Benefit

Amount  

Means tested

Notes

Useful links

Statutory ref

last updated

Author

Carer's Allowance

£64.60 pw

No (but  reduced if other income exceeds £120 pw after  deductions)

payable to most carers aged 16 or over working at least 35 hours a week helping someone in receipt of certain benefits (mainly PIP daily living component, DLA at middle or higher rate and Attendance Allowance)

Gov't website on carers allowance
and
CarersUK carer's allowance page

22nd October 2018

HJS

Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

normal max £73.10 pw  for those in the work-related activity group or £110.75 pw for those in the support group

No (but ESA is less for those with a pension or permanent health insurance payments)

those entitled to ESA are placed either in the work-related activity group or if more severely disabled in the support group

Notes on "entitled to" website
and
UK gov't website on ESA

22nd October 2018

HJS

Child Benefit payable to those with high income

see below re "tax exempt" payments" for amount of Child Benefit

No (but  taxable for those on high incomes)

Child benefit is only taxable (at up to 100%) if the recipient has income over £50,000

UK Gov't website on High Income child credit tax charge
and
child benefit tax calculator

22nd October 2018

HJS

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

£57.35 pw if aged 19-24;  £72.40 if 25+; couples aged 18+ £113.70

No if contributions based; otherwise yes.

Income based JSA is being replaced by Universal Credit

UK Gov't notes on Jobseekers allowance

22nd October 2018

HJS

State Pension

Basically £125.95 pw (old style; can be more or less) or £164.35 pw (new style)

No

State Pension depends on NI contribution record. New style State Pension started on 6th April 2016 for people who reach State Pension age after that date (see also notes on astutewealthmanagement.co.uk and Age UK websites).

UK Gov't notes "Your State Pension explained"
and
UK Gov't notes on basic State Pension

22nd October 2018

HJS

Statutory Adoption Pay

90% of  pre-tax average pay but after 6 weeks a max of £145.18 pw

No

Not strictly a "Social Security" Benefit.
Payable for up to 39 weeks

UK Gov't "Statutory Adoption Pay and Leave: employer guide.
and
Calculator website

Statutory Maternity  Pay

90% of  pre-tax average pay but after 6 weeks a max of £145.18 pw

No

Not strictly a "Social Security" Benefit.

UK Gov't Statutory Maternity Pay and Leave: employer guide
and
Calculator website

Statutory Paternity  Pay

90% of  pre-tax average pay  or £145.18 pw whichever is less

No

Not strictly a "Social Security" Benefit.

UK Gov't Statutory Paternity Pay and Leave: employer guide
and
Calculator website

Statutory Shared Parental Pay

90% of  pre-tax average pay  or £145.18 pw whichever is less

No

Not strictly a "Social Security" Benefit.

UK Gov't webpage on Shared Parental Leave and Pay

Statutory Sick Pay

£92.05 pw

No

Not strictly a "Social Security" Benefit
Payable after 4 days absence for up to 28 weeks

UK Go't notes on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Benefit

Amount  (go to DRUK website for full info)

Means tested

Notes

Useful links

Statutory ref

last updated

Author

Attendance Allowance

£57.30 or £85.60 pw depending on level of care needed

No

for disabled people aged over 65

Gov't notes on Attendance Allowance

Bereavement support payments

£2,500 (or £3,500 if you have children) plus £100 per month for 18 months (£350 pm if eligible for child benefit)

No

recipient must be under State Pension age (viz 65, rising to 68

Gov't fact sheet on Bereavement Support Payments

and

Age UK on "Bereavement benefits".

Child Benefit (income less then £50,000)

£20.70 pw (eldest/only child)

£13.70 pw (additional children)

No

Child benefit is taxable if the recipient has income over £50,000.  The tax rate is up to 100%.

Gov''t notes "Claim Child Benefit"

Child Tax Credit

Basic amount max is £545 pa plus max of £2,780 pa per child (more if a child is disabled up to max extra of £7,380)

Yes
(for every £1 of parental income over £16,105 pa tax credit decreases by 41p)

Child Tax Credit is being replaced by Universal Credit. Child must be under 16 (or under 20 if in eligible education or training)

Gov't notes on Child Tax Credit

Cold Weather Payment

£25 for each 7 day period when temperature is less than zero centigrade

Yes

applies between 1st November and 31st March each year

Gov't notes on Cold Weather Payment

Council Tax Reduction

Up to 100%

Yes

replaced Council Tax Benefit wef April 2013

Gov't notes re Council Tax Reduction

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

£22.65pw to £145.35pw max

No

Being replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Gov't notes on DLA

Guardian’s Allowance

£17.20 pw

No

The child's parents must both be dead (save in exceptional circumsances)

Gov't notes on Guardian's Allowance

Housing Benefit

up to £429.53 (4 bedroom property)

Yes

Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit.

Gov't notes on Housing Benefit.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

normally between £57.90 pw and £110.75 pw

Yes

Income related ESA is being replaced by Universal Credit

Gov't notes on ESA
and
 Disability Rights UK notes on Income-related ESA

Income Support

from £57.90 pw (single person 16-24) to £114.85 pw (couples over 18)

 Yes

Income Support is being replaced by Universal Credit (generally taxable if recipient is on strike).

Gov't notes on Income Support

Industrial Injuries Benefit

£24.48 pw  to £174.80 pw (amount depends on severity of disablement)

No

https://www.gov.uk/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit

Maternity Allowance

£27pw  to 90% of average weekly earnings (max £145.18 pw)

No

for mothers and pregnant women who do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay

Gov't notes on Maternity Allowance
and
Detailed Guide to Maternith Benefits

Pension Credit

tops up pensioners income to £163 pw (sngles) or £248.80 pw (couples)

Yes

Research suggests that more than 1m people entitled to pension credit don't claim it.

Gov't notes on Pension Credit
and
Pension Credit calculator

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

£22.65 min to £145.35 max pw

No

for those aged 16-64 with long term health or disability issues.

Gov't notes on Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Severe Disablement Allowance

£38.20 pw to £49.90 pw

Yes (but SDA is unaffected by earnings of up to £125.50 pw "permitted work").

SDA was replaced for new claimants by Incapacity Benefit in 2001 and then by ESA in 2008/09 and now by Universal Credit.

Gov't notes on Severe Disablement Allowance

Universal Credit

Basically £251.77 per month (for a single person under 25) to £498.89 per month (for a couple aged 25 or over).  Additional top-ups can be available. Also the total may be subject to the Benefit Cap.

Yes

replacing Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Working Tax Credit

Gov't notes on Universal Credit

War Widow(er) Pension

Various - see official website. Minimum is around £1,700 pa and max is around £7,500 pa

Generally No  

relates to death resulting from injury in the forces incurred before 6th April 2005.  For post 6th April 2005 the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme applies.

Gov't notes on  "War Widow(er) Pension"
and
 "War Pension Scheme: what you need to know"~
and
"Armed Forces Compensation: a guide"

Winter Fuel Payment

£200 if  65 or over or £300 if  80 or over (both halved if 2 people living together are entitled).

No

Generally paid automatically to thos in receipt of State Pensions

Gov't notes on winter fuel payment

August 2018

HJS

Working Tax Credit

Basic is £1,960 max pa.  Up to £3,090 pa extra can be payable so absolute max is "normally" £5,050 pa.

Yes

WTC is being replaced by Universal Credit

WTC is for those aged 25 or over (16 or over if with a child or a qualifying disability)

Gov't notes on Working Tax Credit