Benefits Information

Help with Claiming Benefits

Claiming benefits can be a complex and frustrating process. Our principal advice for Behçet’s patients and carers is “never give up” – keep enquiring until you are clear of your full entitlement. We have provided some information here to assist you.

What benefits am I entitled to?

It can be complicated to work out what you are entitled to. Charity Turn2us provides a free Benefits Calculator to see what you may be able to claim for.

People with Behçet’s may be able to claim for:

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – is a non-means tested benefit if you are living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and aged between 16 and State Pension age and have extra care or mobility needs (difficulty getting around) as a result of your Behçet’s.
  • Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is a non-means tested benefit if you are living in Scotland and aged between 18 and State Pension age and have extra care or mobility needs (difficulty getting around) as a result of your Behçet’s.
  • Attendance Allowance – is a non-means tested benefit if you are over State Pension age, are affected by physical or mental illness or disability as a result of your Behçet’s and you need help with your personal care.
  • Disability Living Allowance (children up to age 16 in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and up to age 18 in Scotland) – If your child has extra care needs or mobility needs (difficulty getting around) as a result of Behçet’s.

If you are unable to work because of your Behçet’s you may be able to claim for:

  • Universal Credit – if you are aged between 16 and pension age and on a low income or aren’t working. It includes amounts for disabilities. For new claimants, Universal Credit replaces the help that used to be provided through income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – If you are aged 16 or over and under state pension age and are unable to work because of your Behçet’s. Provided you have made enough National Insurance contributions and you can’t receive Statutory Sick Pay.
  • Working Tax Credit – if you are already getting tax credits and satisfy the eligibility criteria, you might be able to get an extra amount in your working tax credits because of disability arising from Behçet’s.
  • Severe Disability Premium – if you are getting income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Housing Benefit or Pension Credit check if you can get Severe Disability Premium to help with the costs of your disability.

Turn2us also provides the facility to search for a local advisor, for specialist advice in your area.

Step-by-step guides for claiming and appealing benefits

Benefits and Work write comprehensive step-by-step guides for claiming (and appealing benefits) such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit (UC), Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

As professional members of Benefits & Work we are able to share these comprehensive guides with our members. Please contact us by email at info@behcetsuk.org or by calling us on 0345 130 7328 with details of which guides you would like to read and we will email these to you.

Behçet’s patients: Tips and Further Information for Benefit Applications

The following article was written following a meeting with Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Advisory Board. While DLA has been phased out (with the exception of under 16s) the points and tips raised are still appropriate for considering when applying for PIP. Tips for claiming DLA

Further Information for Benefit Applications

Useful organisations

Cost of Living Support

Same but Different, a not for profit community interest company, have been working on a project supported by the National Lottery aimed at helping people during the cost of living crisis. Visit https://www.samebutdifferentcic.org.uk/costofliving for more information

The following cost of living support is available across the UK.

Please see the links below for further information from each of the devolved administrations:

Northern Ireland: Cost of Living | nidirect

Wales: Get help with the cost of living | GOV.WALES

Scotland: Cost of living crisis – Cost of Living Support Scotland (campaign.gov.scot)

England: Cost of living support: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Further useful resources can be found at https://behcetsuk.org/news/cost-of-living-crisis-useful-resources/