How capital or savings might affect means tested benefits during Coronavirus?

01.06.20

Here at Renaissance Legal we are being asked a lot of questions about how the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation is affecting benefits, and you may have seen our recent blog about this – click here. Of particular concern at the moment is the issue of how capital or savings might…


Coronavirus (COVID-19) Benefits

19.05.20

So much has changed in the world of benefits since March, and it’s been extraordinary to see how fast the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can adapt its systems to cope with these challenging times. The purpose of this short blog is to give you a summary of the…


Attendance Allowance for those aged over pension age

29.07.19

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people who have reached state pension age and have a disability or long-term health problem, which means they need help with their personal care needs. It is a non-means-tested benefit, so it does not matter how much other income or savings you have. Note…


Carer’s Benefits – Frequently Asked Questions

13.06.19

To coincide with Carers’ Week, this blog is specifically aimed at carer’s, without which our country’s NHS and care services would completely fall apart. We receive a lot of queries from carers about their benefit entitlement, especially when they are considering either going into work, giving up work or reducing…


Benefits round up – April 2019

16.04.19

April is always a time of change in the world of welfare benefits. So, it seems a good time to focus on what has changed and tell you about other helpful bits of information for the coming benefits year. Benefits increases The good news is that some benefits have increased…


Benefits case-study – successful DLA and PIP appeal for physically disabled client

10.04.19

Our benefits consultants helped a Renaissance Legal client with a benefits appeal when their DLA award was reassessed for PIP. Here is their story. Background to the appeal The client had been in receipt of DLA for years – receiving the low rate of care DLA and the high rate…


Downs Syndrome Benefits and Work

18.03.19

By Jayne Knights To coincide with Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week 18th – 24th March, this blog concentrates its benefits beady eye on how people with Down’s Syndrome can work without sabotaging or losing any benefits they receive. The benefit rules, of course, apply to anyone, people with Down’s Syndrome are…


Benefits for children with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

16.01.19

In this blog we are going to look at Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children (under 16 years of age) with autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DLA is the only benefit specifically available to children with autism. However, once DLA is in payment, it may mean that their parent/carer…


Universal Credit is here to stay – here’s what you need to know

07.11.18

Just over a year ago I wrote a blog about Universal Credit, and here is an update, hot on the heels of the Chancellor’s Budget statement. I was waiting for something rabbit-like to appear out of the fiscal hat, which would try and address some of the more obvious failings…


Benefit appeals – what to do if you get an ESA or PIP decision and you’re not happy

08.10.18

Many readers of this blog will either receive benefits or be a carer for someone who receives benefits. The most common benefits for people with disabilities are Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Some more recent claimants may even have claimed Universal Credit (UC) instead of…