Welfare

Question 1

What are contributary benefits?

Answer 1

These are State Benefits – money paid by the State to claimants who
a) meet the qualifying conditions
b) have previously paid sufficient National Insurance contributions.

Question 2

What are non-contributory benefits?

Answer 2

Contributory benefits are normally more “generous” – only in the loosest sense of that word, i.e. greater - than non-contributory benefits, which are paid to those who:
c) meet the qualifying conditions
d) but have not paid enough NI contributions.

Question 3

Examples of non-contributory/contributory benefits?

Answer 3

Examples of contributory benefits:
Contributory rates of Jobseekers’ Allowance
Contributory rates of Employment and Support Allowance
State pension

Examples of non-contributory benefits:
Basic rates of Jobseekers’ Allowance
Basic rates of Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit
Income support.

Question 4

How are Means-tested benefits and non-means tested benefits determined?

Answer 4

Entitlement to these benefits is determined by your income and capital (such as savings). If you are living with a partner as a couple it is usually your joint resources that are assessed and you make a claim as a couple.

Question 5

What do means-tested benefits include?

Answer 5

Housing Benefit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Income Support