or who have stopped receiving widow mother allowance. The amount is determined based on age and when the payments stopped.
7. Unemployment Benefits
Benefits are paid every two weeks for a period of one year. Applicants must be able and actively seeking employment, and they must have paid sufficient Class 1 National Insurance contributions.
