Child Benefits (weekly) Eldest child £15.75 Other children £10.55 Eldest child of lone parent ...
Child Benefits (weekly)
Eldest child £15.75
Other children £10.55
Eldest child of lone parent £17.55
Maternity Allowance (weekly)
Standard rate £75
Disability and Incapacity Benefits
Attendance Allowance (weekly)
Short-term higher rate £56.25
Short-term lower rate £37.65
(Higher rate for day and night care, lower rate for day or night care.
Individual circumstances may affect the amount people are entitled to).
Disability Living Allowance (weekly)
Tax-free benefit for those needing help with personal care and mobility. The care component provides for ill and disabled people who need help with washing, dressing and so on. The mobility component is for those who cannot or have difficulty walking.
Care component Highest £56.25
Middle £37.65
Lowest £14.90
Mobility component Higher £39.30
Lower £14.90
Invalid Care Allowance (weekly)
Weekly rate £42.45
Incapacity Benefit (weekly)
Under State pension age
Short-term lower rate £53.50
Short-term higher rate £63.25
Long-term basic rate £70.95
Over State pension age
Short-term lower rate £68.05
Short-term higher rate £70.95
If aged under 45 on day became unable to work
Lower rate £7.45
Higher rate £14.90
Severe Disablement Allowance (weekly)
A tax-free benefit for those unable to work for at least 28 weeks due to illness or disablement, but who have not paid adequate NI contributions to qualify for incapacity benefit.
Basic rate £42.85
Increase Incapacity under 40 £14.90
40-50 £9.50
50-60 £4.75
Addition may be payable for dependent adults and children.
Contribution-based JobSeeker's Allowance (weekly)
Person aged under 18 £32.50
Person aged between 18-24 £42.70
Person aged 25 and over £53.95
Income-based JobSeeker's Allowance (weekly)
Single people Aged 18-24 £42.70
Aged 25 and over £53.95
Couple Both over 18 £84.65
Income Support: Examples of weekly rates
Single person Aged 16-17 (living independently) £32.50
Aged 18-24 (16-17 living independently) £42.70
Aged 25 or over £53.95
Couple Both over 18 £84.65
Working Families' Tax Credit Benefit
Available to low income families with at least one child and savings not in excess of £8,000. The claimant or their partner must work at least 16 hours per week.
Rate depends on family circumstances.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Claimants must be aged 60 or over with capital not exceeding £12,000 or £16,000 for those in residential care or nursing homes.
Single person
60 and over £98.15
Couple
60 and over £149.80
Residential allowance
Except Greater London 64.40
Greater London £71.65
Allowances for personal expenses for claimants in private and voluntary
residential care and nursing homes £16.80
Residential/Nursing Home Care Local Authority Support
Upper limit £19,000
Lower limit £11,750
Retirement Pension (weekly)
Basic Pension
Based on your own or late spouse's NI contributions £75.50
Based on your spouse's NI contributions £45.20
Non-contributing (based on residence) ' full rate £45.20
Non-contributing (based on residence) ' married woman's rate £27.00
Over 80 addition £0.25
Over 80 pension £45.20
NHS Dental Treatment
If an individual is not entitled to free treatment or help with the cost, then the cost is 80% of the cost of the treatment up to maximum, £340 (as of 1 April 1998).
Basic examination £4.52
Extensive clinical examination £6.44
Simple scale and polish £7.24
Two small x-rays and one small filling from £8.08
One large filling from £12.68
A precious metal crown from £59.68
A full set of plastic dentures from £100.00
An upper or lower metal denture from £88.08
Sight Tests
NHS sight test (from 10 November 1997) *£14.10
NHS sight test at home (from 10 November 1997) *£39.04
* NHS prescriptions, dental treatment and sight tests are free for those on Disability Working Allowance, Income Support and JobSeeker's Allowance.
For more detailed information on social security benefits, visit the DSS website at www.dss.gov.uk