IF you live with a mental health condition, you may be eligible for financial support.
You could be missing out on hundreds every month if you've a mental health condition that's affecting your quality of life.
Those with mental health conditions could get cash through Universal Credit, personal independence payment, employment and support allowance, statutory sick pay, council tax reduction and attendance allowance.
Which benefit you’re entitled to and how much you can claim depends on your condition and your circumstances, but many people are missing out so it’s worth checking.
The government recently introduced a new benefits checker tool which helps people find the financial support they need like Universal Credit.
The new benefit checker tool is free to use on the gov.uk website and you only have to answer a few questions.
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Here's a full round-up of the benefits you could be entitled to if your mental health is affecting your daily quality of life.
It's important to remember that the type of mental health condition and it's severity will affect how much you can get.
Universal Credit
- Amount: Up to £689.19 a month
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly.
To claim you must:
- Live in the UK.
- Be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17).
- Be under State Pension age.
- Have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.
If you have a health condition that affects your ability to work you may get extra money for Universal Credit.
As standard, if you're single and 25 and over you'll get £334.91 a month.
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If you also have a disability or a mental health problem you may be able to claim an extra £354.28 a month on top of your standard payment.
You can apply for Universal Credit online. You can also call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Personal independent payment
- Amount: Up to £92.40 a week
Personal independence payment (PIP) gives cash to people who need daily help because of a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition.
You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
You could get between £61.85 and £92.40 to help with daily living.
Those with certain mobility issues may also be able to claim an extra cash worth between £24.45 and £64.50 a week.
Before you apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), check if you’re eligible.
To claim PIP, you need to first make a call. The new PIP claims line can be reached on 0800 917 2222.
You’ll then be sent a form that asks about your condition. Complete and return the form.
You might need to have an assessment, if more information is needed.
Employment and support allowance
- Amount: Up to £117.60 a week
You can apply for employment and support allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or mental health condition that affects how much you can work.
ESA gives you:
- Money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work.
- Support to get back into work if you’re able to.
If your mental health is making you too ill to work, then you may be able to claim ESA.
There's two ESA groups. group one or those who may be able to work in the future will get £91.65 a week.
Those in group two will have a severe mental health condition which may make working extremely difficult. Individuals in this group will get £117.60 a week.
You may be able to get this cash as well as Universal Credit.
You can apply for new style ESA on the UK government website.
To apply over the phone call 0800 328 5644 and choose option three.
Statutory sick pay
- Amount: £99.35 a week
You can get £99.35 per week statutory sick pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work. It’s paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.
Meaning you could get up to £2,781.80 over a 28 week period if you're too sick to work.
Tax and national insurance contributions are also deducted from this amount.
To qualify for SSP you must:
- Be classed as an employee.
- Earn an average of at least £123 per week.
- Have been ill for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days).
You must give your employer a fit note if you’re off work for more than 7 days in a row (including non-working days).
To claim SSP, tell your employer by the deadline. Check with your employer how you should tell them.
Council tax reduction
- Amount: Reduces your bill by up to 100%
Those with severe learning difficulties or mental impairment will be "disregarded" from paying council tax.
You'll usually need to be claiming other benefits such as Universal Credit, before you can launch a successful claim for council tax reduction.
They’ll need a doctor's certificate, which should be free. The certificate usually needs to say when their mental health condition started.
Each local authority has a website and contact telephone number. Check with your council to see what they offer and how to apply.
Attendance allowance
- Amount: Up to £92 a week
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.
What you'll get will depend on your circumstances and you'll need to have reached state pension age to claim this benefit.
You'll get between £61.85 and £92.40 a week if you're physically or mentally disabled.
Claiming attendance allowance can also boost the amount you get through other benefits.
You could get extra money if you claim pension credit, housing benefit or council tax reduction if you already get attendance allowance.
Use the Attendance Allowance claim form to apply by post. The form comes with notes telling you how to fill it in. You do not need a postcode or a stamp.
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Send the completed form to: Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance
Attendance allowance can also be backdated to the date of your claim. This is usually the date your form is received or the date you call the enquiry line.
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