3: State Benefits Pt. 1 Flashcards
Describe means testing
Assessing someone’s financial situation to determine their eligibility for benefits
Describe a contributory benefit
One that is paid to those who have paid enough NICs
What are newer means tested benefits now known as?
Income-based benefits
Can a benefit be both means tested and non-contributory?
Yes
Which 3 allowances did Bereavement Support Payment replace?
Bereavement payment
Widowed Parent’s allowance
Bereavement allowance
Does Bereavement Support Payment stop if the claimant remarries or cohabits?
No
Is Bereavement Support Payment taxable?
No
Does Bereavement Support Payment affect income-based benefits (means-tested) or the benefit cap?
No
The Bereavement Support Payment excludes claims for deceased cohabiting partners, and only includes spouses and civil partners. True of false?
False, with effect Feb 2023, cohabiting partners have been included
What are the 2024/25 rates for the Bereavement Support Payment?
£2,500 lump sum, plus 18x £100 per month (no kids)
£3,500 lump sum, plus 18x £350 per month (no kids)
In which 2 circumstances might a Bereavement Support Payment claim be reduced?
If the partner died after 9 February 2023 and/or if the claim is made more than three months after they died.
Jobseeker’s Allowance and contributory
Employment and Support Allowance are not affected by receipt of the Bereavement Support Payment, true or false?
True
What legislation introduced equal treatment for widows and widowers?
Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999
For how long was the legacy Bereavement Allowance paid?
52 weeks
Which 1 of the 3 legacy bereavement benefits were tax-free?
The Bereavement Payment
Which 2 conditions would the surviving spouse needed to have met for a successful Widowed Parents Allowance claim?
- Entitled to child benefit
- If female, expecting late husbands baby
Or if civil partnership, pregnant from fertility treatment
Which legacy bereavement benefit included additional S2P and SERPS, if the deceased spouse/civil partner was a member?
Widowed Parents Allowance
Which 3 conditions would the surviving spouse needed to have met for a successful legacy Bereavement Allowance claim?
- Deceased had satisfactory NIC record or death caused by job
- Survivor at least 45 years old at date of death, but younger than SPA
- Survivor not entitled to Widows Parents Allowance
When do legacy Bereavement Allowance payments cease?
On remarriage or cohabitation, or on reaching SPA
Both legacy Widowed Parent’s Allowance and Bereavement Allowance are collected under the benefit cap. True or false?
What benefits are available to one spouse or partner on the death of the other,
assuming they have no children and meet requirements?
What benefits are available today, to one spouse or partner on the death of the other, assuming they have no children and meet requirements?
Bereavement Support Allowance
Income related benefits are usually not available to anyone with capital over X amount, and begin to reduce/taper by £1 for every £250 of savings, when capital is in excess of Y.
X = £16,000
Y = £6,000
How many hours can someone work and still receive Income Support, and under what terms of employment?
Are not in full-time paid work (you can work less than 16 hours a week, and your partner can work less than 24 hours a week)
Income Support is paid in addition to Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. True or false?
False
New income support claims can be claimed today. True or false?
False, it’s now Universal Credit
When might income support become a taxable benefit?
If the claimant is on strike or involved in a trade dispute and is one of a ‘couple’, and is receiving benefit for their partner.
Was income support means-tested or contributory-based?
Means tested
What is the capital limit you can have to successfully claim Jobseeker’s Allowance?
None, it is not means-tested
How long is new-style Jobseeker’s Allowance payable for?
6 months
Is Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) taxable?
Yes
After what period does Jobseeker’s Allowance become means-tested?
6 months
Who pays statutory sick pay?
Employer
Statutory sick pay is not means-tested. True or false?
True
How long is Statutory Sick Pay payable for?
Up to 28 weeks
What earnings qualify for Statutory Sick Pay?
£123+ per week
Is Statutory Sick Pay taxable?
Yes
What can employees apply for if still sick after Statutory Sick Pay ends?
Employment and Support Allowance
Who is Employment and Support Allowance for?
Those unable to work due to illness or disability
What are the two types of Employment and Support Allowance?
New-style ESA → Not means-tested, taxable, based on NIC history
Income-based ESA → Means-tested, not taxable, replaced by Universal Credit
How long does the assessment phase of Employment and Support Allowance last?
Up to 13 weeks but can be extended under certain conditions (i.e., where it is not possible to complete the assessment in 13 weeks because the individual is too ill to attend a face-to-face examination)
What are the two phases of ESA?
Assessment phase
Main phase
Who determines ESA eligibility?
State-appointed doctor or nurse (not claimant’s GP)
What groups might you find yourself in after a successful Employment and Support Allowance assessment, and roughly which proportions end up in which?
You will be placed in either the work-related activity group (90%) or the support group (10%)
