Overview

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

They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.

The DLA rate is between £23.70 and £152.15 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs.

DLA rates for children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children (DLA) is a tax-free benefit made up of 2 components (parts). The child might qualify for one or both components.

Care component

Care component | Weekly rate

Lowest | £23.70

Middle | £60.00

Highest | £89.60

Mobility component

Mobility component | Weekly rate

Lower | £23.70

Higher | £62.55

How DLA for children (DLA) is paid

DLA is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Tuesday.

If your payment date is on a bank holiday, you will usually be paid before the bank holiday. After that you’ll continue to get paid as normal.

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Extra help

You might qualify for Carer’s Allowance if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a child who gets the middle or highest care rate of DLA.

Eligibility

Usually, to qualify for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children (DLA) the child must:

be under 16 - anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

need extra looking after or have walking difﬁculties

be in Great Britain, a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as family members of the Armed Forces

have lived in Great Britain for at least 6 of the last 12 months, if over 3 years old

be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

not be subject to immigration control

The process is  different in Northern Ireland.

There are some exceptions to these conditions if the child is living in or coming from an EEA country or Switzerland.

You can claim DLA for children (DLA) if you’re in or out of work.

Children under 3

A child under 6 months must have lived in Great Britain for at least 13 weeks.

A child aged between 6 months and 3 years must have lived in Great Britain for at least 26 of the last 156 weeks.

The rules on residence do not normally apply if a child is terminally ill.

The child’s (a child) disability or health condition must mean at least one of the following apply:

they (a child) need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

they (a child) have difficulty getting about

They (a child) must have had these difficulties for at least 3 months and expect them to last for at least 6 months. If they (a child)’re terminally ill (that is, not expected to live more than 6 months), they (a child) do not need to have had these difficulties for 3 months.

Care component

The rate the child (a child) gets depends on the level of looking after they (a child) need, for example:

lowest rate - help for some of the day

middle rate - frequent help or constant supervision during the day, supervision at night or someone to help while they (a child)’re on dialysis

highest rate - help or supervision throughout both day and night, or they (a child)’re terminally ill

Mobility component

The rate the child gets depends on the level of help they need getting about, for example:

lowest rate - they (the child) can walk but need help and or supervision when outdoors

highest rate -  they (the child) cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, could become very ill if they (the child) try to walk or they (the child)’re blind or severely sight impaired

There are also age limits to receiving the mobility component (Mobility component):

lowest rate - the child (a child) must be 5 years or over

highest rate - the child (a child) must be 3 years or over

If your child is under these ages and you claim DLA for them, you should be sent a claim pack 6 months before they turn 3 and 6 months before they turn 5. You can then apply for the mobility component (Mobility component) if you think they (the child)’re eligible for it (Mobility component).

If you have not received any claim packs and you think your child may be entitled to the mobility component (Mobility component), contact the Disability Service Centre.

Change of circumstances

Contact the Disability Service Centre as soon as the child’s circumstances change. This can affect how much they get, for example if their disability gets worse or they go abroad for medical treatment.

Their (the child’s) DLA will not usually be affected if they (the child’s) go:

into a local authority care home for less than 28 days

into a hospital

abroad for less than 13 weeks

abroad for less than 26 weeks to get medical treatment for a condition which began before they (the child’s) left

How to claim

To claim DLA for a child you need to be their parent or look after them as if you’re their parent. This includes step-parents, guardians, grandparents, foster-parents or older brothers or sisters.

To apply you can either:

print off and fill in the DLA claim form

phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline and ask for a printed form

Alternative formats

Call the Disability Living Allowance helpline to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

When you’ll be paid

DLA can be paid from the start of your claim. It (DLA) cannot be backdated. Your claim will start on the date the form (the DLA claim form) is received or the date you call the enquiry line (if you return the claim pack within 6 weeks).

You’ll usually get a decision letter about 8 weeks (40 working days) after your form (the DLA claim form) is received. The letter will tell you when you’ll get your first payment.

If the child is terminally ill

There are special rules if the child is not expected to live more than 6 months, so they (the child) can get DLA more quickly.

Phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline to start your claim. Ask a doctor or other healthcare professional for form DS1500. They’ll either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

When your child turns 16

Your child will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) when they turn 16.

When they (Your child) apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP))

Your child will get a letter inviting them (Your child) to apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP)). The letter will be sent:

shortly after their (Your child) 16th birthday

when they (Your child) leave hospital, if they (Your child) were in hospital on their (Your child) 16th birthday

about 20 weeks before their (Your child) DLA award ends, if they (Your child) were awarded DLA under the rules for people who are terminally ill

Your child’s (Your child) DLA payments will stop unless they (Your child) apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) by the date given in the letter (a letter inviting them (Your child) to apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP))).

If they (Your child) apply by the date given in the letter (a letter inviting them (Your child) to apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP))), they (Your child)’ll continue to receive DLA until their (Your child) claim is assessed.


Care to Learn

Overview

The Care to Learn scheme can help  with childcare costs while you study.

You must be aged under 20 at the start of your course.

The scheme (The Care to Learn scheme) is available for publicly-funded courses in England. This (The Care to Learn scheme) includes courses in:

schools

sixth-forms in schools

sixth-form colleges

What you'll get

You can get up to:

£160 per child per week if you live outside London

£175 per child per week if you live in London

What it (The Care to Learn scheme) covers

Care to Learn can help with the cost of:

your childcare, including deposit and registration fees

a childcare taster session for up to 5 days

keeping your childcare place over the summer holidays

taking your child to their childcare provider

Payments

Childcare payments go directly to your childcare provider.

Before they (Childcare payments) can be paid:

your childcare provider needs to confirm your child’s attendance

your school or college needs to confirm that you’re attending your course

Travel payments go direct to your school or college - they’ll either pay you or arrange travel for you.

When payments stop

Payments end when:

you stop attending your course

you reach the end of your course

your child stops attending childcare

Eligibility

You can get Care to Learn if all of the following apply to you:

you’re a parent under 20 at the start of your course

you’re the main carer for your child

you live in England

you’re either a British citizen or have a legal right to live and study in England

your course qualifies

your childcare provider qualifies

If you’re an EU citizen and you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living here after 30 June 2021. If you want to move to the UK from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a visa.

Your course

Care to Learn is only available for publicly-funded courses in England. This includes courses that take place in:

schools

sixth-forms in schools

sixth-form colleges

other colleges and learning providers, including Foundation Learning

your community at Children’s Centres

Your learning provider can tell you if your course is eligible.

Your childcare provider

To qualify, your childcare provider must be registered with Ofsted.

They (your childcare provider) can be a:

childminder

preschool playgroup

day nursery

out of school club

Who cannot get Care to Learn

You’re not eligible if:

you’re an apprentice who gets a salary

you’re doing a higher education course at university

Apply for Care to Learn

You must choose your learning provider and childcare provider before you apply.

You need to make a new application for each year you study.

Your childcare provider is paid from the beginning of your course if you apply either:

before your course starts

within 28 days of starting your course

If you apply after that (starts), your childcare provider will only be paid from the beginning of the week that your application was received.

Apply online for Care to Learn.

After you've applied

You must give your learning provider either:

a copy of the child’s birth certificate

a letter confirming receipt of Child Benefit for that child (the child’s)

If you qualify

You’ll get a letter and a payment plan telling you what financial help you can get.

Your childcare provider will only be paid after you’ve provided this.

Your childcare provider will also get the payment plan to let them (your childcare provider) know when they (your childcare provider)’ll be paid.

If you’re eligible for travel costs, your learning provider will be told about payments for this.

If your circumstances change

You must report changes to your:

personal details

childcare provider

hours of childcare

travel costs

learning provider

You can do this (report) by updating your online application.

Benefits

Claiming Care to Learn will not affect your family’s benefits or allowances.


Financial help if you're disabled

Overview

There is a wide range of disability-related financial support, including benefits, tax credits, payments, grants and concessions.

Some benefits you might get are:

Universal Credit

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Attendance Allowance

‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Depending on your circumstances, you might also be able to get:

Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’re disabled as a result of work

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Vehicles and transport

If you’re disabled you can apply for the following:

exemption from paying vehicle tax

parking benefits - Blue Badge

disabled persons bus pass or railcard

help to buy or lease a car from The Motability Scheme

Home and housing

If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you can get:

Direct payments - allowing you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of getting it directly from social services

Disabled Facilities Grants - which is money towards the costs of home adaptations to enable you to continue living there

If you’re on a low income

You may be eligible for Universal Credit and could get help with housing costs.

If not, check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction from your local council.

Help if you’re employed

You may be able to top up a low salary by claiming Universal Credit.

You also might be able to get an Access to Work grant to pay for:

special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings

help getting to and from work

mental health support

communication support at a job interview (for example, a British Sign Language interpreter or a lipspeaker)

VAT relief on certain goods and services

You do not have to pay VAT on certain goods and services if they’re just for your own use and you’re disabled or have a long term illness.

Armed forces compensation

You may be able to get compensation if you’ve been injured or disabled while serving in the armed forces.

Disability and sickness benefits

Disability Living Allowance for children

Disability Living Allowance for children (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for children under 16 to help with the extra costs caused by long-term ill health or a disability.

Disability Living Allowance for adults

Personal Independence Payment is gradually replacing DLA (Disability Living Allowance for children (DLA)) for adults with long-term ill health or a disability. If you’ve reached State Pension age you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead.

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Personal Independence Payment) is a tax-free benefit for people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age. It (Personal Independence Payment) can help with the extra costs caused by long term ill-health or a disability.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who are State Pension age or over, have a disability and need someone to help look after them (adults with long-term ill health or a disability).

Employment and Support Allowance

You may be able to get ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you cannot work because of illness or disability.

Carers

Carer’s Allowance is extra money to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.

You could also get Carer’s Credit so there will not be any gaps in your National Insurance record if you have to take on caring responsibilities.

Vehicles and transport

You’ll need to meet the legal obligations for drivers before you can drive.

Blue Badge parking scheme

The Blue Badge scheme (Blue Badge parking scheme) provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or as passengers.

Vehicle tax exemption

Eligibility

You can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you get the:

higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP (Personal Independence Payment))

War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

Armed Forces Independence Payment

The vehicle must be registered in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name.

It (The vehicle) must only be used for the disabled person’s personal needs. It (The vehicle) cannot be used by the nominated driver for their own personal use.

You can only have one vehicle tax exemption at any one time.

How to claim

You claim the exemption (exemption from paying vehicle tax) when you apply for vehicle tax.

If you’re claiming for a vehicle for the first time, you have to claim at a Post Office. You must do this every time you change your vehicle.

Vehicle tax reduction

Eligibility

You can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax if you get the PIP (Personal Independence Payment) standard rate mobility component.

The vehicle should be registered in the disabled person’s name or their (the disabled person’s) nominated driver’s name.

You cannot get a reduction for getting the DLA (Disability Living Allowance (DLA) lower rate mobility component.

How to claim

You must include the following with your application:

a letter or statement from the Department for Work and Pensions that shows your PIP rate and the dates you’re getting it

the vehicle log book (V5C)

a V10 form

an original MOT or GVT certificate (if your vehicle needs one)

a cheque or payable order (made out to ‘DVLA, Swansea’) for 50% of the full rate of car tax for the vehicle

an insurance certificate or cover note (if you live in Northern Ireland)

Do not send your PIP assessment or any other medical information with your application.

If you’ve just bought the vehicle and it (the vehicle)’s not registered in your name yet, you’ll need to complete a V62 form and include the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the log book with your application.

Send the documents to:

If the vehicle is not registered to you or the nominated driver

When you make your application you will need to include a signed letter from the vehicle’s (the vehicle) registered keeper. This needs to say:

how they (the vehicle’s (the vehicle) registered keeper) know you

how the vehicle will be used, for example picking up your prescription or shopping

The Motability Scheme

The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. You’ll need to be getting one of the following:

the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA

War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

Armed Forces Independence Payment

the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP

VAT relief for vehicles

You may not have to pay VAT on having a vehicle adapted to suit your condition, or on the lease of a Motability vehicle - this is known as VAT relief.

Community and public transport

Your local council may operate dial-a-ride or taxi schemes, for example, using vouchers or tokens. You may also be eligible for a bus pass, a Disabled Persons Railcard or both.

Home and housing

Direct Payments - arranging your own care and services

If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you may want to choose Direct Payments. They allow you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of receiving it directly from your local council.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Disabled Facilities Grants are local council grants. It helps towards the cost of essential adaptations to your home to enable you to continue to live there.

Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction Scheme

You may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax bill if your home has certain features that are essential to you living there.

Contact your local council to apply for Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction (Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction Scheme).

If you’re on a low income

Universal Credit

If you’re eligible for Universal Credit you could get help paying for your housing.

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit. Most people will need to claim Universal Credit instead.

Check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit before you apply.

You may also get a Council Tax Reduction from your local council.

On a low income

Universal Credit

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work.

Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

You may be able to claim ‘new style’ JSA.

You’ll need to have worked as an employee and paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years. National Insurance credits can also count.

You will not be eligible if you were self-employed and only paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions, unless you were working as a share fisherman or a volunteer development worker.

You’ll also need to take reasonable steps to look for work.

Check if you’re eligible for ‘new style’ JSA.

Blind Person’s Allowance

The Blind Person’s Allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance) allows you to receive an amount of income without having to pay tax. It (Blind Person’s Allowance)’s added to your personal tax allowance.

Television licence discount

You can get 50% off the cost of your TV licence if either:

you’re registered blind or severely sight impaired

you live with someone who is registered blind or severely sight impaired

If the person who is registered blind (someone who is registered blind or severely sight impaired) is not the current licence holder for your address, you’ll need to transfer the licence (your TV licence) to their (someone who is registered blind or severely sight impaired) name.

You can either:

transfer the licence (your TV licence) online - you’ll need your licence number

contact TV Licensing to transfer the licence (your TV licence)

How to apply

To claim the TV licence concession for blind people, you’ll need to get a certificate from your local authority or ophthalmologist stating that you are registered blind or severely sight impaired.

In Northern Ireland, the certificate or document must be issued by or on behalf of a Health and Social Services Trust. On the Isle of Man, it must be issued by or on behalf of the Department for Health and Social Services.

Post a copy of the certificate along with your licence renewal notice - if you have one - and a cheque or postal order for the licence (your TV licence) to:

Remember to include your name, address, phone number and TV licence number, if you have one.

VAT relief for disabled people

If you’re disabled or have a long-term illness, you will not be charged VAT on products designed or adapted for your own personal or domestic use. Also, you will not be charged VAT on:

the installation and any extra work needed as part of this

repairs or maintenance

spare parts or accessories

The product and your disability have to qualify.

Qualifying products or services

Your supplier can tell you, but usually products designed or adapted for a disability qualify. For example, certain types of:

adjustable beds

stair lifts

wheelchairs

medical appliances to help with severe injuries

alarms

braille paper or low vision aids - but not spectacles or contact lenses

motor vehicles - or the leasing of a motability vehicle

building work like ramps, widening doors, installing a lift or toilet

How to get the product VAT free

To get the product VAT free your disability has to qualify. For VAT purposes, you’re disabled or have a long-term illness if:

you have a physical or mental impairment that affects your ability to carry out everyday activities, for example blindness

you have a condition that’s treated as chronic sickness, like diabetes

you’re terminally ill

You do not qualify if you’re elderly but not disabled, or if you’re temporarily disabled.

You’ll need to confirm in writing that you meet these conditions. Your supplier may give you a form for this.

Help from your council

You can apply to your council for equipment or help to adapt your home if you have a disability.

Importing goods

You do not pay VAT if you import qualifying goods that are for your own personal or domestic use. This includes certain goods for blind and partially sighted people.

If you use a freight service they can help you with the paperwork, otherwise make sure the following is written on parcel, ‘Goods for disabled people: relief claimed’.

If you bring them (goods) in yourself, declare them (goods) in the red channel at Customs. For any other method of import, contact the National Import Reliefs Unit.

Work-related injuries or illness

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

You may be entitled to get Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’re disabled as a result of:

an accident at work

a disease

deafness caused by work

Constant Attendance Allowance

You can claim Constant Attendance Allowance if you need daily care and attention because of a disability and you claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Armed forces compensation

You can claim for compensation if while serving in the armed forces:

you got an injury or illness

an existing condition you had was made worse

Constant Attendance Allowance

You can also apply for Constant Attendance Allowance if you need daily care for a disability.


Claim if you were injured while serving in the armed forces

Overview

You can claim compensation if you were injured or got an illness while serving in the armed forces (including the reserve forces).

Compensation may include:

a lump sum

regular payments

What you can claim for

You can claim compensation for any injury or illness that happened as a result of your service, including physical and mental conditions.

You can also claim:

if you were injured during a service-related activity, eg a training exercise

for conditions you had before service if you feel your service made them worse

If you’re a victim of crime while serving abroad

Find out if you qualify for the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Overseas) scheme if you were the victim of a violent crime while serving abroad.

What you'll get

The compensation you get (compensation) depends on either:

when you were injured

when the circumstances happened that caused your illness

What you get might be reduced if you’re getting compensation from another scheme.

If your injury or illness is due to service after 5 April 2005

If your claim is successful, you’ll get a tax-free lump sum payment between £1,236 and £650,000. The amount you get will depend on how severe your injury is.

If you have a more serious illness or injury

You may also receive a tax-free monthly payment for life when you’re discharged - sometimes known as a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP).

The GIP is based on your salary, age and how severe your injury is.

If your GIP payment level is 50% of your salary or more, you can also claim an Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

If your injury or illness is due to service before 6 April 2005

If your claim is successful, you’ll be awarded either:

a pension - if your disability is assessed at 20% or more

a lump sum - if your disability is assessed at less than 20%

You might also be able to get other allowances if you’re having problems getting around or finding a job.

Eligibility

The rules for qualifying are different depending on when you were injured.

Claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).

To qualify you must be:

a current or former member of the armed forces

applying no later than 7 years after the injury or illness (your injury or illness), unless you’re claiming for an illness that started later (sometimes known as a ‘late onset illness’)

Claim under the War Pension Scheme (WPS).

There are no time limits for claiming under the WPS (the War Pension Scheme (WPS)) but you must be no longer serving in the armed forces.

How to claim

Fill in the claim form and send it to the address on the form.

It (the claim form)’s the same claim form for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and War Pension Scheme (WPS (the War Pension Scheme (WPS))).

You can ask the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) for help with making your claim.

You may be contacted for more evidence in support of your claim.

You may be able to apply for a ‘fast payment’ of £60,000 if you were seriously injured during service after 8 May 2011.

If you disagree with the decision on your claim

You can write to Veterans UK (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) to ask them (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) reconsider their (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) decision (the decision on your claim).

You can also appeal to an independent tribunal within 12 months.

Additional payments

You can apply for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) while your compensation claim (your claim) is being dealt with.

You might also be able to get:

other allowances if your injury or illness is due to service before 6 April 2005

an Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) if you were seriously injured on or after 6 April 2005

Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP))

Once you’ve had the result of your compensation claim (your claim), you might be able to claim AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) if you’ve been seriously injured.

AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) is £151.40 per week. It (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP))’s tax free and is paid every 4 weeks into your bank account.

Eligibility

You’re eligible if both of the following apply:

you were injured on or after 6 April 2005

you’re given a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) of 50% or more

You’ll get the payment as long as you’re entitled to this level of GIP. You won’t be reassessed in the future.

If you’re not eligible for AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)), you can get a PIP if you have a long-term health condition or disability.

How to claim

Contact Veterans UK (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) for a claim form. There’s no deadline.

Claiming other benefits with AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP))

If you get AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) you might be eligible for other benefits, eg Child Tax Credit.

AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) is not counted as income when working out your what other benefits you can claim.

Your household is exempt from the benefit cap if you or your partner are getting AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)).


Vaccine Damage Payment

Overview

If you’re severely disabled as a result of a vaccination against certain diseases, you could get a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000. This is called a Vaccine Damage Payment.

Effect on benefits you receive

A Vaccine Damage Payment can affect benefits and entitlements like:

Income Support

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

Working Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit

Universal Credit

Pension Credit

Housing Benefit

Council Tax Reduction

Employment and Support Allowance

The effect the payment (A Vaccine Damage Payment) will have depends on a number of things. This includes the payment (A Vaccine Damage Payment) being put into a trust and the payments being made from it.

You should let the office that deals with your benefit or tax credit claim know if you’ve got a Vaccine Damage Payment. You can get contact details from letters they have sent you.

What you'll get

A Vaccine Damage Payment is a tax free one-off payment of £120,000.

How you’re paid

You’ll get payment direct to you or, if you’re under 18 or cannot manage your own affairs, payment will be made to trustees.

If you live with your family, your parents may be appointed as trustees.

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, for example your bank account.

Eligibility

You could get a payment if you’re severely disabled and your disability was caused by vaccination against any of the following diseases:

coronavirus (COVID-19)

diphtheria

haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

human papillomavirus

influenza, except for influenza caused by a pandemic influenza virus

measles

meningococcal group B (meningitis B)

meningococcal group C (meningitis C)

meningococcal group W (meningitis W)

mumps

pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu) - up to 31 August 2010

pertussis (whooping cough)

pneumococcal infection

poliomyelitis

rotavirus

rubella (German measles)

smallpox - up to 1 August 1971

tetanus

tuberculosis (TB)

You may have had a combined vaccination against a number of the diseases listed. For example, you might have been vaccinated against DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) or MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).

You may also be able to get a payment if you’re severely disabled because either:

your mother was vaccinated against one of the diseases in the list (the diseases listed) while she was pregnant

you’ve been in close physical contact with someone who’s had an oral vaccine against poliomyelitis

What counts as ‘severely disabled’

Disablement is worked out as a percentage, and ‘severe disablement’ means at least 60% disabled.

This could be a mental or physical disablement and will be based on medical evidence from the doctors or hospitals involved in your treatment.

When and where the vaccination must have taken place

You must normally have been vaccinated before your 18th birthday, unless the vaccination was during an outbreak of disease in the UK or the Isle of Man, or it (the vaccination) was against:

coronavirus (COVID-19)

poliomyelitis

rubella

meningococcal group C

human papillomavirus

meningococcal group W before your 26th birthday

influenza

The vaccination must have been given in the UK or the Isle of Man, unless you were vaccinated as part of your armed forces medical treatment.

How to claim

Apply by filling out a claim form. If you’re under 16, your parent or guardian should claim on your behalf.

Send it (a claim form) to:

You can also contact the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit to ask for a claim form:

Time limits on making a claim

You can only claim for a child once they are 2 years old.

To claim for an adult, apply by whichever is the latest of the following dates:

on or before their (an adult) 21st birthday (or if they (an adult)’ve died, the date they (an adult) would have reached 21)

within 6 years of the vaccination

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for ‘mandatory reversal’

If the decision (a decision) was made after 27 October 2013

Write to the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit. You must:

explain why you think the decision (a decision) is wrong

include any new evidence to support your application - only include evidence you have not already sent

You need to include:

the date of the original payment decision

your name and address

your date of birth

your National Insurance number

If the decision (a decision) was made on or before 27 October 2013

Contact the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit for advice on challenging the decision (a decision).

What happens next

The original decision (a decision) will be reviewed. The Department for Work and Pensions will send you a new decision if they think it (a decision) should be changed.

If they (The Department for Work and Pensions) do not think the decision (a decision) should be changed, you’ll get a ‘mandatory reversal notice’ that will explain the reasons why. This will include the information you need to be able to appeal.

If you disagree with the outcome

You can ask for mandatory reversal again - there’s no limit on the number of times you can make this request, and no time limit.

You can also appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. The tribunal is impartial and independent of government.

There is no time limit for requesting an appeal.

Download and fill in form SSCS1 and send it to the address on the form.

You’ll need to choose whether you want to go to the tribunal hearing to explain your case. If you do not attend, your appeal will be decided on your appeal form (form SSCS1) and any supporting evidence.

After you submit your appeal, you can provide evidence. Your appeal and the evidence will be discussed at a hearing by a judge and one or two experts, for example a doctor. The judge will then make a decision.

It usually takes around 6 months for for your appeal to be heard by the tribunal (the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal).


Housing Benefit

Eligibility

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit.

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either of the following apply:

you have reached State Pension age

you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

You’ve reached State Pension age

If you’re single you can make a new claim for Housing Benefit.

If you’re over State Pension age and live with your partner

You can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if any of the following apply:

you and your partner have both reached State Pension age

one of you (you and your partner) has reached State Pension age and started claiming Pension Credit (for you as a couple) before 15 May 2019

If you’re over State Pension age and have an existing claim

Your existing claim (an existing claim) will not be affected if, before 15 May 2019, you:

were getting Housing Benefit

had reached State Pension age

It does not matter if your partner is under State Pension age.

If your circumstances change and your Housing Benefit is stopped, you cannot start getting it again unless you and your partner are eligible to make a new claim.

You can apply for Universal Credit if you’re not eligible.

If you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

You can make a new claim if:

you’re living in temporary accommodation, such as a B&B arranged by your council

you’re living in a refuge for survivors of domestic abuse

you’re living in sheltered or supported housing (such as a hostel) which provides you with ‘care, support or supervision’

If you do not get ‘care, support or supervision’ through your supported or sheltered housing, you can apply for Universal Credit to help with housing costs.

If you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing, you can apply for Universal Credit to help with other living costs.

When you may not be able to claim

Usually, you will not get Housing Benefit if:

your savings are over £16,000 - unless you get Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit

you’re paying a mortgage on your own home - you may be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)

you live in the home of a close relative

you’re already claiming Universal Credit (unless you’re in temporary or supported housing)

you live with your partner and they (you and your partner) are already claiming Housing Benefit

you’re a full-time student

you’re residing in the UK as a European Economic Area jobseeker

you’re an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK

you’re subject to immigration control and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds

you’re a Crown Tenant

you’ve reached State Pension age but your live-in partner has not - unless you had an existing claim as a couple before 15 May 2019

You may be able to get other help with housing costs.

If not, you’ll need to claim Universal Credit instead.

Use a benefits calculator to check if you can get Housing Benefit before you apply

What you'll get

You may get help with all or part of your rent. There’s no set amount of Housing Benefit and what you get will depend on whether you rent privately or from a council.

Use a benefits calculator to work out what you could get or check what extra help is available.

Council and social housing rent

How much you get depends on:

your ‘eligible’ rent

if you have a spare room

your household income - including benefits, pensions and savings (over £6,000)

your circumstances, for example the age of people in the house or if someone has a disability

Eligible rent

Your eligible rent (your ‘eligible’ rent) is the amount used to calculate your Housing Benefit claim. It (your ‘eligible’ rent)’s your actual rent plus any service charges you have to pay (such as for lift maintenance or a communal laundry) but not things like heating or water costs for your home.

Spare bedrooms

Your Housing Benefit could be reduced if you live in council or social housing and have a spare  bedroom. The reduction is:

14% of the ‘eligible rent’ for 1 spare bedroom

25% of the ‘eligible rent’ for 2 or more spare bedrooms

Sharing bedrooms

The following are expected to share:

an adult couple

2 children under 16 of the same sex

2 children under 10 (regardless of sex)

The following can have their own bedroom:

a single adult (16 or over)

a child that would normally share but shared bedrooms are already taken, for example you have 3 children and 2 already share

a couple or children who cannot share because of a disability or medical condition

an overnight carer for you, your partner, your child or another adult - this is only if the carer does not live with you but sometimes has to stay overnight

One spare bedroom is allowed for:

an approved foster carer who is between placements but only for up to 52 weeks from the end of the last placement

a newly approved foster carer for up to 52 weeks from the date of approval if no child is placed with them during that time

Rooms used by students and members of the armed or reserve forces will not be counted as ‘spare’ if they’re away and intend to return home.

Private rent

If you rent privately, your eligible rent amount is either your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate or your actual rent, whichever is lower. The LHA rate is based on:

where you live

your household size - find out how many bedrooms you’re eligible for

How much you can get

How much you get depends on:

the lower figure of your ‘eligible’ rent or LHA rate

your household income including benefits, pensions and savings (over £6,000)

your circumstances (for example your age or whether you have a disability)

Contact your local council if you’re living in:

a houseboat or a mooring

a caravan site

a room with any meals included in the rent (sometimes known as a boarding home)

a hostel

a Rent Act protected property

Exception

If you’ve been getting Housing Benefit since before 7 April 2008, these limits only apply if you:

change address

have a break in your claim for Housing Benefit

How you’re paid

The way you get paid Housing Benefit by your council depends on the type of tenant you are.

If you’re a:

council tenant, it (Housing Benefit)’s paid into your rent account (you will not receive the money)

private or housing association tenant, it (Housing Benefit)’s paid into your bank or building society account (rarely by cheque)

The benefit cap

The benefit cap limits the total amount of benefit you can get. It (The benefit cap) applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.

If you’re affected, your Housing Benefit will go down to make sure that the total amount of benefit you get is not more than the cap level. Use the benefit cap calculator to find out how the benefit cap affects you.

Appeal a Housing Benefit decision

Contact your local council to appeal a Housing Benefit decision.

Supporting your claim

You’ll need to provide some information and evidence to support your claim for Housing Benefit (your claim).

You’ll get Housing Benefit faster if you have this available when you make your claim.

You’ll need to know:

how much rent you pay

whether anything else is included in the rent, such as water, gas or electricity charges

if you pay any service charges, including building maintenance or insurance

your landlord or agent’s details

Special types of tenancy

If your current tenancy started in 1997 or earlier and you rent from a private landlord, you’ll need to know if you have an ‘assured tenancy’. You can check your tenancy on the Shelter website.

If you live in and pay rent for a government property (a ‘Crown Tenant’), you’re not entitled to Housing Benefit. This includes armed forces living in service family accommodation (SFA).

Evidence you’ll have to provide

You’ll need to provide original documents, not copies. The supporting evidence you’ll need (Evidence you’ll have to provide) includes:

your most recent payslips (5 if paid weekly, or 2 if paid monthly)

bank or building society statements for the last 2 full months

proof of other income or investments, including shares, ISAs or Premium Bonds

proof of income for any non-dependants living with you, such as adult relatives or friends

You’ll also need proof of your partner’s name and address. You cannot use the same document to prove both their name and address.

Provide any 2 of the following:

UK photocard driving licence

current passport

birth or marriage certificate

biometric residence permit

certificate of registration or naturalisation

permanent residence card

letter from HMRC or the Home Office

recent utility bill

recent bank or building society statement

recent benefit award statements

If you rent from a private landlord

You’ll also need to provide one of the following:

a tenancy agreement or rent book

a letter from your landlord confirming your tenancy - this is usually supplied at the start of your tenancy

How to claim

Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit. Most people will need to claim Universal Credit instead.

Check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit before you apply.

You can either apply:

through your local council

as part of a Pension Credit claim, if you’re eligible for this

You’ll need to provide evidence to support your Housing Benefit claim.

If you’re applying for Pension Credit

You can apply for Housing Benefit as part of your Pension Credit application.

Apply for Pension Credit online or contact the Pension Service to claim.

The Pension Service will send details of your claim for Housing Benefit to your council.

Claiming in advance and backdating

You can claim in advance by up to 13 weeks (or 17 weeks if you’re aged 60 or over), for example if you’re moving. You will not usually get any money before you move.

You might also be able to get your claim backdated - ask your council.

Appeal a decision

You can ask your council for a Housing Benefit decision (a decision) to be reconsidered.

If you’re unhappy with the response you can appeal the decision (a decision).

Report a change of circumstances

You need to report a change of circumstances for you and anyone else in your house.

Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change of circumstances straight away.

Changes can include:

starting or stopping work, education, training or an apprenticeship

changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets

changes to your personal or workplace pension

changes to your savings, investments or property

your income going up or down

moving house

your rent going up or down

going abroad for any length of time

going into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation

people moving into or out of your house (for example your partner, a child or lodger)

having a baby

your partner or someone you live with dying

your child turning 18

changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen

Contact your council if you’re not sure whether you need to report a change.

How to report

Report a change of circumstances to your council.

If you receive other benefits

You need to report a change of circumstances for all benefits you receive.

If your other benefits (other benefits) stop

Some benefits stop if you go back to work, work more hours or earn more money.

If this (stop) happens, your council might:

give you an extra 4 weeks of housing benefit (‘Extended Payment of Housing Benefit’)

start paying you an ‘in-work Housing Benefit’

You do not have to claim - your council will decide if you’re eligible for help and write to let you know.

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

did not report a change straight away

gave wrong information

were overpaid by mistake

Find out how to repay the money you owe from benefit overpayment.

Other help with housing costs

Housing Benefit will not cover heating, hot water, energy or food. If you need help, use a benefits calculator to see what else you might be entitled to.

Extra help to pay the rent

You could also apply for extra help from your council if your Housing Benefit (Housing Benefit) does not cover your rent (the rent). This is called a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Help with heating costs

Check what help you can get with heating and energy costs.


National Concessionary Fuel Scheme

Overview

You could get free solid fuel or a cash allowance for fuel if you’re an ex-employee of the National Coal Board (NCB) or British Coal Corporation (BCC).

You need to qualify to get the fuel allowance (free solid fuel) through the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS), and you can only get the cash allowance (a cash allowance for fuel) if you’re already getting fuel through the scheme.

You might be eligible for the allowance (free solid fuel) if you’re the widow or widower of an ex-employee, if the employee qualified for the NCFS (the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS)).

What you'll get

Solid fuel

If you qualify for the allowance (free solid fuel) you’ll get a delivery of solid fuel every 4 or 5 weeks, depending on where you live.

You might be able to change to ‘cash in lieu’ (or a cash allowance) if you already get fuel through the scheme (the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS)) and your circumstances have not changed.

You will need to return a Certificate of Continued Entitlement each year to keep your allowance.

How you’re paid

The cash allowance (a cash allowance for fuel) is paid every 3 months into your bank or building society account.

Eligibility

Contact the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO) to check if you’re eligible.

You might be eligible for the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS) if you’re:

an ex-employee of the National Coal Board (NCB) or British Coal Corporation (BCC (BCC))

a widow or widower of an ex-employee who would have been eligible

Change of circumstances

Your allowance might be affected if your circumstances change, including:

who owns or rents your property changes

you change your heating arrangements

you remarry, marry or move in with a partner (widows, widowers and dependents only)

who lives in your home changes (family or lodgers moving in)

you take up employment or self-employment

You need to inform the NCFO (the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO)) of any changes in circumstances as your allowance can change. If your allowance goes down, any overpayments must be repaid in full.

How to claim

Contact the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO) to apply.

Applying on behalf of someone else

You can apply for the fuel allowance (free solid fuel) on behalf of someone else if they’re unable to.

You’ll need to get authorisation by having one of:

a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) stating that you are authorised to act on their (someone else) behalf

a photocopy of your Power of Attorney

a letter signed by the person you are applying for stating that you are looking after their (someone else) affairs

If payments are paid into a different account from the person getting the allowance (free solid fuel), you need:

a photocopy of your Power of Attorney

a letter from DWP stating that you are looking after their (someone else) financial affairs

a form from the NFCO (the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO)) signed by the person you are applying for (someone else)

You need to contact the NFCO (the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO)) for the form or ‘mandate’.

Changing your delivery

Contact CPL Distribution on 0345 521 5214 to change your fuel delivery date and/or the amount of fuel you want delivered.

Find out about call charges.

Contact the NCFO (the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO)) to change the type of fuel you get. You can only get 1 type of fuel delivered at a time. Get advice about the types of fuel to use from the Solid Fuel Association.

You cannot sell or give away unused fuel. If you change your type of solid fuel appliance you must refuse deliveries and left over fuel must be collected by the distributor.

Switching from fuel to cash allowance

Contact NCFO (the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO)) with your bank or building society account details to switch from fuel to cash. You can switch back to solid fuel but only after 12 months.


Widowed Parent's Allowance

Eligibility

Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA) is being replaced by Bereavement Support Payment.

You can only make a new claim for WPA if your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017 and the cause of death has just been confirmed.

All the following must also apply:

you’re under State Pension age

you’re entitled to Child Benefit for at least one child and your late husband, wife or civil partner was their parent

your late husband, wife or civil partner paid National Insurance contributions, or they (your late husband, wife or civil partner) died as a result of an industrial accident or disease

You may also claim WPA if you were pregnant when your husband died, or you were pregnant after fertility treatment when your civil partner or wife died.

You cannot claim WPA if you:

were divorced from your husband, wife or civil partner (your late husband, wife or civil partner) when they (your late husband, wife or civil partner) died

remarry or are living with another person as if you’re married to them or as if you’ve formed a civil partnership

were over State Pension age when you were widowed or became a surviving civil partner – you may be able to get extra State Pension

are in prison

What you'll get

The amount you get is based on how much your late husband, wife or civil partner paid in National Insurance contributions.

The maximum Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA) is £122.55 a week.

If your husband, wife or civil partner died as a result of an industrial accident or disease, you may claim WPA even if they did not pay National Insurance contributions.

You’ll continue to get WPA until you either:

stop being entitled to Child Benefit

reach State Pension age

How WPA is paid

WPA is usually paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Effect on other benefits

Other benefit payments you get may change when you start claiming WPA.

Once you get WPA, you must report it if you’re getting any of the following:

Income Support

Incapacity Benefit

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Universal Credit

If you do not report changes straight away, you could be paid the wrong amount and have to pay it back. You might also have to pay a fine.

The benefit cap

The benefit cap limits the total amount of benefit you can get. It (The benefit cap) applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.

Some individual benefits are not affected, but it (The benefit cap) may affect the total amount of benefit you get.

How to claim

You can apply by phone or using a paper form.

Apply by phone

Call the Bereavement Service helpline.

Apply using a paper form

Download a Bereavement Benefits pack (form BB1) or email your local Jobcentre Plus to ask for a form.

The pack (a Bereavement Benefits pack (form BB1)) has notes to help you fill in the claim form.

Send your completed form to:

Alternative formats

Call the Bereavement Service helpline to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

If you live abroad

Contact the International Pension Centre to find out if you can claim if you’ve moved abroad.

You must include your:

full name

date of birth

National Insurance number (if you know it)

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

If your circumstances change

You must tell Dover Benefit Centre if you:

stop being entitled to Child Benefit

remarry or form a civil partnership

start to live with a partner as husband or wife, or as if you had formed a civil partnership

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

did not report a change straight away

gave wrong information

were overpaid by mistake

Find out how to repay the money you owe from benefit overpayment.


Apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate

Overview

Apply to the Gender Recognition Panel for a Gender Recognition Certificate if you want your acquired gender to be legally recognised in the UK.

There are 3 different ways (‘routes’) to get a certificate - which one you use depends on your situation.

Read the full guidance before you apply.

Standard route

Apply by the standard route (Standard route) if all the following are true:

you’re 18 or over

you’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria (discomfort with your birth gender) - this is also called gender identity disorder, gender incongruence or transsexualism

you’ve lived in your acquired gender for at least 2 years

you intend to live in your acquired gender for the rest of your life

Alternative route

Apply by the alternative route (Alternative route) if all the following are true:

you’re 18 or over

you’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria or had surgery to change your sexual characteristics

you live in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland most of the time

you’re in (or have been in) a protected marriage or protected civil partnership before 10 December 2014 (16 December 2014 for Scottish marriages and civil partnerships)

you’ve lived in your acquired gender for at least 6 years before 10 December 2014 (16 December 2014 for Scottish marriages and civil partnerships)

A marriage or civil partnership is protected if it’s one of the following:

registered under the law of England, Wales or Northern Ireland

a marriage solemnised in Scotland

a civil partnership registered in Scotland

a marriage registered under the law of a country or territory outside the UK

a marriage on UK consular premises or in an armed forces base, if you elected England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland as the relevant part of the UK

Overseas route

Apply by the overseas route (Alternative route) if your acquired gender has been legally accepted in an ‘approved country or territory’ and you have documents to prove it.

You must be 18 or over.

Help you can get

You can get information, advice and support from a number of voluntary organisations - you can find a list on page 21 of the full guidance.

You can also contact Citizens Advice or find a legal adviser.

If you're married or in a civil partnership

If you’re married

You can stay married if you apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate.

You and your spouse must fill in a statutory declaration saying you both agree to stay married.

You’ll get an ‘interim certificate’ if you or your spouse do not want to remain married, or if your spouse does not fill in a statutory declaration. You can use the interim certificate as grounds to end the marriage.

If your marriage is registered in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and you have an interim certificate (an ‘interim certificate’), you’ll only get a full certificate once you end your marriage.

If your marriage was registered in Scotland, you can use an interim certificate (an ‘interim certificate’) to apply to the sheriff court for a full certificate. You do not need to end your marriage first.

Contact the administrative team at the Gender Recognition Panel if either you or your spouse change your mind about staying married during the application process.

If you’re in a civil partnership

You can stay in your civil partnership (a civil partnership) if it (a civil partnership) was registered in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Your partner must fill in a statutory declaration saying they agree to stay in a civil partnership with you. Contact the Gender Recognition Panel for help with filling in the declaration.

You’ll get an ‘interim certificate’ if your partner does not fill in a statutory declaration.

Civil partnerships registered in Scotland

If your civil partnership was registered in Scotland, you must end it or convert your civil partnership to marriage.

If you decide to convert your civil partnership into a marriage you must do it before you apply to the Gender Recognition Panel.

If you’re still in a civil partnership when you apply to the Gender Recognition Panel, you’ll get an ‘interim certificate’. You must end the civil partnership before you can get a full certificate.

How to apply

Download and fill in the right form for your application.

| Form | Guidance

Standard route | Form T450 | Leaflet T451

Alternative route | Form T464 | Leaflet T465

Overseas route | Form T453 | Leaflet T454

Send the completed form with your fee and any supporting documents relevant to your application.

Fees

It costs £5 to apply. You can apply for help paying the fee if you’re getting certain benefits or on a low income.

Get help with your application

Contact the administrative team at the Gender Recognition Panel for advice on the application process.

Documents you must provide

You must send certain documents when you apply, depending on which application route you use and whether you’ve ever been married or in a civil partnership.

You might need to send original documents - you’ll get them back after the Gender Recognition Panel has looked at your application. You will not get any statutory declarations back.

For all application routes, you must download and fill in the relevant statutory declaration for:

single people

married people or civil partners

If you’ve ever been married or in a civil partnership

For all application routes you must provide the following (if relevant):

an original or certified copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate

a copy of the decree ending your marriage or proof that any previous civil partnership has been dissolved

a copy of your spouse’s death certificate

If you want to stay married, your spouse must fill in a statutory declaration for a spouse.

Standard or alternative route

For all application routes you must send:

an original or certified copy of your birth certificate

copies of any official documents that show your birth name has changed to your current name

proof you’ve lived in your acquired gender for the required time

any required medical reports

You need to have lived in your acquired gender for 2 years if applying through the standard route.

If you’re applying through the alternative route you need to have lived in your acquired gender for 6 years before 10 December 2014, or 16 December 2014 if you’re in Scotland.

Proof you’ve lived in your acquired gender

This proof (Proof you’ve lived in your acquired gender) must cover the required time that you’ve lived in your acquired gender. It (Proof you’ve lived in your acquired gender) could include copies of your:

passport

driving licence

payslips or benefit documents

utility bills or other documents of an official nature

All documents should be in your acquired name and gender. The earliest document must be dated before the beginning of the required time.

Medical reports

For the standard and alternative application routes (all application routes) you must send a report that includes details of any treatment you’ve had to change your sexual characteristics, for example hormone treatment or surgery.

The report must be an original copy from a qualified medical professional, for example a:

doctor registered with the General Medical Council (GMC)

psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council

You can ask your GP or surgeon to fill in a report for you if you do not have one already.

If you have not had any treatment or surgery yet, you must send a report that includes details of any planned treatment or surgery.

If you are applying by the standard route you must also send a report with details of your gender dysphoria diagnosis.

Read the list of gender dysphoria specialists to find out who can write this report (a report with details of your gender dysphoria diagnosis) for you. You can send a report from a registered medical professional not on this list if they can prove they work in gender dysphoria.

Overseas route

If you’re applying using the overseas route (the standard route), you must prove that your gender has been legally recognised in an ‘approved country or territory’. Send original or certified copies of the following (if you have them):

your new birth certificate and old birth certificate

an amended birth certificate that shows the change of gender

a court order authorising your change of gender (the change of gender)

a document that’s equivalent to a Gender Recognition Certificate

an entry in a legal register that proves your acquired gender has been recognised

What happens next

Your application will be assessed by the Gender Recognition Panel - you’ll be contacted if they need more proof or information.

Contact the administrative team at the Gender Recognition Panel to find out about your application’s (Your application) progress.

If you get a full certificate

You’ll be sent information on:

how to get a new birth certificate, marriage certificate or civil partnership where appropriate

who you must tell about your gender change

Your pension and benefits may be affected.

If you’re given an interim certificate

You’ll be sent information on:

how to annul or dissolve your marriage or civil partnership

how long you have to convert your civil partnership to a marriage, if applicable

If your application is turned down

You’ll be told why your application was rejected.

You may be able to appeal the decision if you think it’s wrong on a point of law.

Where you appeal depends on whether you live in:

England and Wales - appeal to the High Court Family Division

Scotland - appeal to the Court of Session in Edinburgh

Northern Ireland - appeal to the High Court

You’ll be told in your decision letter how to appeal or apply again.

Legislation

The Gender Recognition Panel must apply the law in the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the following amendments:

Schedule 5, Section 12 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

Part 4 of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014


Get a copy of military service records

Overview

You can apply for either:

your own service records if you are, or have been, a member of the armed forces

the records of someone who’s deceased if you’re eligible, for example you’re their immediate next of kin or you’re researching them

How long it takes

It can take several months for your application to be processed.

Your application will be prioritised if it’s urgent.

Other ways to find service records

You can also search:

the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

the Armed Forces Memorial roll of honour

the National Archives for service records from 1913 to 1920 or service records before 1913

Apply for your own records (your own service records)

You can apply for your own records (your own service records) if you are, or have been, a member of the armed forces, for example the Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), British Army or Royal Air Force.

Download and fill in a request for your own records (PDF, 64KB). Send it to the address on the form, along with any supporting documents. There’s no fee.

Use this form (the form) if you’re acting on behalf of the person (someone who’s deceased), for example if you have lasting power of attorney.

Apply for the records of someone who's deceased

You can apply for a copy of someone else’s service records if any of the following apply:

you’re their (someone else’s) immediate next of kin, for example their (someone else’s) spouse or parent

you’ve got consent from their (someone else’s) immediate next of kin

you have a general research interest - you’ll only have access to limited information, unless they (someone else’s) died more than 25 years ago

You need to know the person’s (someone who's deceased) full name, date of birth and service number.

Fill in 2 forms - a request form and a search form.

Fill in a request form

Download and fill in a request form for either:

next of kin’s records (PDF, 53KB) - use this form if you’re next of kin or have next of kin’s consent

not next of kin’s records (PDF, 46KB) - use this form if you’re not next of kin and don’t have next of kin’s consent

Fill in a search form

Download and fill in the relevant search form, depending on whether the person was in the:

Royal Navy (Royal Marines) or Royal Marines (PDF, 20KB)

British Army (PDF, 20KB)

Royal Air Force (PDF, 20KB)

Post your forms (2 forms - a request form and a search form)

Send both forms (2 forms - a request form and a search form), with the fee of £30 for each separate record, and any supporting documents (for example a death certificate) to the address on the search form.

There’s no fee if you were the person’s spouse or civil partner at the time of their death (or their parent, if there was no spouse).

You can pay by cheque or postal order - or by banker’s draft or international money order if you’re overseas.

Follow the instructions for applying for your own records if you’re acting on behalf of the person (the person’s), for example you have lasting power of attorney.

What information you’ll get

Records date from 1920 and may include:

surname, first name, service number, rank and regiment or corps

place and date of birth

date they (the person’s) joined and left the armed forces

date of death, if they (the person’s) died in service

good conduct medals

details about their (the person’s) career, for example the units they (the person’s) served in - you can only get these 25 years after the date they (the person’s) died, unless you have consent from their (the person’s) next of kin

In some cases little or no information is available about someone’s military service.

Your request might be refused if it could harm the security or operations of the armed forces.

If you want to complain

Write to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Information Rights team if you want to complain about how your request was handled.

You can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you’re not happy with how the MOD (the Ministry of Defence (MOD)) handled your complaint.


Applying for probate

Overview

Applying for the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’) when they die is called ‘applying for probate’.

You’ll get a document that allows you to start dealing with the estate (their ‘estate’). If the person (someone’s) left a will you’ll get either:

a ‘grant of probate’

‘letters of administration with will annexed’ (if the will (a will) does not name an executor or the named executor is unable to apply)

If the person (someone’s) did not leave a will, you’ll get ‘letters of administration’.

This guide and the service are also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The process is different in Scotland and different in Northern Ireland.

When probate is not needed

You may not need probate if the person who died (someone’s):

had jointly owned land, property, shares or money - these will automatically pass to the surviving owners

only had savings or premium bonds

Contact each asset holder (for example a bank or mortgage company) to find out if you’ll need probate to get access to their assets. Every organisation has its own rules.

Who can apply

Only certain people can apply for probate to deal with the estate of someone who died (their ‘estate’). It depends on whether the person who died (someone’s) left a will.

A will states what should happen to a person’s property and belongings (‘estate’) after they die. It’s usually valid if it’s been signed by the person who made it and 2 witnesses.

If there’s a will

You can apply for probate if you’re named in the will (a will), or in an update to the will (a will) (a ‘codicil’), as an ‘executor’.

You’ll need the original will (a will) and any updates to apply for probate. These must be original documents, not photocopies.

If you do not want to apply for probate, fill in a form to give up executor rights.

Find out what to do if you’re an executor.

If the person (someone who died (their ‘estate’)) did not leave a will

The ‘administrator’ deals with the estate (their ‘estate’).

You can apply to become the estate’s (their ‘estate’) administrator if you are 18 or over and you are the most ‘entitled’ inheritor of the deceased’s (someone who died (their ‘estate’)) estate (their ‘estate’). This is usually the deceased’s (someone who died (their ‘estate’)) closest living relative.

Relatives are the most entitled inheritors in the following order:

husband, wife or civil partner (including if they were separated)

children (including legally adopted children but not step-children)

grandchildren

great-grandchildren

parents

brothers and sisters

nieces and nephews

half-brothers and half-sisters

half-nieces and half-nephews (the children of the half-brothers and half-sisters of the deceased (someone who died (their ‘estate’)))

grandparents

aunts and uncles

cousins

half-aunts and half-uncles (the half-brothers and half-sisters of the deceased’s (someone who died (their ‘estate’)) parent)

half-cousins (the children of the half-brothers and half-sisters of the deceased’s (someone who died (their ‘estate’)) parent)

To apply, follow the same steps as applying for probate.

You’ll receive ‘letters of administration’ to prove you have the legal right to deal with the estate (their ‘estate’).

You cannot apply if you’re the partner of the person but were not their spouse or civil partner when they died. You’re not automatically entitled to any of their estate, unless you’re able to make changes to the inheritance.

If you do not want to apply

If you’re the most entitled inheritor and you do not want to apply to be the administrator, you can either:

appoint an attorney to act on your behalf - fill in an attorney form or set up a signed enduring power of attorney (EPA) or registered lasting power of attorney (LPA) and get the attorney to send this in with the probate application

nominate up to 2 people to be the next most entitled inheritor - fill in an ‘intestate’ form and send it to HMCTS Probate

Work out who inherits

The law decides who inherits the estate (their estate) if there’s no will. Work out who will inherit.

You’ll need this information to report the estate’s (their estate) value and find out if there’s Inheritance Tax to pay.

Inheritance laws may be different if you live in an EU country.

Stopping a probate application

If there’s a dispute, you can challenge an application for probate (‘enter a caveat’), before it’s granted.

Find out how to stop a probate application.

If you’re an executor

An executor is someone named in a will as responsible for sorting out the estate of the person who’s died.

The person who died (the person who’s died) will normally have told you if you’re an executor. You’ll need the original will (a will) to apply for probate.

Find the original will (a will)

The person who died should have told all the executors where to find the original will (a will) and any updates, for example:

at their (The person who died) house

with a probate practitioner, such as a solicitor

at the Newcastle District Probate Registry - you’ll need the death certificate and evidence you’re the executor

Get help from a probate practitioner or Citizens Advice if you cannot understand a will or codicil.

If you cannot find the original will (a will), you’ll need to fill in a lost will form.

If there’s more than one will, only the most recent will is valid. Do not destroy any copies of earlier wills until you’ve received probate.

An executor only receives assets if they’re also named as a beneficiary.

If there’s more than one executor

If more than one person is named as an executor, you must all agree who makes the application for probate.

Up to 4 executors can be named on the application (the application for probate).

If only one executor is named on the application (the application for probate) they’ll need to prove that they tried to contact all executors named in the will (all the executors) (a will) before they applied.

If you’re having problems finding the other executors, you can contact the Probate Call Centre.

The Probate Call Centre cannot help with disagreements between executors. You’ll need to find another way to reach an agreement - this could mean getting legal advice.

If you do not want to or cannot be an executor

The will (a will) may name a replacement executor for someone who becomes ‘unwilling or unable’ to deal with the estate.

If no executors are willing or able to apply for probate, fill in a form to give up executor rights and send it to HMCTS Probate.

You do not want to be an executor

You can do one of the following:

completely give up your right to apply for probate (‘renunciation’) - fill in a form to give up executor rights and send it (a form to give up executor rights) with the probate application form

reserve your right to apply for probate later if another executor cannot deal with the estate (holding ‘power reserved’)

appoint an attorney to act on your behalf - fill in an attorney form or set up a signed enduring power of attorney (EPA) or registered lasting power of attorney (LPA) and send it (a form to give up executor rights) with the probate application (the application for probate)

When an executor is unable to apply for probate

A replacement executor should apply for probate if the executor (an executor) is unable to, for example because:

they’ve died

they do not have ‘mental capacity’ - get a doctor to fill in a mental capacity form and send it with the probate application (the application for probate)

Apply for probate

You can apply for probate yourself online or by post, or pay a probate practitioner (such as a solicitor) to do it for you.

Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), probate applications are taking up to 8 weeks to process. It’s taking longer to process paper applications than online applications.

This guide and the service are also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Before you apply

Check if you need probate.

Check if you can apply for probate.

You must estimate and report the estate’s (the estate) value before you apply for probate.

You must find out whether you need to pay Inheritance Tax. If you do have to pay it, send the appropriate forms to HMRC and wait 20 working days before applying for probate.

You must have the original will if you’re the executor (you do not need it if you’re an administrator). You must also have the original death certificate or an interim death certificate from the coroner.

If you need to pay Inheritance Tax

You normally have to pay at least some of the tax (Inheritance Tax) before you’ll get probate. You can claim the tax (Inheritance Tax) back from the estate, if you pay it (Inheritance Tax) out of your own bank account.

Probate application fees

You may have to pay a fee to apply for probate. Whether you need to pay depends on the value of the estate.

If the value of the estate is over £5,000, the application fee (a fee) is £215. You may be able to get help to pay the probate fee (a fee) and other court fees if you have a low income or are on certain benefits.

There’s no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less.

Extra copies of the probate cost £1.50 each. This means you can send them to different organisations at the same time.

If the will (the original will) has been changed or damaged

You must include a cover letter if the will (the original will) or any additions have changed in any way since you’ve had them. This includes them being damaged or separated for photocopying.

The letter (a cover letter) should explain what’s been changed and why.

Get help and advice

If you’ve not yet applied and have a question about applying for probate, contact the  Courts and Tribunals Service Centre:

If you’re a probate practitioner

You should apply for probate for your client using the MyHMCTS service. You’ll need to create an account first if you do not have one.

Apply for probate online

You can use this service (the  Courts and Tribunals Service Centre) if you’re the executor or administrator and you:

have the original will and any additions to it (the original will) (‘codicils’) if you’re the executor (you do not need these if you’re an administrator)

have the original death certificate or an interim death certificate from the coroner

have already reported the estate’s (the estate) value

have submitted tax forms to HMRC and waited 20 working days, if you need to pay Inheritance Tax

The person who died must have lived in England or Wales most of the time.

The probate registry will keep the original will and any additions to it (the will (the original will) or any additions) (the original will). If you make a copy of these (the will (the original will) or any additions) for your records, do not remove any staples or bindings from them (the will (the original will) or any additions).

Apply for probate

Return to an existing probate application.

Apply for probate by post

The form you need to fill in depends on whether the person left a will or not.

Fill in application form PA1P if there is a will.

Fill in application form PA1A if there is not a will.

Because of COVID-19, it’s taking longer to process paper applications than online applications. Use the online service (the  Courts and Tribunals Service Centre) to apply for probate if you can.

You need to pay before you send the form.

You can pay by either:

calling the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre to pay by credit or debit card - you’ll be given a reference number to send with your documents

sending a cheque payable to ‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service’ with your documents

Send your completed form to HMCTS Probate with the following documents:

the original will and any additions to it (the original will) (‘codicils’)

the death certificate or an interim death certificate from the coroner

Use a signed-for or tracked postal service that will deliver to PO boxes to send your documents.

The death certificate will be returned to you but the will (the original will) and any additions to it (the original will) will not be. If you make a copy of the will (the original will) and any of its (the original will) additions for your own records, do not remove any staples or bindings from them.

After you've applied

You’ll usually get the grant of probate or letters of administration within 8 weeks of sending in your original documents. If you ordered copies of these documents (the will (the original will) and any additions to it (the original will)) for use outside the UK, these will take longer to arrive.

Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), it’s taking longer to process paper applications than online applications.

You should not make any financial plans or put property on the market until you have received the grant of probate or letters of administration.

If there’s anything wrong with the grant of probate (or letters of administration) (the grant of probate or letters of administration), return it (the grant of probate or letters of administration) to the district probate registry listed on the grant or letters (the grant of probate or letters of administration).

Send a copy to organisations that hold the assets of the person who died, for example their bank.

Once you have probate you can start dealing with the estate.


Valuing the estate of someone who's died

What you need to do

As part of applying for probate, you need to value the money, property and possessions (‘estate’) of the person who’s died.

You don’t need probate for all estates. Check if you need it.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You need to complete 3 main tasks when you value the estate.

Contact organisations such as banks or utility providers about the person’s (the person who’s died) assets and debts.

Estimate the estate’s (the estate) value. This will affect how you report the value to HMRC, and the deadlines for reporting and paying any Inheritance Tax. Most estates aren’t taxed.

Report the value (the estate’s (the estate) value) to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) (HMRC).

How long it takes

The process of valuing the estate can take 6 to 9 months, or longer for big or complicated estates (for example if they involve trusts or there’s tax to pay).

Deadlines

You don’t need to value the estate straight away after someone dies. There are only deadlines if the estate owes Inheritance Tax.

If it (the estate) does, you’ll need to:

send Inheritance Tax forms within one year

start paying tax by the end of the sixth month after the person (the person who’s died) died - you can make a payment before you finish valuing the estate

Getting help

You can hire a professional (for example a solicitor) to help with some or all of the tasks involved with valuing an estate.

Money Advice Service has guidance on when and how to hire a professional. Law Donut has advice on keeping solicitors’ fees down.

Contact HMRC to get help with:

probate

Inheritance Tax

Contact organisations about assets and debts

To help you value the estate of the person who died (the estate) (the person who’s died), write to organisations to find out about the person’s (the person who’s died):

assets, for example banks and pension providers

debts, such as utility companies, mortgage lenders and credit card companies

In your letter:

ask for the value of the asset or debt when the person (the person who’s died) died

include a copy of the death certificate

Which organisations to contact

Find organisations to contact about the person’s (the person who’s died) assets and debts by searching through their papers. You can also ask friends, family and any solicitor or accountant they had.

Organisations that hold a person’s assets often include:

their (a person’s) bank

their (a person’s) pension provider - ask if you should include any private pension when you value the estate

their (a person’s) employer - the person (a person’s) may be owed wages

any companies they (a person’s) held shares in - include the number of shares, company details and the share certificate number (if you have it)

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) for Premium Bonds - use the free tracing service if you can’t find certificates

other organisations that hold assets like ISAs, shares, investments or assets in a trust

their (a person’s) landlord, if they (a person’s) had one - the person (the person who’s died) may have paid rent in advance

In your letter to the bank, also ask for:

any standing orders and direct debits to be stopped (or transferred if they were in a joint name)

a list of any share certificates or deeds they were holding for the person who died (the person who’s died)

If the person (a person’s) had a mortgage

Ask the mortgage lender if they require payments to continue while you’re applying for probate. If they do, you need to either:

pay these bills yourself - and reclaim them from the estate once you’ve got probate

check if the person (a person’s) had a life assurance or mortgage protection policy that covers these payments

Estimate the estate’s (the estate) value

You need an estimate of the estate’s (the estate) value to find out if there’s Inheritance Tax to pay.

The estate won’t have to pay tax as long as it (the estate) either:

all passes to the dead person’s (a person’s) spouse or civil partner, a charity or a community amateur sports club

has a value below the Inheritance Tax threshold of £325,000

If the person who died (a person’s) was widowed or is giving away their (a person’s) home to their (a person’s) children, the tax threshold (the Inheritance Tax threshold of £325,000) can be higher.

Whether there’s tax to pay will affect how you report the estate’s value, and the deadlines for reporting and paying any tax.

Working out your estimate

You need to estimate the ‘gross’ value of the estate. This is the value of the assets plus ‘gifts’.

Gifts are certain assets (for example cash) given away in the 7 years before the person (a person’s) died.

At this stage, your estimate only needs to be accurate enough for you to know if the estate owes tax.

Assets

Start by listing the person’s assets - the things the person owned with a value.

These may include:

assets held by organisations you’ve written to - such as money in the person’s bank account, pension or investments

possessions - for example their (a person’s) house, jewellery, furniture or car

payments when they (the person’s) died - for example life insurance or a lump sum ‘death benefit’ from a pension

Then estimate the value of each on the date the person (the person’s) died. Use the asset’s realistic selling price on the open market.

Include all assets in your estimate, including any left to the person’s spouse, civil partner or a charity. You won’t pay tax on these assets.

Valuing joint assets

Divide the value of the asset by 2 if it was owned jointly with the person’s spouse or civil partner.

For property or land shared with others, divide the value by the number of owners. You can then take 10% off the share of the person who died (a person’s). In Scotland, take £4,000 off the value of the whole asset before working out their share instead.

If the person jointly owned property as a tenant in common, work out the value based on the person’s share.

Some bank accounts are in joint names for convenience only, for example if an elderly person added their child to help them with the account. When valuing the account, use the amount the person actually owned, rather than dividing by the number of owners.

Gifts

Check bank statements or contact family members to find out about gifts of cash or other assets:

in the 7 years before the person died if they totalled £3,000 or more per year - don’t include exempt gifts, such as those for birthdays or weddings

at any time if they (the person) continued to benefit from a gift (for example they (the person) gave a house away but lived in it rent-free) or put a gift in a trust

To estimate the value of each gift, use either:

the approximate market value (realistic selling price) of the gift (a gift) when it (a gift) was made

the realistic selling price of the gift (a gift) when the deceased (the person) stopped benefitting from it (a gift) (if they (the person) benefitted from the gift (a gift) after giving it (a gift) away)

If the person gave away more than £325,000 before they (the person) died, the recipients may have to pay Inheritance Tax on their gifts.

Debts

Don’t include the estate’s debts when you estimate the gross value - but you’ll need to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about them when you report the value of the estate.

Check for records of debts when the person died, for example:

their (the person) mortgage, loans, credit cards or overdrafts

‘liabilities’ like household bills or bills for goods or services they (the person)’d received but not yet paid for (like building work, decorators, accountants)

Get the gross value of the estate (the estate’s)

Add the assets to any gifts to get the gross value (the gross value of the estate (the estate’s)). Ignore the debts (the estate’s debts) at this stage.

You can now start telling HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) about the value of the estate (the estate’s).

Report the estate’s value (the gross value of the estate (the estate’s)) to HMRC

When you’ve estimated the value of the estate (the estate’s) you can:

start reporting the value (the gross value of the estate (the estate’s)) in detail to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - you’ll find out whether you can report everything online or if you’ll need a paper form

find out if there’s tax to pay and when to pay it

You can also continue a report you’ve already started.

Before you start

You need to:

have an estimate of the gross value of the estate (the value of the estate) (the estate’s)

have told organisations that the person has died - you’ll need this (an estimate of the gross value of the estate (the value of the estate) (the estate’s)) to give accurate valuations of the person’s (the person) assets or debts

As part of telling HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) about the estate (the estate’s), you work out its (the estate’s) detailed ‘net’ value - this is assets plus gifts minus debts. You’ll need to know the net value (the gross value of the estate (the estate’s)) if you need to apply for probate.

Getting more accurate valuations

When telling HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) about Inheritance Tax, you’ll usually need more accurate valuations of the estate (the estate’s). This includes using a professional valuer for things over £1,500.

You can continue using estimates if one of the following applies:

the estate’s gross value (the value of the estate) is less than £250,000

all the estate passes to the dead person’s (the person) spouse or civil partner, a charity or organisations like museums or community amateur sports clubs

If you need help

Contact HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) to get help with:

probate

Inheritance Tax

Records

You must keep certain records after you value an estate.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can ask to see your records up to 20 years after Inheritance Tax is paid.

You must keep copies of any:

will

copies of signed Inheritance Tax forms and supporting documents

records showing how you worked out the value of assets in the estate (the estate’s), for example an estate agent’s valuation

documents showing any unused Inheritance Tax threshold that can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner

final accounts

Final accounts

Include any documents showing how you distributed money, property or personal belongings from the estate (the estate’s), for example:

letters from HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) confirming that you paid Inheritance Tax

receipts showing debts paid, for example utilities bills

receipts for your expenses from dealing with the estate (the estate’s)

written confirmation that ‘beneficiaries’ (anyone who inherited) received their share of the estate (the estate’s)

Send copies of the final accounts (final accounts) to all beneficiaries.