Financial support for people with arthritis

If you’re struggling to work because you have arthritis, you may be able to claim government benefits or get help through financial support schemes.

You may also be entitled to financial support if your condition is making it difficult to do everyday tasks such as getting about or caring for yourself, and this is causing you extra living expenses.

These benefits and schemes are available across the UK but may be managed differently within each of the four nations.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not in England.

If you live in England, you may be able to get help paying for prescriptions, depending on the type of benefit you receive or your health condition. You may also be able to get help towards paying some otherNHS costs, such as for dental care, hospital travel fares, and eyecare.

The help you can get may differ, depending on whether you live inScotland,Wales,Northern Ireland, orEngland.

Universal Creditcombines some of the main benefit payments into a single payment, to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly ortwice a month for some people living in Scotland.

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit. Payments will depend on your personal circumstances, income and savings.

It is currently being rolled out across the UK to replace:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseekers allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Working Tax Credit.

If you’re making a new claim or need to make changes to an existing claim for one of these benefits, you will now be given a Universal Credit account instead.

It takes about five weeks to set up a Universal Credit account. If you think you’ll struggle financially while you’re waiting you may be able to get aUniversal Credit Advance loan. You’ll need to repay this loan in instalments from future Universal Credit payments.

You may be able to gethelp with health costsif you’re receiving Universal Credit.

If you live in Northern Ireland you can find more information aboutUniversal Credit on the nidirect website.

You can find advice about Universal Credit fromCitizens Advice,Turn2UsandAge UK.

全国State Pension ageis the age you can start claiming pension payments from the government. Historically women have reached State Pension age before men. However, this is set to change with the introduction of a single State Pension age for all.

Your pension payments will depend on how much National Insurance you’ve paid during your working life. You cancheck your current pension status on the gov.uk website.

If you’ve reached State Pension age and you’re living on a low income, have a severe disability, or care for another person, you may be able to claim more financial assistance throughPension Credits.

Pension Credits can help with daily living costs, as well as housing costs such as ground rent and service charges. It can also entitle you to more reduced costs for things such as Council Tax, heating and NHS services.

TheTurn2Us websitehas advice on how to apply for additional Pension Credits.

You can find more information about how the State Pension and Pension Credits in Northern Ireland work by visiting thenidirect website.

Attendance Allowanceis a benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and have a health condition, who need extra help to stay independent.

If you live in Northern Ireland, thenidirect website has information about Attendance Allowance.

If your condition has made daily life and your ability to get around difficult for at least three months and is expected to continue causing difficulty for a further nine months or more, you may qualify for aPersonal Independence Payment (PIP).

There are two elements to PIP - daily living and mobility costs. You may be able to claim one, or both payments, depending on how your condition affects you.

PIP funding for daily living can help pay for the additional aids that make everyday tasks easier, adaptations to your home, or assistance from a support worker.

移动元素可以帮助如果你的条件mits your ability to get out and about. For example, you might use it to help lease an adapted vehicle from theMotability Scheme.

PIP is replacing the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged between 16 and 64. You will need an initial assessment and regular reviews to make sure you’re getting the right amount of PIP.

You can find more information abouthow PIP works in Northern Ireland on the nidirect website.

For more advice on PIP visitCitizens AdviceorTurn2Us.

TheDisability Living Allowance (DLA)can help with extra costs if your child is aged under 16 and has difficulty walking or needs extra help in their daily life.

Anyone aged 16 to 64 will need to apply for PIP, even if they have been awarded a lifetime DLA in the past.

If you live in Northern Ireland,you can find more information about DLA by visiting the nidirect website.

You can find more advice about DLA fromCitizens AdviceandTurn2Us.

If your condition affects your ability to work, you may be able to claimEmployment and Support Allowance (ESA).

You can claim ESA while receiving Universal Credit and other benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP), but not while you are receiving Statutory Sick Pay. However, you can start your ESA claim up to three months before your Statutory Sick Pay ends, which can make the switch easier.

If you live in Northern Ireland you canfind information about ESA on the nidirect website.

You can find more advice about claiming ESA fromCitizen AdviceorTurn2Us.

Carer’s Allowance应税收益用于ov岁一个人吗er 16, who spends 35 hours a week or more, caring for someone.

People who claim Carer’s Allowance receive National Insurance credits and may be eligible for other benefits and grants because of their caring responsibilities. However, it canaffect some benefits receivedby either the carer or the person they care for.

If you are not eligible to receive this benefit you may still claimCarer’s Credit, which helps with gaps in your National Insurance record.

Carer’s Allowance is available inNorthern Ireland,England, Scotland and Wales. If you live in Scotland, you may also be eligible for theCarer’s Allowance Supplement.

You can find more information on the Gov UK website if you’re concerned that COVID-19 might affect your:

• work and finances
• existing benefit claims
• Universal Credit.

If you live in Northern Ireland the nidirect has information abouthow coronavirus may affect your workorbenefits.

You can find more information about whatbenefits you may be eligible forby visiting Citizens Advice and selecting England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to see the details for where you live.

Access to Work是一个政府nment grant that can help people start or stay in work if they have a long-term health condition.

If you’re eligible it could help pay for things such as:

• special aids, adaptations or equipment that help you do your work
• travel to and from work if you can’t use public transport
• access to support workers, such as a job coach to help you in your work.

People who are classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) are being prioritised for Access to Work support.

For more information visitAbout Access to Work in England, Scotland or Wales.

If you live in Northern Ireland, thenidirect website has information about the Access to Work scheme.

You may be able to get a loan to pay for things such as furniture, household items, bills, loan repayments, rent, or costs linked to a new job.

There are a number of loans available through your Universal Credit account, which may allow you toborrow against future payments.

If you’re not on Universal Credit or you’re receiving Pension Credit, you may be able to claim aBudgeting Loan.

If you live in Northern Ireland thenidirect website has information about advance paymentsif you’re receiving Universal Credit andBudgeting loans.

If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits you may be able to get help with bills, daily living and travel expenses, such as:

• reduced train fares using aDisabled Persons Railcard, in Great Britain, or aSmartPassin Northern Ireland
• free or reduced travel on buses with aDisable Person’s Bus Passin Great Britain, orSmartPassin Northern Ireland
• if you can’t walk far you can park in some restricted areas using theBlue Badge Parking Schemein Great Britain, andNorthern Ireland
• reduced phone and internet costs throughBT Basic, orKCOM Flex packagesif you live in East Riding or Hull
• Cold Weather Paymentif the temperature in your area drops to zero degrees or below, for seven days in a row between November and April
• Disabled Facilities Grantsif you have to make changes to your home because of your condition
• Discretionary Housing Paymentsif your council decides you need extra help with housing costs
• Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Affordable Warmthfrom your energy provider to help reduce heating costs and repairs to your boiler
• lower council tax bills with aCouncil Tax Reductionin Great Britain, orRate Relief or a Rate Rebatein Northern Ireland
• lower water bills throughWaterSurein England and Wales.

If your condition makes it difficult to carry out daily activities or to get around your home, your local authority adaptation service may be able to help.

They can often provide aids, such as electric can openers or mattress toppers. They can make adaptations to your home, which may include fitting handrails and ramps. This service may be provided for free, depending on your level of need.

In England and Wales you can find your local authority’s home adaptations service by entering your postcode on thegov.uk website.

For information on the support available for aids and adaptations in Scotland and Northern Ireland visit the following websites:

• Northern Ireland
• Scotland

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