Benefits and Tax Credits

Disability Living Allowance

Carer's Allowance

Tax Credits

Other benefits

Short breaks

Disabled children's services

Working

Childcare

Aids and equipment

Cash Counts

Your one-stop shop for benefits advice

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You may be able to get the following additional benefits:

• Income Support is a means-tested benefit to help individuals or families on a low income and with savings below £16,000;
• Housing Benefit (Rent Rebate in Northern Ireland) is for those who pay rent and are on a low income;
• Council Tax Benefit (Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland) is for those who are liable for Council Tax and on a low income;
• Council Tax disability reduction if you need extra space in your house because of your child’s disability.

There are many other benefits and concessions which you may qualify for so it is always best to get a full benefit check done regularly. Ring the Contact a Family Helpline if you would like one of our specialist advisers to check you are getting all you should be.

Other sources of financial help

You may also be entitled to financial help from other sources, for example:

• A Community Care Grant from the Social Fund if you receive Income Support, income related employment and support allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit and you need help with paying for something you can’t afford out of your weekly benefit, such as bedding, clothing, laundry, safety items or fares to visit a child in hospital;
• A grant from the Family Fund. This can be paid for specific items to help relieve the stress arising from the day-to-day care of a child under 18 who has a severe disability or serious illness, e.g. laundry equipment, transport expenses, help with driving lessons for you, clothing and holidays. For more information, contact the Family Fund, Tel: 0845 130 4542, e-mail: info@familyfund.org.uk

If you need more information

• Contact our helpline

Contact a Family publications

Contact a Family publishes a 'A checklist for parents' which briefly explains common benefits and help available to parents of a disabled child.

• A checklist for parents
• Browse our publication section

Also, you may find some of our other parent guides helpful:

• Benefits, tax credits and other financial assistance
• The tax credits guide
• Help with council tax bills
• A guide to claiming DLA for children
• Community Care Grants (web only)
• A tax credit guide for self-employed parents (web only)

Podcasts

Contact a Family has produced a series of podcasts on different benefits and financial help.

For a full list of podcasts go to our main podcasts area of the website:

• Podcasts and audio