Benefits

Universal Credit is a regular benefit payment from the UK government that helps with living costs if you’re on a low income or out of work. If you have a health condition, disability, or terminal illness, you may be eligible for an extra amount.

Who can claim Universal Credit?

Citizens Advice provides detailed eligibility information, but the main criteria are:

• You must be on a low income or out of work.
• You must be 18 or over (or 16–17 in certain circumstances).
• You must be under state pension age.
• You must live in the UK.
• You must have less than £16,000 in savings.

Work Capability Assessment

If you apply for Universal Credit due to a health condition, you may need to complete a work capability assessment. This determines whether your condition affects your ability to work and may impact the amount of Universal Credit you receive.

For more information and to claim Universal Credit, click here.

If you have cardiomyopathy and can’t work because of your health, you might be able to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This is a payment to help people who are too unwell to work and aren’t getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from their employer.

You may be able to claim ESA if:

• You can’t work because of your health condition.
• You aren’t getting SSP from your job.
• You have paid enough National Insurance contributions (for some types of ESA).

ESA is changing across the UK. In some areas, it is being replaced by Universal Credit (UC). This means:

• If you live in an area where ESA is still available, you can apply.
• If ESA is unavailable in your area, you may need to apply for Universal Credit.
• You might be able to get both ESA and Universal Credit, depending on your situation.

To get ESA, you usually have to fill out a form and go through a Work Capability Assessment. This checks how your health affects your ability to work.

For more information and to claim Employment Support Allowance, click here.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is extra money to help with the costs of living with a long-term illness or disability if you are aged 16 to 64. It is designed to support people who need help with everyday tasks or getting around.

You may be able to get PIP if:

• You have a long-term health condition or disability.
• You’ve needed help with daily tasks (like dressing, cooking, or washing) or moving around for at least 3 months.
• You are likely to need help for at least 9 more months.

PIP payments range from £24.45 to £151.40 per week, depending on how much support you need. PIP is not means-tested – this means your income, savings, or whether you work won’t affect your payments.

For more information and to claim Personal Independence Payment, click here.

Turn2Us also has a PIP helper tool here.

Attendance Allowance is the equivalent of PIP (Personal Independence Payment) for people aged 65 and above. If you need help with personal care or dealing with your illness and have done so for at least six months, you could get £61.85 or £92.40 per week, depending on how much help you need. 

For more information and to claim Personal Independence Payment, click here.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit designed to help with the extra costs of caring for a child with a disability or health condition. It is available for children aged 15 and under.

Previously, adults could claim DLA, but this has now been replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for those aged 16 and over.

The amount a child receives depends on how much help they need. DLA rates range from £24.45 to £156.90 per week.

For more information and to claim Disability Living Allowance, click here.

If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance, a benefit designed to support unpaid carers. You must be aged 16 or over to apply, and the person you care for must be receiving a qualifying benefit, such as Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Carer’s Allowance is currently £69.70 per week. However, claiming it may affect other benefits, so it’s important to check how it could impact your finances. 

For more information and to claim Carer's Allowance, click here.

If you’re unemployed, on a low income, or claiming benefits, you may be able to get Housing Benefit to help with your rent. However, Housing Benefit is gradually being replaced by Universal Credit, which combines multiple benefits into a single payment.

The money is paid directly to you, and you are responsible for paying your landlord. A weekly benefit cap applies—if your total benefits exceed this limit, your Housing Benefit may be reduced.

You don’t have to inform your landlord if you start claiming Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit unless your tenancy agreement requires it. However, you may need to provide evidence of your rent as part of your Housing Benefit application.

If your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element isn’t enough to cover your rent, you can ask your local council about a Discretionary Housing Payment for extra support.

For more information and to apply for Housing Benefit, click here.