Links to resources about claiming benefits & tax credits

This is a maintained list of Internet sources within the scope of the uk.gov.social-security newsgroup. It is organised mainly by the key discussion topics for the newsgroup, defined by its charter. These are the "statements in quotes".

"Helping people make claims for benefit & tax credits" "Giving advice on which other benefits & tax credits people can claim" "Giving support to claimants currently receiving benefits & tax credits"
The Department of Social Security (DSS)	The DSS has transformed mainly to The Department of Work and Pensions. However, items published before 7th June 2001 are published on the DSS website.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)	The DWP was formed on 8th June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, parts of the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) - Questions	This answers questions about the DWP itself as a Department.
The DWP Decision Makers Guide (DMG)	The Decision Makers Guide is written primarily for decision-makers who deal with the daily flow of claims, questions and appeals related to social security benefits. (It no longer covers tax credits, which are dealt with on the Inland Revenue site).
The DWP Decision Makers Guide (DMG) Memos and Letters	Memos and Letters are issued as a supplement to the DMG.
DSS Publications DSS Publications - 2000 DSS Publications - 2001	Use this listing to read or download a range of Department of Social Security publications. Select the appropriate year (1997 to 2001) to get a complete list, sorted by date, title, category or agency. (It is only worth providing links for the last 2 years here).
DSS benefits and services	This A-Z listing gives you information about DSS benefits and services. Simply select the relevant letter.
General Benefit Information	The information held in GBI is for guidance only. It does not cover all the rules for all the benefits for every situation, nor does it provide a full interpretation of the rules. It should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.
General Benefit Information - Information by Benefit	Covers about 4 dozen benefits & variations.
General Benefit Information - Information by Client Groups	Eg: Bereaved Persons, Carers, Lone Parent, Low Earners, Pensioners, Sick/Disabled, Students, 16/17 Year Olds, Unemployed People aged 18 - 24, Unemployed People aged 25 or over.
General Benefit Information - Information by Event	Eg: Bereavement, Capital, Change of Address, Disablement, Going Abroad, Hospital Admission, Leaving School, College etc, Pregnancy, Starting Work
EntitledTo (your entitlement to Benefits and Tax Credits)	All Benefit Information, Rates and Calculators are at Year 2000-2001 Rates and are therefore out of date. Uprating will be applied if finance for the Site is secured.
The Appeals Service	The Appeals Service aims to provide all who use or rely upon the agency with a mdern, professional and prompt service which is focused on providing customers with an impartial re-examiniation of the decision under appeal.
The Inland Revenue	The Inland Revenue is responsible, under the overall direction of Treasury Ministers, for the efficient administration of income tax, tax credits, corporation tax, capital gains tax, petroleum revenue tax, inheritance tax, national insurance contributions and stamp duties.
The Inland Revenue - Tax Credits	Eg: Working Families' Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit, Children's Tax Credit.
Inland Revenue Decision Maker's Guide Notice Decision Makers Guide: Main Contents	This manual contains guidance which has been prepared for the staff of the Inland Revenue. It is being published for the information of taxpayers and their advisors in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Digita On-line tax calculators (pensions, benefits in kind, etc)	Eg: Do you qualify for Working Families Tax Credit? Do you qualify for Disabled Persons Tax Credit? Do you qualify for Children's tax credit? (And many others).
Digita On-line calculator - Working families tax credit	Put in income, capital, children, etc and out comes the entitlement.
Reported Decisions of the Commissioners and Courts	"Decisions of the Commissioner" contains reported decisions of the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners in Great Britain that have been published since 1991, available in 2-year publications.
Neligan's Digest	Neligan's Digest is a summary of important reported decisions of the Social Security Commissioners.
Severe Disablement Allowance	Severe Disablement Allowance has been abolished for for new claimants.
Debt-Advice.org.uk (Documentation and leaflets, Online Calculators, Guides)	The site intends to provide information and resources relating to debt and debt problems within the United Kingdom. Among our offerings are benefits information, online calculators, information about debt and a series of links to other useful sites for debt and finance information. Calculators for: Child Benefit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and mental health	You don't have to be "disabled" to claim Disability Living Allowance. If you have a physical or mental health problem that affects your everyday activities, then you may be able to claim DLA. In spite of the name of this site, it has pages about physical health as well.
Case Law Guide to Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance	Based on work by Derbyshire County Council Welfare Rights Service.
The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Local Authorities Department of the Environment,Transport and the Regions	These grants are available from Local Councils and are designed to make the houses and flats of the UK better for people with disabilities. There are mandatory grants which councils have to award and discretionary grants which are, on the whole, very difficult to obtain.
Disability Alliance Disability Alliance publications	The aim is to break the link between poverty and disability.
benefits NOW - Equipment for living and benefits advice	This site enables you to assess yourself for Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance before you actually apply. You can find out whether you qualify and at what rate you are likely to be paid. There is a lot about DLA and AA here. There are also discussion forums.
hbinfo.org	This is a site for all those working in the field of housing benefits and /or social housing and welfare benefits/welfare rights. The site's main focus will be housing benefits. Includes: Appeals, Decision Making, Discretionary Housing Payments (also known as Discretionary Financial Assistance), Fraud, Rent restrictions, Overpaid housing benefit and excess council tax benefit, Rent Officer Arrangements, Supporting People, Verification Framework, Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Human Rights
Eaglemountain's Benefits Entitlements & The Law	Benefit Rates, JSA Law and where to find further In-Depth Information.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for disabled students	A page at "Skill - promoting equality in education, training and employment for disabled people". There is an Information Sheet List describing various other assistance for disabled students.
Web Benefits by Ferret	Web Benefits is an on-line calculator that shows you which social security benefits and tax credits you (and your family) can probably claim. Because its possible to claim various benefits while in work, Web Benefits also shows how much you can earn and still claim some amount of the benefit. If you are not working at the moment, you will be able to see which benefits you could claim if you started a job.
Welfare Wizard	The Welfare Wizard is a welfare benefit calculator/forecaster and a benefit entitlement checker. It collects information from the user on intuitive forms and calculates the chosen benefit. There are also 'checkers' that do the hard work for you such as the disability checker, which works out all disability premiums and amounts, and the new housing costs checker.
dial UK Serving the Disability Advice Network	dial UK is a national organisation for a network of 140 local Disability Information and Advice Line services (DIALs) run by and for disabled people. Last year DIALs helped over a quarter of a million disabled people. DIAL information and advice services are based throughout the UK and provide information and advice to disabled people and others on all aspects of living with a disability. All DIAL services are currently working to meet strict new quality standards.

Page last updated: 17 December, 2003