This page provides information on the rules used in the calculator to work out eligibility to extra allowances (‘premiums’) for disability in
means-tested benefits.
If you work more than 16 hours a week you may also be entitled to the disability element in Working Tax Credit.
Extra allowances are also available for disabled children.
If you are entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance you should find out more about
the disability premiums available in means-tested benefits.
While you may be able to claim a disability premium in Income Support
this premium are not available in income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
However, if you claim main-phase Employment and Support Allowance and receive the support component
you qualify for an enhanced disability premium even if you are not claiming Disability Living Allowance higher rate care component.
For more information see which means tested benefit would you be better-off claiming?
The calculator asks questions so that we can automatically work out the correct premium. Further details of the rules are
below There are three categories of disability premiums for adults.
Under 60s can claim:
- Disability Premium
- Enhanced Disability Premium
Over 60s can only claim:
- Severe Disability Premium
Disability Premium
You may qualify for the Disability Premium if you and your partner are under 60
and one of you receives:
- Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments
- Incapacity Benefit (long-term rate) or, in certain circumstances, at the
short-term higher rate
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Working Tax Credit disability allowance
- a vehicle under the Invalid Vehicle Scheme or War Pensioner's Vehicle Scheme,
or have a grant towards an invalid vehicle
- are registered as blind or are treated as blind
- Statutory Sick Pay or are incapable of work or treated as being incapable of
work for the qualifying period or because they are protected by the 52 week
linking rules (see below).
Enhanced Disability Premium
You qualify for an Enhanced Disability Premium if you and your partner are
under 60 and one of you receives Disability Living Allowance higher rate care
component/ Personal Independence Payment Daily Living component enhanced rate.
You also qualify for an enhanced disability premium
if you claim main-phase Employment and Support Allowance and receive the support component (even if you are not claiming Disability Living Allowance higher rate care
component).
Severe Disability Premium
Severe Disability Premium is awarded at the lower rate to single claimants or
couples where: Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance or the
middle or higher rate DLA care component are received, and no one is entitled to Carer's Allowance (CA) for looking after them.
It is awarded at a higher rate to couples where:
- both members receive AA or CAA or the middle or higher rate DLA care component, and
- no one is entitled to Carer's Allowance (CA) for looking after either of them or their partner is registered blind.
If you are in a situation where you can choose between benefits we strongly advise you to seek further advice from a recognised adviser to work out which benefit you would be better off claiming. Please contact a local advice agency or call our helpline.
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