Benefits and disability
There are many different benefits, grants and allowances, designed to help disabled people while unemployed, or unable to work. There may also be benefits and assistance you are entitled to even if you are working. Among the most important are:

• Disabled Living Allowance (DLA)
• Care Allowance (CA)
• Attendance Allowance
• Carers Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Changes to Incapacity Benefit from 2008
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Budgeting Loans
• Working Tax Credit
• Going into Hospital
• Benefits if you are unemployed
• Appeals

Disabled Living Allowance (DLA)
Available to people aged from 3 to 65. DLA is tax free, not means- tested and you do not have to have paid any National Insurance contributions. It is paid on top of any other income you have. It does not matter if you have any savings either. It is divided into two parts:

1. Care component – help with personal care needs and is paid at three different levels
2. Mobility component – helps people with walking difficulties and is paid at two levels. (The mobility component can also be paid to a person who requires assistance whilst out, but may not necessarily have a mobility impairment e.g. Mental health issues – anxiety, panic attacks etc.)

Care Allowance (CA)
A benefit for people 16 and over who regularly spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a severely disabled person who is receiving Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance care component, at the middle or higher rate.

Attendance Allowance
If you are over 65 years and need supervision or help with personal care because of an illness or disability, then you may be entitled to claim Attendance Allowance. You can get Attendance Allowance even if you live alone, if no one is actually giving you help.