Carers Allowance
If you are over 16 and caring for someone who is getting Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate OR Disability Living Allowance- care component (middle or higher), then you may be eligible to claim Carers Allowance (you must be caring for someone at least 35 hours).

Incapacity Benefit
If you are under pension age and unable to work because of sickness or disability, you may qualify for Incapacity Benefit.

It will only be paid if you have made enough National Insurance (NI) contributions and the rate depends on how long you have been unable to work. However, people who have been incapable of work since before age 20 (or 25 if they have been in education or training) can get Incapacity Benefit without needing to satisfy the NI contributions.

Once you reach retirement age, you will stop receiving Incapacity Benefit and receive your Retirement Pension and/or Pension Credit.

Changes to Incapacity Benefit from 2008
To coincide with the publication of the new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) five year plan, DWP Secretary Alan Johnson announced, on 2 February 2005, the government's intention, in 2008, to scrap Incapacity Benefit (IB) for new claimants .

Existing IB claimants will be unaffected by these changes though they will be able to take advantage of the extra support on offer under the new system. Detailed information on these changes can be found at Disability Alliance.

Income Support
This is now only paid to people under 60. You may be entitled to Income Support if you are on a low income.

Pension Credit
The guarantee credit (for people over 60) is a basic amount set by the government each year and if your income is below this level then you may qualify for some Pension Credit to top up your income.

The savings credit may be paid if you or your partner are 65 or over and have savings or extra pension for your retirement. It has no upper capital limit and any savings below £6,000 are ignored (£10,000 if you are in a care home). It has two parts: the guarantee credit and the savings credit.

For further information and advice and a claim form, please contact the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234.