Free Benefits Advice
If you’re living with motor neuron disease (MND) or care for someone with MND, we can help you claim benefits you’re entitled to.
Our free and confidential Welfare and Benefits Advice Service can take the stress out of claiming benefits and help improve your financial situation.
How we can help you
Navigating the benefits system can be confusing and overwhelming, and especially when you’re living with MND or caring for someone with the illness. That’s why we provide free, expert guidance through our Welfare and Benefits Advice Service.
Our highly experienced team can help you claim benefits and other financial support you’re entitled to, support you to access MND Scotland’s grants or check if you’re currently receiving the right benefits.
People with MND can be fast-tracked for benefits and we can support you through this process.
To speak to us, click the button below, or you can ask your MND clinical nurse specialist to arrange an appointment for you. We’ll then get in touch at a time that’s convenient for you, either by phone or email, or sometimes they may arrange to visit you at your home.
“ MND Scotland’s welfare and benefits officer has been a lifesaver. She has been so supportive and helped us fill in complicated forms, which lifted a huge weight off our shoulders.”
Benefits if you haven’t reached pension age and are unable to work
If you work for an employer and take time off sick, you may receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). It’s a flat-rate state benefit payable by your employer from the fourth day of your sickness and can be paid for up to 28 weeks.
To qualify for SSP, you must:
- be classed as an employee and have done
- some work for your employer
- earn an average of at least £123 per week.
Your employer may deduct SSP from your normal pay. Or they may pay you your normal wage. It all depends on what contract of employment you have.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is for people under the State Pension age who have an illness or disability that affects how much they can work.
To qualify for ESA, you’ll need to have been employed or self-employed and paid National Insurance contributions, usually in the past two to three years.
Because there are different types of ESA, we recommend you speak to an MND Scotland welfare and benefits officer to understand what you may be entitled to.
Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is a new benefit from the Scottish Government that will gradually replace the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provided by the UK Government.
ADP is for working age adults with a disability or health condition who are not already receiving PIP or Disability Living Allowance.
The new benefit was launched in March 2022 and is initially available to people living in the local authority areas of Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles.
Further council areas will be introduced in phases until ADP rolls out nationwide from August 2022.
If you currently receive PIP or DLA, you do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment. You will be transferred automatically to the new benefit from August 2022, with no break in your entitlement or payment.
For more information, please speak to an MND Scotland welfare and benefits officer.
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit for people under State Pension age who are on a low income.
Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support
- Allowance (ESA)
- Working Tax Credit
If you currently receive any of these benefits, you may need to claim Universal Credit because of a change in your circumstances, e.g. you’ve become too ill to work. Please speak to an MND Scotland welfare and benefits officer to find out more.
Please note: In Scotland, you can choose to receive your Universal Credit payment once or twice a month.
Benefits if you have reached pension age
Attendance Allowance is for people who are State Pension age or older and have problems looking after themselves because of an illness or disability.
Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates. How much you receive depends on the level of care you need because of your disability.
The State Pension is a regular payment you can get from the government when you reach pension age. The amount you receive is based on your National Insurance contributions.
Pension Credit can give you some extra money for living costs if you’ve reached State Pension age and are on a low income.
Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent and service charges.
Help with transport and parking
Motability Scheme
If you receive the higher rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance, the Motability scheme can help you get mobile.
This involves you exchanging your mobility allowance to lease a new affordable car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or motorised wheelchair.
For more information, please visit the Motability website or call 0300 456 4566 to speak to an adviser.
Blue Badge scheme
The Blue Badge scheme helps people with a health condition or disability to park closer to their destination.
Please speak to your MND clinical nurse specialist who will apply for your fast-tracked MND Blue Badge from your local authority.
Please note that in Scotland a blue badge may cost you up to £20.
Benefits at end of life
If you are living with a terminal illness, you may be eligible to have your benefits claim fast-tracked and paid at the highest rate. The process requires applying under special rules, which vary depending on both the benefit and whether it falls under the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Scottish Social Security.
Our Welfare Rights Advisors are here to support you every step of the way. We will help you understand your entitlements, guide you through the application process, and assist with completing the necessary forms for fast-tracking each benefit.
The main benefits covered by these special rules include:
DWP Benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit (UC)
Scottish Social Security Benefits:
- Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
If you’re looking after someone with MND
Carer’s Allowance
You may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance if you look after someone with MND for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. Find out if you’re eligible. If you receive Universal Credit, you may be able to get the carer element, even if you do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
If you get Carer’s Allowance or the carer element of Universal Credit, you are not affected by the benefit cap.
Carer’s Credit
If you care for a person for at least 20 hours a week but are not eligible for Carer’s Allowance, you may be able to get Carer’s Credit.
This is a credit that fills gaps in your National Insurance record. This record decides whether you qualify for a State Pension, Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement
Most people in Scotland who get Carer’s Allowance also automatically receive Carer’s Allowance Supplement every six months. This benefit comes from Social Security Scotland and is usually paid in June and December.
Young Carer Grant
You may be able to claim a Young Carer Grant from the Scottish Government if you’re aged 16 to 18, live in Scotland, care for someone for an average of 16 hours a week, and have been a carer for at least the past three months. Currently, a Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £326.65.
After someone dies
Following the death of the person you cared for, there may be many practical issues to deal with, including claiming financial support you’re entitled to. Taking care of these issues while dealing with the emotional impact of your bereavement can be very difficult.
This is why we encourage you to contact an MND Scotland welfare and benefits officer after someone dies. We can help to make claiming benefits one less worry for you.
Bereavement Support Payment
If your husband, wife or civil partner dies, you may be able to claim a benefit called Bereavement Support Payment.
To get Bereavement Support Payment, you must have been under State Pension age when your partner died.
You must claim the benefit 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 fewer monthly payments.
Funeral Support Payment
You may be able to claim a Funeral Support Payment if you live in Scotland and you or your partner are getting certain benefits or tax credits.
To get the Funeral Support Payment, the person who has died must have lived in the UK.
You must be responsible for the funeral and costs and claim within six months of the date of the funeral.
Find out what benefits you’re entitled to
Please fill in this form to let us know you would like to speak to our welfare and benefits advisor. We’ll then get in touch to arrange an appointment with you.
Alternatively, you could ask your MND clinical nurse specialist to arrange an appointment for you.
Support Services Referral
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