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Financial support

Housing support

Housing benefits now form part of the universal credit application (GOV.UK). You can apply for housing benefits if you are on a low income or in receipt of universal credits.

Universal credit

Government assessed financial support is available to families who are on low incomes. Universal credits have brought together the various previous forms of financial benefits, such as child tax credits, income support, Job seekers allowances. Universal Credit (GOV.UK) can be accessed to explain the benefits and there is a Benefits calculators (GOV.UK) to calculate the amount of benefits you may be entitled to.

The Citizens Advice service can also be contacted for support.

Child benefits

Child benefit is in addition to universal credit. It is income based and higher earners my not benefit from making a child benefit claim.

There are also a number of access cards available that allow reduced rates at cinemas and theme parks.

  • CEA Card App that allows a person with a disability to get a free cinema ticket for the person accompanying them.
  • Thorpe Park Resort offers reduced or free carers/parent tickets and quick access passes for young people with disability.
  • Disability Horizons offers reduced or free carers/parent tickets and quick access passes for young people with disability.
  • Merlin Annual Pass Accessibility Card offers reduced or free carers/parent tickets and quick access passes for young people with disability.

Disability living allowance and carers allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and carers allowances is available to parents whose children have a disability. The criteria for this varies as does the amount that will be paid. In some cases the parent may also claim a carers allowance depending on the needs of their child. Full details and applications forms can be accessed on the Department of Work and Pensions website. Useful resources include:

A number of organisations provide support for DLA applications. They are listed below:

Childcare

Tax-free childcare is available for: working families in the UK; those earning under £100k and at least £152 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage); those who aren't receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers; those with children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled).

For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year.

Useful resources:

Adoption allowance and adoption leave pay

The Adoption Support Services Regulations 2005 makes provision for adoptive parents to request an assessment for an adoption allowance from their adoption agency.

Prospective adoptive parents are able to claim both time and money from their employer in order to look after their child placed for adoption. Adoption leave and payments can also be shared between two parents.

Adoption pay and leave overview (GOV.UK) gives an overview of the legal rights and the amount of adoption pay an adoptive parent can access.

Adoption Support Fund

The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) provides funding for assessment and therapies for children who were:

  • Previously been looked after but now placed for adoption
  • Adopted
  • Placed under a Special Guardianship Order
  • Children adopted through Intercountry adoption.

ASF funding is available to the above children listed children, up to the age of 21 or up to the age of 25 if they have an Education Heath Care Plan (EHCP). ASF funding for the assessments have to be adoption related such as trauma, attachment, loss and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome or Spectrum disorder. All assessments must be led by a clinical psychologist. All therapies chosen must be adoption related.

There are two categories of funding:

  • £2,500 per child per year for specialist assessment
  • £5,000 per child per year for therapy

First4Adoption sets out the process of application as well as the therapies which are eligible under the ASF. You can find out more on our Mental Health and therapies page.