Your Rights and Money

Description

This section provides you with links to websites which may be useful in helping you understand what your rights are and give you information about the benefits you or someone you care for may be entitled to.

DWP - Department for Work and Pensions website

Please find below some general information that can help you with where to start.

Pensions

Pensions are a form of saving for retirement with some tax advantages. When you reach a certain age or retire the pension scheme pays you a regular income for life.
State Pension – the amount of state pension you receive will depend on how much National Insurance Contributions you have paid or treated as having paid. Depending on your circumstances you may be entitled to an additional state pension.

Pension Credit

There are two types of Pension Credit. Guarantee Credit is for those 60 and over and Saving credit is for those 65 and over. This type of pension credit entitles you to a weekly income.

Cold weather payment

You may be entitled to this for each week of very cold weather if you get pension credit.
Weather Fuel Payment – You will be automatically entitled if you are over 60 on 27th September 2009 and getting a state pension or other benefits or if your partner is getting pension credit, income support or income based jobseekers allowance.

Disability Living Allowance

This a benefit you can get if you have problems getting around, you are ill or disabled. You must claim this benefit before you are 65 years of age.

Attendance Allowance

This is a benefit you can claim if you are 65 and over and have an illness or disability.

Employment and Support Allowance

If you are unable to work because of an illness or disability you may be entitled to get employment and support allowance.

Power of Attorney

If you need to you can appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf. You can do this with a document called a lasting power of attorney (LPA) and it can be drawn up at anytime while you are still fit and well. There are two different types; the first regarding Property and Affairs and the second is to do with your Personal Welfare.