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Benefits
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Introduction
Information on claiming benefits
Permitted Work while on Incapacity Benefit
Pathways to work for people on Incapacity Benefit
Additional help
The big book of benefits
Introduction
Benefits are usually paid to people in certain situations, for example where they do not have a job, have a low income or have an illness or disability.
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Information on claiming benefits
Mind's Managing on benefits booklet offers practical advice for people experiencing mental distress or illness on how to access and maintain any welfare benefits they are entitled to. Click here to learn from Mind's Managing on benefits booklet about some of the benefits you may be able to claim.
The Directgov benefits and financial support website can help you work out what you are entitled to.
Free, confidential advice on most money issues is available from Citizens Advice and other advice services. You should contact an advice service if you wish to discuss your situation with someone. If you would prefer, you could ask a friend or family member, your carer, local Mind association, local advocacy service or other support service to help you contact someone for help. For details of your local Mind association see Mind in your area.
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Permitted Work while on Incapacity Benefit
You cannot usually work while you are getting Incapacity Benefit because of illness or disability.
However, you may be able to do some types of work - within limits. This is called 'Permitted Work' and it allows you to test your own capacity for doing some work and perhaps gain new skills. You must check with your local Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus office before you start.
Click here for more information on Permitted work from the Directgov website.
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Pathways to work for people on Incapacity Benefit
Pathways to Work is an innovative new approach to help people with health conditions and disabilities to consider their options for returning to work.
Who is eligible?
Anyone who is not in work because of an illness or disability can volunteer to participate for Pathways to Work.
Any new recipients of:
- Incapacity Benefit
- Income Support (because of incapacity)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Also those appealing against a decision which embodies a determination on incapacity for work.
- The new Employment and Support Allowance (from end October 2008)
will be required to participate in Pathways to Work in return for receiving these benefits.
If you make a fresh (or repeat) claim for an incapacity benefit (or Employment and Support Allowance from October 2008) you will automatically be referred to a Pathways Adviser in your local Jobs and Benefits office or JobCentre.
What support will I get?
You will be allocated your own specially trained Pathways Personal Adviser who will arrange a series of meetings with you.
At these meetings your Pathways Personal Adviser will:-
- discuss with you the difficulties you are encountering which make it difficult to work; and
- help you consider a range of choices which may provide the practical, health and financial supports you might need to make decisions about work .
For further information please contact your local office and enquire about Pathways to Work.
Obtain more information about Pathways to Work from the Jobcentre Plus web site. Jobcentre Plus are delivering the Pathways to Work scheme in some areas. Private and voluntary organisations deliver the scheme in other areas.
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Additional help
If you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may also be entitled to other types of help including:
What you are entitled to will depend on the types of benefit you are receiving. If you think you may be entitled to other help you could get advice from a welfare rights adviser.
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The big book of benefits
Written by Judy Stenger, Welfare Rights Adviser with the Neath Port Talbot Mind Income Project, it includes 250-plus illustrated A4 pages of user-friendly information, examples, hints, tips, tactics, sample forms etc. - aimed at people with mental health problems and those who help with benefits applications and challenging decisions.
You can order a copy of The big book of benefits from the Mind bookshop.
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