Housing, Income and Benefits
Housing and Accommodation
The main East Sussex County Council website has pages on housing. The page covers topics including:
- Sheltered housing - Warden-assisted housing for older people and those with disabilities.
- Care homes - 24-hour care and support, accommodation and meals.
- Housing Support Service / help with your housing and staying in your home.
- Temporary accommodation with on-site support.
- Supported housing - round-the-clock care for disabled adults and those who are vulnerable.
- Care Choices directory - listing registered care homes and care providers.
- Shared Lives and supported accommodation - a paid role in your home. Providing accommodation and support for someone who would find it hard to live on their own.
The page is for disabled adults and those who are vulnerable:
My family, Our Needs has a web page that provides information on all the different types of housing for people with a disability.
Amaze are a local charity. They provide lots of information for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) about housing. Visit their website to find out more:
Income and Benefits
Benefits Calculators
Benefits calculators can be a good place to start. They are free and anonymous. They can provide you with an estimate of:
- what benefits you could get
- how much the benefit payments might be
- how your personal circumstances can affect what you're entitled to
Some useful benefits calculators include:
- Benefits Calculator | entitledto
- Benefits Calculator | Turn2us
- Better Off Calculator | Policy In Practice
The Government website provides more information about benefits calculators:
Benefits
Benefits change as a young person becomes an adult. There are adult welfare benefits that young people and their family may be entitled to. Parents and legal guardians receive child benefit for every child they are responsible for who is under the age of 16. This changes to under the age of 20 if they are in approved education or training. This means they are on a college or a recognised training course.
You may also find it helpful to read the guidance held on Contact. Contact is a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) information website. They have a page specifically on 16+ benefits:
Parents and legal guardians can also claim tax credits. There are ‘top-up’ amounts for these benefits if the child or young person has a disability and meet the eligibility criteria.
Families might be eligible to claim Carer's Allowance but it is means tested on your weekly income. The main government website provides more information:
Disability Payments
The main benefits for adults with a disability are Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP). DLA and PIP are benefits paid to cover the extra costs of a person’s disability or health needs. They are both split into two components:
- Daily living or care, and
- mobility.
DLA is available to children under 16. PIP is available for anyone aged 16-64 with a disability. The Government website has more information on both DLA and PIP:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children: Overview | GOV.UK
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP): What PIP is for | GOV.UK
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
ESA gives you:
- money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work
- support to get back into work if you’re able to
The main Government website provides more information:
Personal Budgets
A Personal Budget means that someone who requires extra support or adaptations to their home is allocated some money. This allows them to choose and pay for the care and support they want.
These funds might be available through:
- The Local Authority
- A Personal Health Budget (if the person is funded by NHS Continuing Healthcare); or
- A joint (integrated) personal budget combining health and social care funding
There are different ways you can take and manage a Personal Budget:
- Direct Payment – this is where you are given a payment instead of services, to buy the services you want
- Leave it to the local authority or NHS with the responsibility for commissioning services. You will still choose the services you want
- The combination of both of the above
Young people can receive direct payments from the age of 16.
You can discuss your Personal Budget with whoever supports you from Children's Disability Service (CDS), or the NHS.
Disabled Facilities Grants
Disabled Facilities Grants are funded by your local borough council. This includes Eastbourne, Lewes, Rother or Wealden. This grant can support adaptations in the home to make it more suitable for disabilities. Access to this grant is only via a needs assessment carried out by Adult Social Care at East Sussex County Council.
The main government website provides more information:
Personal Travel Budget (PTB)
A personal travel budget could help you to arrange your child or young person’s travel. We may offer you a PTB if we can’t offer you other travel assistance.
- your child or young person must be eligible for the Council’s travel assistance to school or college
- there must be no other suitable transport we can arrange, like taxis or a minibus
- you’ll be responsible for arranging all your child or young person’s school or college journeys
You can use it to help pay for the cost of transporting your child or young person to school or college.
Find out more about PTB, by visiting the main East Sussex County Council website:
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or unable to work.
Your monthly payment is based on your circumstances. For example, your earnings or household income, housing costs and any health condition or disability you may have. The government website outlines how universal credit works:
- Universal Credit: What Universal Credit is | GOV.UK
- Universal Credit: Health conditions and disability guide | GOV.UK
Additional Help and Support
MoneyHelper
MoneyHelper provide a web page, that offers financial guides for young people aged 16 to 24. This includes everything from paying rent and bills, to the best ways to save money. Visit the MoneyHelper website to find out more:
Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service)
Amaze SENDIASS are a local charity. They can provide income and benefits advice on their local helpline. They can refer to their benefits service where required. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:
- Phone - 01273 772 289
- Email - sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk
Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.
Amaze also have a web page sharing tips for helping young people with additional needs understand money:
Preparing for Adulthood (PfA)
PfA have created a guide called ‘Better off in Work’. The guide includes advice about work, universal credit and a benefits calculator:
You can also visit the PfA web page, on the NDTi website:
East Sussex Local Offer directory of services
You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:
- Advice, Guidance and Support Groups
- Activities and Events
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.
Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms
We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.