Working
Tax Credit (WTC):
Brand new
benefit from April 2003 which replaced Working Families’ Tax Credit and
Disabled Person’s Tax Credit. Paid to supplement low/ medium wages for
people working over 16 hours a week. Extra amounts are included in the
calculation for those who are ‘at a disadvantage’ getting a job because
of long term illness or disability.
Qualification
through a variety of routes. Paid by Inland Revenue with wages but
childcare element goes direct to main child-carer in family. More
generous than old WFTC or DPTC, but claimants considering coming off
Income Support and/or sickness-based benefits may still be WORSE off on
WTC - get specialist advice before claiming!
Social
Fund:
One-off
payments through Community Care Grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis
Loans. Budgeting loans no longer require people to request specific
items. If Community Care Grants might apply, always go for these rather
than a loan!
Believe it or
not, people can actually be refused a crisis loan because they have no
predictable way of repaying it....
Council
Tax Benefit (CTB):
Benefit
available to meet all or part of cost of Council Tax for those of 18 or
over who qualify on income grounds. Calculation is similar to that for
Income Support/ Child Tax Credit.
Remember that
it is possible to have income and savings above Income Support levels
and still qualify for Council Tax Benefit. Some people with serious
mental health problems and some carers will be ‘disregarded’ for Council
Tax purposes, attracting non means-tested reduction in Council Tax bills
- further info from Local Authorities.
Housing
Benefit (HB):
Benefit
available to to meet all or part of rent and service charges for those
16 or over who qualify on income grounds. Calculation is similar to that
for Income Support/ Child Tax Credit.
Remember that
it is possible to have income and savings above Income Support levels
and still qualify for Housing Benefit.
