If you have care needs or a disability, or you’re caring for someone who does, you may be able to get benefits to help you manage the extra financial costs.
Some of these benefits are means-tested, meaning that they depend on your income or savings being at a certain level, others are based on your care needs.
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who
- is under 16 and
- has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability.
DLA is made up of 2 components (parts), the 'care component' and the 'mobility component'. To get DLA you must be eligible for at least one of the components.
More information:
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you are aged between 16 and 64 and you have both
- a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and
- difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition.
You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
More information:
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough to need someone to help look after you, if you
- are State Pension age or older and
- have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition.
It does not cover mobility needs.
It’s paid at 2 different rates, and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability or health condition.
There’s a different way to claim if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, because you have a life-limiting illness).
More information:
DLA, PIP and Attendance Allowance are not means-tested.
Council tax discount
You may be entitled to help with council tax for your household relating to your disability or care arrangements.
This benefit is not means-tested.
Universal Credit
You can claim Universal Credit if you are unable to work due to ill-health, or if you are on a low income.
Universal Credit is means tested and includes help with living costs and housing costs.
Other help available
If your income and savings are low
You might also qualify for means-tested benefits to top up your income. Depending on your age and circumstances, these might include:
- Housing Benefit if you (and your partner if you have one) have reached state pension age
- Council Tax Support
- Pension Credit (which might include an extra amount if you have a disability).
View more information on disability benefits.
Welfare Benefits Unit Guides
- If you are disabled and working age leaflet 2025
- Universal Credit – Working when you have limited capability for work – April 2025
- Benefits checklist April 2025 (England and Wales only)
Get benefits advice
Help is available is you need assistance to find and claim all the support available.
You can check to make sure you are getting all the financial support you are entitled to by using a benefit calculator.
You can get benefits advice from local services on issues including money, debt, employment, housing and immigration.
Our Benefits and Contributions Advisors provide benefits advice for everyone with care needs, whether you're:
- in your own home
- in a care home
Note: If you spend time in hospital, your disability benefits payments may be affected.
Also see
- Benefits
- Council tax discount for Disabled people
- Adapting your home
- Blue Badge parking scheme
- Adult social care