Welfare and Benefits
Afro-British Support services"IMPACT" provide benefit advice for individuals and families. We provide information, advice and guidance of what your benefit entitlements and responsibilities are. We can help you receive benefits if you are:
· on low income
· you have dependent children
· you're ill or disabled
· you're caring for someone
· you're aged 60 or over
· you have been bereaved
· you're pregnant or have recently had a baby
Refugees flee their countries because of a fear of persecution, often as a result of state action from the country they are fleeing. Refugees are treated as habitually residents and are entitled to receive benefits.
A refugee customer who wishes to make a new claim to benefit, should do so as early as possible after being granted appropriate immigration status. As soon as you receive a positive decision about your asylum application, it is very important that you apply for a National Insurance Number. It is very important for your welfare and employment to have a National Insurance Number. You must apply for it from the Jobcentre Plus National Insurance Number Allocation Services on Telephone 08456000643.
Benefits and Social Welfare
The government of the United Kingdom provides economic assistance to its citizens and residents in a time of need. The government gives benefits to aid or promote the well-being of the person for the common good. The government assists the person to reach to a stage where they can live a happy and healthy life and contribute economically, socially and culturally to the country.
There are a whole range of benefits people may be entitled to but benefits are divided into four groups:
· benefits for people of working age
· benefits for people who have retired or who are planning to retire
· benefits for families and children
· benefits for disabled people and carers
JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE:
Jobseekers Allowance is for unemployed people. It is to provide financial help for people who are available for work and actively looking for work. If you receive your leave to remain you shall start looking for a job immediately. You are allowed to get jobseekers allowance and attend a
training course or volunteer for up to 15 hours per week.
INCOME SUPPORT:
Income support is for people between 16 and 60 years of age who may not have to go to the Jobcentre Plus regularly to look for work. These are:
· Lone parents
· Sick or the disabled
· Those who are unable to work because of caring for someone
· Those who are registered blind
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ALLOWANCE
If you can’t work because of ill health or a disability, you can claim incapacity benefit. When you get your positive decision you can claim benefit from Jobcentre Plus at 0800 05566688. There may be a charge if you call this number from a mobile. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech difficulties Textphone: 0800 0556688
HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT
Housing and Council Tax are both means tested benefits and you can claim them if:
· You pay rent to a private landlord, Housing Association or Local Authority, and are on a low income
· You are working either full or part-time and earning a low wage
· You have savings of less than £16,000
· You are receiving state benefits.
Social Fund
Through the Social Fund, Jobcentre Plus can make various grants and loans to customers in receipt of income related benefits these include: interest free Budgeting Loans, payable when a customer has been in receipt of an income related benefit for at least 26 weeks, for essential items such as clothes, footwear, items for the house. Community Care Grants require the customer to be in receipt of an income-related benefit before the application may be considered but there are also interest free Crisis Loans available to anyone without the resources to meet their immediate short term needs in an emergency whether they are in receipt of benefit or not. There are no restrictions on the number of times an individual can apply for a crisis loan, although a customer may be asked to attend an interview at the Jobcentre on the third and/or subsequent application. It is acknowledged that a refugee may need to apply for a crisis loan several times while waiting for eligible benefits to be paid.
For Tax Credits and Child benefits please see our HMRC products page
HELPFUL ORGANISATION:
Afro-British Support Services "IMPACT"
Unit 6 Friends’ Institute, 220 Moseley Road, Birmingham, B12 ODG
Tel.: 0121 773 9426, 0121 773 5325, Fax: 0121 772 7463 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.