Carer’s Allowance is claimable if you are taking care of someone for at least 35 hours a week. You do not have to be related to, or live with the person you care for.

Carer’s Allowance can affect other benefits and you may have to pay tax on it. You can find out more at www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Information about funding for childcare can be found in our Early Years section: Early Years Foundation Stage

You may be entitled to extra payments for child tax credits under the disabled child element or the severely disabled child element.

More information can be found on the Gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit

Council of the Isles of Scilly Housing Department can offer assistance with benefit application forms. They can assist with the whole suite of Universal Credit applications, this includes housing rebates, child tax credit, income support, JSA, ESA, working tax credits as well as traditional housing benefit application forms.

They can be accessed via Microsoft Teams, telephone or face-to-face.

To request help, you can contact housing via email: housing@scilly.gov.uk

Tel: 0300 1234 105 or direct dial 01720 424440

Council of the Isles​ of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/community-safety/housing

​If you are a resident on the Isles of Scilly and are struggling with understanding or paying your utility bills you can contact an Energy Awareness Advisor, by email: housing@scilly.gov.uk or telephone: 0300 1234 105​.

The Council of the Isles of Scilly can offer support or signpost to organisations that can support you, please see the information about what is available and how apply by visiting the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/community-safety/hardship-support-and-household-support-funding

You may be entitled to money off Council Tax if you are a Carer or have a disability. To find out what Council Tax discounts the Council of the Isles of Scilly offer visit www.scilly.gov.uk/council/council-tax

​Council Tax Payment Assistance - Any customers having difficulties with council tax payment should call 0300 1234 105 Option 2 to discuss their account as there are a number of things the council can do to help.

Direct Payments are a financial payment made to families from Children’s Social Care. These let you choose and buy the services you need yourself, instead of getting them from the council.

You can only get direct payments if you’ve been assessed by social services as needing care and support services.

Children who are aged 3 and 4 years, in receipt of child Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and are receiving funded early years education and childcare are eligible for the Disability Access Fund (DAF) payment.

DAF is paid to the child’s early years setting as a fixed annual rate of £828 per eligible child from 1st April 2024.

The payment is only made once in any 12 month period. If the child is attending more than one setting then the parent will decide which setting receives the payment as this can’t be split between settings and the payment is not re-claimed even if the child leaves.

The parental agreement form needs to be completed and signed by the parent to give authorisation for the setting to receive the payment.

Childcare providers make their application for this funding by contacting the Assistant: Data Management, Children & Family Services. Email: FamilyScilly@scilly.gov.uk

A copy of the child’s most recent Disability Living Allowance confirmation letter needs to be attached to the application.

Once approved the payment will then be made to the setting.

Disabled Facility Grant is a grant that is there to allow you to make changes to your home.

The Council of the Isles of Scilly, Social Care Services facilitate this grant. For further details, please visit the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/health-social-care/adult-social-care/help-your-home/disabled-facilities-grant

For more information go to the Gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

is under 16

has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

You will need to meet eligibility requirements, please visit the Gov.uk website for more information: www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children, Department for Work & Pensions have some short videos

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children - an overview of the benefit

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children – How to make a claim

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children – After you have claimed

When a child turns 16 they are able to claim Disability Living Allowance.

The Department or Work & Pension have produced a short video guide: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children – When a child turns 16

Disability premiums are extra amounts of money added to your:

• Income Support

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Housing Benefit

For further information visit the Gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/disability-premiums

Contact for advice or information about a claim you’ve already made for Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.

Please see the Gov.uk website for up to date contact details: www.gov.uk/disability-benefits-helpline

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

ESA gives you: money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work, support to get back into work if you’re able to, you can apply for ESA if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed

Find out more information on the Gov.uk website: ww.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

There is a wide range of disability related financial support available. Please visit the Gov.uk website for up to date information: www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled

For information on help with travel costs and medical travel please go to our transport section: Transport

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability

• difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

For further information please visit the Gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/pip

Job Centre Plus, Penzance

For people living in Scilly please use Job Centre Plus, Penzance. If you are disabled or have a long term health condition there may be support programmes available for example job coaching, employment support and training

A range of services are offered including: Combined job search and benefits service for people of working age. Personal advisers assist with job search activities and benefits claims. Disability advisers and access to Job point terminals for information on job vacancies.

Branwell House

Clarence Street

Penzance

United Kingdom

TR18 2NU

Tel: 0800 169 0190 (General) or 0800 169 0310 (Existing Benefit Claims) or 0800 055 6688 (New Benefit Claims)

You can also contact a job centre via the Gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus

Further information

Work and Health Programme: www.gov.uk/work-health-programme