Benefits and entitlements for older people

You could receive £25 extra a week if you’re getting certain benefits available during the winter when the temperature is zero or below for more than seven days.

Check the gov.uk website to see if you’re eligible for cold weather payments

Employment and support allowance (ESA) is a benefit for people who can't work because of an illness or disability.

The new style ESA is not means-tested. You might be eligible to claim new style ESA if you:

• Have a limited capability for work because of an illness or disability
• Are under State Pension age
• Have made enough National Insurance contributions
• Aren’t getting Statutory Sick Pay
• Aren’t working.

You can claim new style ESA and Universal Credit at the same time - but if you do, your Universal Credit amount will be reduced by the amount of ESA you get.

To make a claim, for yourself or on behalf of someone else, you have to submit a form. You can do this in two ways:

Call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688 - they will ask questions and can fill in the form for you or you can apply online on the gov.uk website

You need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which helps with extra living costs if you have both:

a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability

difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

If you currently get PIP, you’ll be automatically moved to ADP by summer 2024.

When the move begins, you’ll get letters from DWP and Social Security Scotland.

Information from the Scottish Government on ADP and how to claim it.

If you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they receive certain benefits, you can apply for Carers Allowance.

There are a few rules when applying for Carers Allowance:

• You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for
• You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.
• If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.

You might be able to get other benefits if you are eligible. For each week you get Carer’s Allowance you’ll automatically get National Insurance credits.

You may also be able to apply for:

• A Carers Assesment from your local council. 
• A Council Tax reduction
• Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work
• Pension Credit if you’re over the working age
• Grants and bursaries to help pay for courses and training
• Income Support (if you get the severe disability premium and you’re on a low income)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• If you live in Scotland and get Carer’s Allowance, you may also get Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

For more information and how to apply, visit the gov.uk Carers Allowance page.

You might qualify for help with the below NHS costs if you and/or your partner receive any of the following benefits:

• the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit (in some circumstances)
• Universal Credit (if you meet certain criteria).

If you don’t receive any of these benefits but have a low income, you may still get some help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. 

You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months.

You must claim within three months of your partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after their death but you’ll get less money.

You may still be able to claim Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner’s cause of death was confirmed more than 21 months after the death. There is contact information for the Bereavement Service helpline.

After your first payment (of up to £2,500), you'll receive a further 18 monthly payments. There are two rates available at a higher or lower rate.

You can claim Bereavement Support Payment if:

• The bereavement happened on or after 6 April 2017
• You were under State Pension age when your spouse or civil partner died
• Your partner paid National Insurance Contributions for at least 25 weeks in any single tax year since 1975
• You were living in the UK at the time of the death (or another country that pays bereavement benefits).

You can claim for Bereavement Support Payment online. 

Specified Adult Childcare credits were introduced in April 2011. This meant that grandparents, and other family members, may be entitled to National Insurance credits if they care for a child in their family under 12 while their main parent or carer is working. If you’re eligible due to childcare responsibilities, you will receive a Class 3 National Insurance credit for each week or part of the week you care for the child.

These credits help to build your entitlement to the State Pension.

For more information, visit the gov.uk Specified Adult Childcare credits webpage