Benefits
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a payment you might be eligible for when you turn 18. It’s designed to help people by giving them a monthly payment, whilst they are looking for work or going into education. Although it’s a single payment, there are two parts to it:
- a payment for your living costs such as food and bills
- a payment for your rent which must be paid to your landlord by you, unless you have set up with Universal Credit to have this paid direct to your landlord
You will be paid monthly unless it is shown it would be easier for you to be paid fortnightly in order to budget your money. It can take up to 5 weeks from the day of your claim to receive your first payment. We will support you whilst your claim is being processed with the same weekly payment you would be receiving from Universal Credit. It is important you work with professionals to make your claim as we will only pay up to 5 weeks unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Universal Credit eligibility
You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be working (including self-employed or part time) or be out of work. To claim you must:
- live in the UK
- be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
- be under State Pension age
- have £16,000 or less in savings
You can use a benefits calculator to check what benefits you could get.
More information about Universal Credit
If you live with your partner
You will both need to claim for Universal Credit. You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible. How much you can get will depend on your partner’s income and savings, as well as your own.
If you’re studying or in training
You can make a claim for Universal Credit if you’re in full-time education and any of the following apply:
- you live with your partner and they’re eligible for Universal Credit
- you’re responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple
- you’ve reached State Pension age and live with a partner who is below State Pension age
You can also claim Universal Credit if you’re 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A level or equivalent and do not have parental support. You may be able to claim if you are studying part-time or doing a course for which no student loan or finance is available. Check the guidance about claiming Universal Credit as a student.
Students with disabilities or health conditions
You can claim Universal Credit if you’re in full-time education, have limited capability for work and are entitled to or any of the following apply:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Child Disability Payment (CDP) in Scotland
- Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- if you have a disability or health condition
- if you have a health condition that affects your ability to work you might get extra money for Universal Credit
Additional benefits
Disability, physical or mental health support
If you have a disability, long term physical or mental health condition you may be entitled to extra support and this may be in the form of financial benefits. Your personal advisor (PA) or social worker will discuss this with you.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment can help you with some of the extra costs if you are deemed to have the qualifying long term physical or mental health conditions or disability.
The amount you receive depends on how your condition affects you. Criteria can change, but this could include if you need help with:
- preparing or eating food
- washing, bathing and using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- reading and communicating
- managing your medicines or treatments
- making decisions about money
- engaging with other people
You will be assessed by a health professional to work out if you are entitled to support and if you are, what level of help you can get. Speak to your PA or social worker who are best to help you to apply for this.
If you are receiving a package of support from adult social care, you may need to contribute towards the cost of this from your PIP and you will be assessed as to what contribution you may need to make. Your social worker will talk to you about this.
For those under 16, if you’re already receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and you are entitled to the PIP this will replace DLA when you are 16 or over.
Maternity Allowance
Maternity Allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby.
See our page dedicated to financial support if you are expecting a baby.
Calculating entitlements
TURN2US
TURN2US is a national charity that provide information to help people get back on track. They have a really useful benefit calculator so that you can work out exactly what you are entitled to. They also signpost you to a number of grants that you might be able to have, depending on your circumstances.
Visit the TURN2US website (external link)entitledto
entitledto is a national company that supports individuals and organisations understand what funding is available to them. This includes knowing what benefits you may be entitled to. They have a very useful benefit calculator that you can use that will tell you what your entitlements are.
Visit the entitledto website (external link)Asylum seekers
No recourse to public funds (NRPF) means that there is a circumstance that is preventing you from being able to access benefits or housing support.
If you are ‘subject to immigration control’ you may not be able to access any support in the form of benefits or housing, this may also mean that you’re unable to legally work. Everyone’s circumstances are different and different controls are put in place for this reason. We understand this can be a challenging and stressful time for you, your PA is here for you and will help you and your Pathway Plan will detail what support you can expect and plan with you for the different outcomes that can happen on conclusion of your claim.
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We will provide you with:
- payments equivalent to Universal Credit. This will be paid into your bank or on a pre-paid card if you do not have a bank account
- accommodation, paid for by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and assessed according to your needs - as you become more independent, we will move you to accommodation that reflects this
- travel payments to college if not already covered by a bursary
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If you are without a decision, whether you have never had a decision from the Home Office or you have an outstanding legal challenge which your solicitor has lodged with the Home Office by your 21st birthday WSCC will continue to pay for your accommodation and your weekly payment, up until the age of 21 or when you finish your current course of education, whichever is latest; as long as you comply with Home Office requirements. To remain eligible for support over the age of 21, your education course must be accredited and be a minimum of 12 hours a week.
If you are without a decision, turning 21 and not in education you will receive three months’ notice, prior to your 21st birthday and you will need to leave WSSC-funded accommodation after this period of notice expires. You will be issued with the three months’ notice in writing and this will detail when you will need to leave your accommodation and any payments are subject to any restrictive changes in the Immigration Act 2016.
Your PA can support you to apply for support for the period during which your asylum application and any subsequent appeal is being considered. This is often referred to as Section 95 support (defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999). The application can be for subsistence and accommodation or for subsistence only. You can read more on the NRFP network website about entitlement to ongoing asylum support.
Whilst the council’s duties to provide you with accommodation end when you are 21 (unless you are in education) you can still have a PA if you choose to do so, or you can access help and advice through our helpline.
access advice and guidance through our helpline on 0330 2222 004 where you can speak to a PA.
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If you are refused asylum and become Appeal Rights Exhausted (ARE) before your 21st birthday and have no further legal challenge lodged with the Home Office by your solicitor, your support from WSCC may end, depending on the outcome of a Human Rights Assessment. You will not be able to claim housing benefit and you may be asked to leave your college course. You will receive 3 months’ notice and you will need to leave WSSC-funded accommodation after this period of notice expires.
If the outcome of the Human Rights Assessment indicates you are not entitled to continue to receive ongoing support from WSCC, your PA will offer to refer you to the Home Office for support called ‘Section 4 Support’ which will be able to offer you continuing help with accommodation and finances when support from WSCC ends. You can read more information on GOV.UK about Section 4 support.
In order to access support from Section 4 you will need to be considered ‘destitute’ when support from WSCC ends and satisfy one or more of the following conditions: a) you are taking all reasonable steps to leave the UK b) you are unable to leave the UK due to medical reasons, c) you are unable to leave the UK because in the opinion of the Secretary of State there is no viable route of return available d) you have applied for judicial review e) accommodation is necessary to avoid a breach of your human rights.
If you are accepted by Section 4 Support you may be offered accommodation anywhere in the UK. There is no guarantee that you will be accepted by Section 4 and you may ultimately need to return to your country of origin.
If you are eligible, you may be entitled to support from the voluntary returns service who can:
explain your options for returning home
help you get travel documents, such as a passport
pay for travel tickets, if you are unable to
You can still get help if you’re already making your own plans to return to your home country.You may also be eligible to apply for financial support of up to £3,000, which you can use to find somewhere to live, find a job or start a business in your home country. See more information on GOV.UK about help to return home.
There may be voluntary organisations that will be able to help you at this point and your PA can help you explore these options.
You will need to be aware that you could be detained by the Home Office at any time prior to turning 21. Your PA can help you prepare for this.
NRPF Network
The No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Network is a national network safeguarding the welfare of destitute families, adults and care leavers who are unable to access benefits due to their immigration status.
They have a tool that can help you by:
- explaining your rights and entitlements
- providing guidance to you and your Personal Advisor
Visit the NRPF Network website (external link)
Care leavers in prison
If you are a relevant or former relevant care leaver you will continue to receive visits and support from your PA up to the age of 21. They will discuss with you if you are needing this support to continue post 21. PA support is available up to the age of 25. Your PA will plan for your release with the professionals involved with you. This includes your accommodation and financial needs.
You will also be supported by the prison itself; they will provide your food, drinks and clothing. You will able be able to work in the prison, earning some money and getting experience that will help you when you get out. You are entitled to £20 a month from the Care Leavers Service up to the age of 21.