Child Benefit

Child Benefit is a tax-free benefit generally payable for all children.  It does not Matter how much money you have or how much you earn.  But you may not get Child Benefit if you or your partner have any earnings which are exempt from United Kingdom Income Tax.

Adopting parents can usually get Child Benefit as soon as the child starts to live with them.  You should claim benefit for a child who has lived with you as a foster-child when the child is placed with you for adoption.

Contacts for The Child Benefit Centre:

Telephone:         0870 155 5540
Textphone:         0191 225 1833
Email:               Child-Benefit@MS04.dss.gov.uk   

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Guardian's Allowance
Guardian's Allowance is a tax-free payment to someone who takes an orphan into the family.  Usually both of the child's parents must be dead, but sometimes it can be paid even if one of the child's parents is still alive.  It cannot be paid if both parents are alive.

Contacts for the Guardian's Allowance Unit:

Telephone:         0191 225 1535/1536
Textphone:         0191 225 1833
Email:               Child-Benefit@MS04.dss.gov.uk  

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You can claim DLA for a child with a severe physical or mental disability if they need much more help or looking after than other children of the same age because of their illness or disability.

Freephone Benefit Enquiry Line: 0800 88 22 00
Freephone Textphone: 0800 24 33 55      

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Vaccine damage payment
Vaccine damage payment is a one-off payment if a child is severely disabled as a result of vaccination. 

For more information write to:

 

The Vaccine Damage Payments Unit
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston PR1 1HB

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Invalid Care Allowance (ICA)

You can claim ICA if you are spending at least 35 hours per week looking after someone who is getting one of these benefits:

 

Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance at the Middle or Higher rate
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Constant Attendance Allowance
War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance

For more information telephone:

Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL):  0800 88 22 00

Textphone:  0800 24 33 55 

 

If you want more information about what help is available to carers there is a leaflet available SD4 "Caring for Someone?" from your local Social Security Office.

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For general information about any Benefits that you may be entitled the Web site address for the Department of Work and Pensions is http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

or look for the Benefits Agency display advert in the business numbers section of the phone book.  For local post codes CW1-8, 10-12,ST7,SY13-14, TF9 the telephone number is (01270) 538000.