Help that is connected in some way to the benefits system.
Page Contents
Adult Learning Grant | Child Maintenance | Criminal Injuries Compensation | Education Maintenance Allowance | Free school meals | Government information | Health costs | Healthy Start | Heating | Housing help | Legal advice | Milk and vitamins | Mobility help | Private pensions | Pension tracing | Prison visits | Special funds for sick and disabled people | Students | Tax aid | Vaccine damage payments
Also see our links pages
The Adult Learning Grant is being replaced by discretionary learner support funds from the academic year 2011/12. People getting an ALG in 2010/11 whose course continues in 2011/12 will get it for that year also.
Learner support funds are claimed from colleges and learning providers.
More information about discretionary learner support.
For those who are still entitled to it, the ALG is a weekly payment of up to £30 per week for people:
The Child Support Agency (part of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission) makes sure that parents living apart from their children contribute financially to their upkeep by paying child maintenance. The Child Support Agency calculates and collects child maintenance.
In March 2003 a new simplified child maintenance scheme was introduced replacing the old scheme. Both schemes are still running. See Child Support changes bulletin March 2003.
In October 2008 the law changed allowing parents with care who are on benefits to make their own arrangements for child maintenance.
Child Support Agency general enquiries
Phone: 08457 133133
Textphone: 08457 138 924
Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm, Saturdays 9am -5pm
Child Support Agency
If you suffer from personal injury directly resulting from a crime of violence in Great Britain and in certain listed offshore situations you can claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Claim forms and a general guide to the scheme are available from:
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
Tay House
300 Bath St
Glasgow G2 4LN
Phone: 0800 358 3601
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
It is being replaced by the 16-19 bursary scheme.
For those still entitled Education Maintenance Allowance is a weekly payment of up to £30 paid to young people from low income households to help them stay at school or college after GCSEs.
Children are entitled to free school meals if their families receive income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Income Support; income-based Jobseekers Allowance; Pension Credit Guarantee; or on the four week Working Tax Credit run on; or Child Tax Credit, where their income falls below a certain amount.
See our news pages for changes.
Some asylum seekers can also get free school meals.
For enquiries telephone local council.
For Newcastle phone: 0191 232 8520.
Newcastle City Council - free school meals
Most government departments and information can be found on the Directgov website. See also Government links on our links page.
Depending on your circumstances you may qualify for full or partial help with the following:
Prescription charges
Dental treatment
Sight tests and glasses
Wigs and fabric supports
Travel costs to hospital or a clinic for treatment
More information about health benefits
Food vouchers for pregnant women and young children. Replaced Welfare Food Scheme (milk and vitamins). Healthy Start details
For advice and information on keeping warm, paying fuel bills and heating efficiency contact:
Newcastle City Council
Phone: 0191 278 3427
Email: energy@newcastle.gov.uk
More details on the Energy Centre
Warm Zone provides free or discounted insulation, financial and basic benefit advice.
Details about Warm Zone and other schemes such as Warm Front and Health Through Warmth
See also National Energy Action
People on low incomes and people with a disability can get some help with their housing from the council. For example, renovation grants, minor repairs and improvements, disabled facilities grants, elderly residents adaptations grants and so on.
Contact: Local council adult or childrens' services or Housing Departments.
In Newcastle phone: 2328520
Get independent housing advice from Shelter
Legal aid is administered by the Legal Services Commission. People apply for it through their legal adviser who must be part of the Community Legal Service.
More information and legal aid calculations are available from the Legal Services Commission website.
Telephone advice and information about how to find a legal adviser is available from the Community Legal Advice website.
Phone: 0845 345 4345
'See also 'Law and benefit law'
Replaced by Healthy Start
In addition to the various benefits for people with mobility needs, there are other kinds of help a person can get because they receive for example, the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. Here is a short list of them and who to contact.
For local transport contact local council's adult or childrens' services.
In Newcastle phone: 0191 2328520.
More details on concessions on public transport.
This is a scheme to use the higher rate of mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to buy or hire a car.
Application form and details from:
Motability Operations
City Gate House
22 Southwark Bridge House
London SE1 9HB
Phone: 0845 456 4566
Minicom: 0845 675 0009
Motability website
2004 changes to the Motability Scheme
The blue badge scheme gives parking concessions in the UK and Europe for people with certain disabilities. For example:
The Blue Badge scheme is administered by local authorities.
You can get more details and leaflets from the Department for Transport
Phone: 0207 944 8300
People on the higher rate of mobility component of Disability Living Allowance should be automatically sent a VED exemption form by the DWP. If not, contact the Disability Benefits Unit (VED):
Phone: 08457 123456
Textphone 08457 224433
Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (R ADAR)
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London EC1V 8AF
Phone: 020 72503222
Minicom: 020 72504119
Radar website
To find out more about pension options and the Stakeholder Pension contact:
The Pensions Advisory Service
11 Belgrave Road
London
SW1V 1RB
Helpline: phone 0845 6012923
Pensions Advisory Service website
The pensions section on the Directgov website
Find a missing occupational or personal pension.
Phone: 0845 6002 537
On line pension tracing service on the Directgov website
Help with visiting a close relative or partner in prison comes from the Prison Service Agency. Up to 26 visits in a 12 month period are covered if on Employment and Support Allowance (income related), Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance income based, Tax Credit or Pension Credit. If not on these benefits but on a low income a visit or may get some help through a certificate.
Get an application pack and further information from:
The prison or prison visitor centre, or
Assisted Prison Visits Unit
PO Box 2152
Birmingham B15 1SD
Phone: 0845 300 1423
Textphone: 0845 304 0800
Prison Service website
Note: No new claims are being taken
The ILF works in partnership with local authorities to devise joint care packages. People may be eligible to claim f or help fr om this fund to finance care provision if they are:
get Disability Living Allowance higher rate care component, and
have under £23,000 capital, and
get support from social care services to the value of £320 per week minimum
Applications to:
Independent Living Fund (2006)
PO Box 7525
Nottingham, NG2 4ZT
Phone: 0845 601 8815 or 0115 945 0700
Textphone: 0845 601 8816
Independent Living Fund website
Email: client.service@ilf.org.uk
Helps families who have children under 16 who are disabled or seriously ill, with the cost of holidays, furniture and so on.
The Family Fund
Unit 4, Alpha Court
Monk Cross Drive
York Y O32 9WN
Phone: 0845 130 4542 or 01904 621115
Text Phone: 01904 658085
Family Fund website
The MacFarlane Trust provides grants and help for people who have been infected with HIV through treatment for haemophilia.
Phone: 020 7233 0057
Fax: 020 7808 1169
The MacFarlane Trust website
The Eileen Trust provides grants and help for people infected with HIV through NHS treatment.
Phone: 0207 808 1170
Fax: 0207 233 0839 Address for both MacFarlane Trust and Eileen Trust:
Alliance House
12 Caxton Street
London
SW1H 0QS
The Skipton Fund makes payments to people infected with Hepatitis C through NHS blood or blood products before September 1991.
The Skipton Fund
P O Box 50107
London
SW1H 0YF
Phone: 0207 808 1160
email: apply@skiptonfund.org
The Skipton Fund website
Provides free tax advice to people who cannot afford professional fees.
Phone: 0845 120 3779 (10am - 12 noon, Monday - Thursday)
Tax Aid website
Tax free lump sums for someone who is (or was immediately before death) disabled as a result of vaccination against specific diseases. Leaflets and claim form from:
Vaccine Damage Payments Unit
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston PR1 1HB
Phone: 01772 899944
Textphone: 01772 562202
More Vaccine Damage Payments information
Page last updated: 16 August, 2011
