SOME BASIC WELFARE RIGHTS ADVICE:

If you’re visiting this site from outside of Brighton and Hove we recommend searching for services close to you: https://advicelocal.uk/

FOR LOCAL FOODBANKS PLEASE SEE: - HTTPS://BHFOOD.ORG.UK/CATEGORY/DIRECTORY-HUB/FOOD-BANKS/

BRIGHTON AND HOVE COUNCIL ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, FOR MORE INFO ON THIS PLEASE CLICK HERE.

THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL PHONE LINE IS OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DIGITALLY EXCLUDED: 01273 293117

Gas, Water and Electric.

Announced 3/1/23 - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-low-income-households-to-get-new-cost-of-living-payments-from-spring-2023

Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time, but are spread across a longer period to ensure a consistent support offering throughout the year. They will be broadly as follows:

£301 – First Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023
£150 – Disability Payment – during Summer 2023
£300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
£300 – Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4
£299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024

Announced 26/5/22 - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-most-vulnerable-households-will-receive-1200-of-help-with-cost-of-living

Government confirms that first instalment of £650 cost of living payment is to be issued from 14 July 2022
As Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill receives first reading, DWP outlines that a payment of £326 will be followed by a second instalment of £324 in Autumn 2022 for those on low-income benefits, with payments being made later to those on tax credits

Warm Home Discount Scheme - https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

Southern Water - https://www.southernwater.co.uk/account/what-if-i-can-t-pay-my-bill - and - https://www.southernwater.co.uk/customer-and-community-grants/customer-hardship-fund

Benefit and tax credit rates

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/resources/benefit-tax-credit-rates

UNIVERSAL CREDIT IN BRIGHTON AND HOVE

If you live in Brighton and Hove and make a new claim for any of the following;

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

You will likely have to claim Universal Credit instead.
Universal Credit is applied for, and managed online. An application for Universal Credit can be made here;
https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

Please note, we're unable to provide one-to-one support to complete Universal Credit applications, and your local Job Centre should assist with this. Citizens Advice Bureau have staff at all Job Centres, please ask for the CAB worker if you need help claiming Universal Credit. CAB, also have a helpline number, for help with claiming UC - FreePhone, 0800 144 8 444.

BUCFP have created a guide to assist in making a claim for Universal Credit, it can be downloaded here; uc claim info sheet Feb 2018 update

And: https://universalcreditinfo.net/

ESA TO UC

If you're on ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) and have to claim UC (Universal Credit), We recommend reading our ESA to UC blog post on the topic HERE

SDP (SEVERE DISABILITY PREMIUM) GATEWAY

The SDP Gateway, which stopped those with an SDP in payment from claiming UC, has now been removed. (You'll usually receive an SDP in legacy benefits when you live alone, have no carer and receive PIP or DLA.)

In its place is an additional amount of UC, known as an SDP transitional payment, and should make up the difference potentially lost by claiming UC, for those who have an SDP in payment.

So to clarify, there is now nothing in place to stop SDP claimants from claiming UC - and providing a claimant remains eligible for an SDP in the proceeding month after having claimed UC, an SDP transitional payment will be included in UC awards for these types of claims.

WORK CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

If you are not fit for work, you can hand in sick notes to the job centre. After 28 days they should send you a UC50 form (this is the equivalent of the ESA50 form for claiming ESA). After filling in the form, you will usually be called in for a face to face medical assessment. Points are scored against descriptors. The following website gives a good outline of these descriptors;
https://wcainfo.net/
See also;
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/council-tax-and-benefits/housing-benefit-council-tax-reduction-and-discretionary-help-2
Subject Access Request
Dr Surgeries are required on request to provide you with a copy of your medical records, up to the maximum admin fee of £10. This can provide invaluable support when undertaking a Work Capability Assessment.

PIP, PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT

If you have a long term disability or illness, you may be able to claim PIP. This is paid in addition to other benefits. As with ESA and UC, points are scored against descriptors for PIP. The following website gives a good outline of these descriptors;
https://pipinfo.net/
See also;
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/council-tax-and-benefits/housing-benefit-council-tax-reduction-and-discretionary-help-2
Subject Access Request
Dr Surgeries are required on request to provide you with a copy of your medical records, up to the maximum admin fee of £10. This can provide invaluable support when making a claim for PIP.