GIST Conference April 2010

1. GIST Conference April 2010 Welfare Benefits Jane Ballantyne Macmillan Benefits Team at Birmingham CAB

2. What is the problem? • Research has found that for all people affected by cancer financial concerns came second only to physical pain as a significant cause of stress • Patients and carers suffer a drop in income combined with increased expenses • Very many patients and families have no idea what they might be entitled to or how they might apply

3. Financial hardship – some statistics………… • 92% of people affected by cancer have suffered loss of income and/or higher costs • Among under 55s, the average fall in income was 50% • Household income is lower among cancer survivors than for the general population

4. Lack of advice • 77% of cancer patients receive no information about welfare benefits • 54% of people dying from cancer are not getting disability benefits

6. Benefits for people unable to work due to ill-health or disability Statutory Sick Pay Employment and Support Allowance (contributory and means-tested versions)

7. Statutory Sick Pay Employees earning £97+ per week £79.15 payable for 28 weeks May be supplemented by contractual sick pay Treated as in work for Working Tax Credit in payment for the 28 weeks – possibly increased May be topped up with Income Support eg if a mortgage

8. Employment and Support Allowance Contributory and means-tested versions 13 week Assessment period - to assess if satisfy ‘work capability assessment’ and - if in ‘support’ or ‘work-related activity’ group

9. Employment and Support Allowance (contribution based) £65.45 for first 13 weeks (except terminally ill - £96.85) after 13 weeks additional £31.40 or £25.95 depending on if support or work-related activity group May be more topped up with means tested ESA if meet means-testing conditions and eg member of a couple or a mortgage

10. Benefits for care needs and/or mobility problems Attendance Allowance for 65+ (care only) - 2 rates £47.80 or £71.40 Disability Living Allowance for under 65 (care and mobility) - Care component 3 rates £47.80, £71.40 or £18.95 - Mobility component 2 rates £49.85 or £18.95

11. Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance – important facts not means tested not taxable not taken into account as income for means-tested benefits award may increase amount of means-tested benefit in payment or result in entitlement to means-tested benefits where none before

12. Attendance Allowance Claimant must be over 65 and either be terminally ill (form DS1500 completed by health professional and fast track claim process) or reasonably require care as defined and have needed the care for 6 months and likely to require it for further 6 months

13. Attendance Allowance

15. Carer’s Allowance Claimant must Spend 35 per week caring for a severely disabled person Disabled person = receipt of AA or middle or higher rate care component od DLA Earnings limit of £100 May overlap with another benefit but underlying entitlement gives extra money in means-tested benefits

16. Means-tested benefits Employment and Support Allowance (income-based) Income Support Pension Guarantee Credit Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit Housing Benefit Council Tax Benefit

17. Employment and Support Allowance (income-based) For people who cannot work due to ill-health or disability Tops up income from other sources (including contributory ESA) to the amount considered necessary to live on Basic rate £65.45 (single) £102.75 couple for first 13 weeks (except terminally ill – extra £31.40 from outset) after 13 weeks additional £31.40 or £25.95 depending on if support or work-related activity group Higher rates for men over 60 Extra money included in calculations for carers and if a mortgage and for some people on DLA or AA living alone

18. Income Support For lone parents with a child under 10 and carers and can top up income of people on SSP Claimant cannot work or less than 16 hours per week Tops up income from other sources (including non-means-tested benefits eg SSP) to the amount considered necessary to live on Basic rate £65.45 (single) £102.75 couple Extra money included in calculations for carers and if a mortgage and for some people on DLA or AA living alone

19. Pension Guarantee Credit For people over 60 Tops up income from other sources (including non-means-tested benefits State Retirement Pension) to the amount considered necessary to live on Basic rate £132.60 (single) £202.40 (couple) Extra money included in calculations for carers and if a mortgage and for some people on DLA or AA living alone

20. Working Tax Credit Earnings top up Minimum of 16 hours work for people with children and some people with disabilities Help with child care costs included in calculation People on SSP can be treated as still in work Help withdrawn as income goes over a threshold

21. Child Tax Credit Payment for children for parents both in and out of work Claimants on means-tested ESA, Income Support and Pension Guarantee Credit get the maximum Help withdrawn as income goes over a threshold Small amount payable for high earners – over £50,000

22. Housing Benefit Help with payment of rent Claimants on means-tested ESA, Income Support and Pension Guarantee Credit get the maximum Help withdrawn as income goes over a threshold

23. Council Tax Benefit Help with payment of council tax Claimants on means-tested ESA, Income Support and Pension Guarantee Credit get the maximum Help withdrawn as income goes over a threshold

24. Case study M and D - at the outset • Couple in early 50s living in rural area • D had given up work to care for M and all savings used up • Awarded Employment and Support Allowance - £100.95 and just told M had to take part in ‘work-related activities’ • Awarded Council Tax Benefit and limited Housing Benefit • Struggling to live, to meet costs of travel to hospital, to pay the rent and fill the oil tank

25. Case study M and D – what happened next • Disability Living Allowance claimed • Decision on Employment and Support Allowance challenged • Discretionary Housing Payment applied for • Macmillan Grant for travel costs • Carer’s Allowance claimed

26. Case study M and D – the outcome • Disability Living Allowance awarded • M put in ‘support group’ and ESA increased • Discretionary Housing Payment of additional £30 per week awarded • Macmillan Grant paid to cover hospital travel costs • Carer’s Allowance awarded

27. Case study M and D – outcome: the figures • Weekly income increase of £230.45 • Macmillan Grant of £150 for travel costs • 6 months later further Macmillan Grant of £250 towards the cost of filling the oil tank • Now considering applying for Royal British Legion Grant if well enough for a convalescent holiday

28. Case study – Mr and Mrs L - outset • Mr L chronic myeloid leukaemia • Mrs L chronic arthritis • Income - state pensions + occupational pension • Modest savings • Conviction that not entitled to any benefit and that others had more need than them

29. Case study – Mr and Mrs L – what we did • Gentle persuasion • Attendance Allowance claims submitted for both of them

30. Case study – Mr and Mrs L – the outcome • Attendance Allowance of £47.10 each awarded • Mrs L feels able to spend more on interesting food to tempt her husband to eat