This handbook is free but you'll need to log in to view it. Why do I need to log in? Log in Create account Go to Expand all + Author and acknowledgements Further training, information and advice How to use this Handbook Up to date Structure of the Handbook Abbreviations Means-tested benefit rates 2026/27 Non-means-tested benefit rates 2026/27 Chapter 1: Benefits 1. Introduction Benefit cap 2. Adult disability payment Who can get adult disability payment Disability test: daily living and mobility components Amount of benefit 3. Best Start grant Pregnancy and baby payment Early learning payment School-age payment Responsible for the child 4. Carer support payment Who can get carer support payment The disabled person’s benefit Breaks from caring Overlapping benefits Carer element, carer premium and carer addition Amount of benefit 5. Child benefit Who can get child benefit Who counts as a child Who counts as a qualifying young person Relevant education Approved training Extension period Terminal date Responsible for a child Priority between claimants Amount of benefit 6. Child disability payment Who can get child disability payment Disability test: care component Day care conditions Night care conditions Attention with bodily functions Disability test: mobility component Amount of benefit 7. New-style employment and support allowance Who can get new-style employment and support allowance National insurance contributions Amount of benefit 8. Funeral support payment Who can get a funeral support payment 9. Guardian’s allowance Who can get guardian’s allowance Who is an eligible child Parents and adoptive parents Amount of benefit 10. Health benefits Who is exempt from charges Qualifying benefits Exempt groups Low income scheme Best Start foods 11. Housing benefit Who can get housing benefit Who cannot get housing benefit Amount of benefit Step 1: calculate the maximum housing benefit Step 2: deduct amounts for non-dependants from maximum housing benefit Step 3: if you get means-tested benefits Step 4: if you do not get means-tested benefits Personal allowances Premiums Components Step 5: work out your weekly income Step 6: calculate your housing benefit Discretionary housing payments 12. Pension age disability payment Who can get pension age disability payment Terminal illness Disability test Amount of benefit 13. Pension credit Who can get pension credit Pension age Amount of benefit Guarantee credit Step 1: calculate your appropriate minimum guarantee Step 2: work out your weekly income Step 3: deduct income from appropriate minimum guarantee Savings credit 14. Scottish child payment Who can get Scottish child payment Responsible for a child Qualifying benefits Priority between claimants Amount of benefit 15. The Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis grants Community care grants 16. Statutory adoption pay Who can get statutory adoption pay Amount of benefit 17. Universal credit Who can get universal credit Amount of benefit Step 1: capital Step 2: work out your maximum amount Standard allowance Additional elements Step 3: work out your earnings and how much can be ignored Step 4: work out your other income and how much can be ignored Step 5: calculate your total income Step 6: calculate your universal credit entitlement Claimant commitment Monthly assessment period Chapter 2: Claims, decisions and challenges 1. How to claim benefits Information to support your claim Backdating 2. Decisions and delays Interim payments and short-term advances Payments on account of housing benefit Crisis grants 3. Challenging decisions and complaints Appeals How to appeal Complaints DWP complaints Complaining about the DWP Complaining to the Independent Case Examiner HMRC Complaining to HMRC Complaining to the Adjudicator Using your MP Social Security Scotland complaints Local authority complaints Complaining to the Ombudsman The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Compensation payments Judicial review Chapter 3: Children in hospital 1. Child benefit and guardian’s allowance 2. Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit If your child is in hospital for more than 52 weeks Scottish child payment 3. Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits Carer support payment Time off from caring Carer element, carer premium and carer addition 4. Help visiting your child 5. Young Patients Family Fund Chapter 4: Disabled children in care homes 1. Benefits for children in care homes Child benefit and guardian’s allowance Means-tested benefits Universal credit If your child counts as looked after If your child does not count as looked after Pension credit Housing benefit If your child counts as looked after If your child does not count as looked after Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits Linking rules Carer support payment Time off from caring Arranging care breaks Carer element, carer premium and carer addition Help visiting your child 2. More than one stay in a care home Linking rules 3. When your child comes home Child benefit Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits Carer support payment Carer element, carer premium and carer addition Chapter 5: Disabled children at residential school 1. Child benefit and guardian’s allowance 2. Means-tested benefits Universal credit If your child is not looked after by the local authority If your child is looked after by the local authority Pension credit Housing benefit If your child is not looked after by the local authority If the absence is not temporary If your child is looked after by the local authority Scottish child payment 3. Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits If your child comes home temporarily Carer support payment Time off from caring If your child comes home temporarily Carer element, carer premium or carer addition 4. Help visiting your child Chapter 6: Children who are looked after and accommodated 1. Benefits for children who are looked after and accommodated Child benefit Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits Foster care Residential accommodation Carer support payment Other benefits Health benefits 2. When your child comes home Child benefit Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits Carer support payment If someone else is claiming carer support payment Chapter 7: Children living with kinship carers 1. What is kinship care 2. Financial help from the local authority Section 22 payments Section 50 payments Regulation 33/Section 110 payments Kinship care allowances guidance Impact on benefits 3. Benefits if a child is not looked after Child benefit and guardian’s allowance Child benefit The effect of local authority payments Guardian’s allowance Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit The effect of local authority payments Housing benefit The effect of local authority payments Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits Child disability payment Disability benefits for adults The effect of local authority payments Carer support payment The effect of local authority payments Other benefits Scottish Welfare Fund payments Best Start grant Pregnancy and baby payment Early learning payment School-age payment 4. Benefits if a child is looked after Child benefit and guardian’s allowance Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit The effect of local authority payments Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Child disability payment and other disability benefits Carer support payment National insurance credits Other benefits Chapter 8: Children living with foster carers 1. What is foster care Public fostering Private fostering 2. Benefits for foster carers Child benefit Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Disability benefits Carer support payment National insurance credits Chapter 9: Adoption 1. Adoption allowances 2. Benefits when a child is placed with you for adoption Child benefit Statutory adoption pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory shared parental pay Statutory adoption pay Statutory paternity pay Statutory shared parental pay Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Child disability payment Carer support payment Other benefits Best Start grant 3. Benefits once you have adopted a child Child benefit Statutory adoption pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory shared parental pay Means-tested benefits Universal credit Pension credit Housing benefit Scottish child payment Non-means-tested benefits Child disability payment Carer support payment Other benefits Best Start grant Health benefits Chapter 10: Young people leaving care 1. Universal credit Exceptions 2. Other benefits Housing benefit Health benefits Best Start grant and Best Start foods Scottish Welfare Fund payments Other benefits 3. Financial support from the local authority for 16/17-year-old care leavers Who can get financial support The amount of help How you are paid Treatment of local authority payments for benefits 4. Other help from the local authority Care leaver payment Help with accommodation Support once you are 18 Using local authority payments to pay your carer 5. Other help 6. Challenging local authority decisions Decisions you can challenge How to appeal The appeal process The decision Withdrawing your appeal Further appeals Appendix: Abbreviations used in the notes Acts of Parliament Regulations Other abbreviations
