What welfare benefits might I be entitled to?

We’ve put together a basic guide to benefits for people living with a lung condition in England, Scotland and Wales.

You may be entitled to benefits if you:

• have care or mobility needs because of your lung condition
• cannot work due to your lung condition
• are thinking of giving up work because of your lung condition
• care for someone with a lung condition

Each benefit has different qualifying rules. But there are 2 main criteria:

• Means-tested or non-means-tested – if a benefit is means-tested it will take into account your other benefits and income.
• Contributory or non-contributory – for some benefits you need to have paid a certain amount of national insurance contributions.

Benefits cap

There’s a limit to the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called the benefits cap.

You’re not affected by the benefit cap if anyone in your household gets certain benefits such as Attendance Allowance (AA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Working Tax Credit.

Benefits you might be entitled to:

Care and mobility

Information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and Attendance Allowance (AA).

People unable to work

Information on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Universal Credit

Information about Universal Credit and when you might be entitled to claim.

Conditions caused by work

Information on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB).

Carers

Information on Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Credit.

Top-up benefits

Information on Income Support, Tax Credits, Pension Credit, the new State Pension, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction.

Prescription costs

Learn when you're entitled to free prescriptions, and how a prescription prepayment certificate can reduce your costs.

Help with heating costs

Information on Winter Fuel Payments, Cold Weather Payments, and Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Next: Care and mobility benefits >