This information describes the benefits which may be paid to a person who is unable to work or on low income because of their OCD. It also includes benefits which may be paid to a carer who looks after a person who has severe OCD. It may be possible to receive more than one benefit at a time.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to the topics discussed here or have a question not covered here please don't hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to find the answer to your question or you can check with your local Citizens' Advice Bureau.
Carer’s Allowance (CA)
If you are age 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who is severely disabled with their OCD then you may be able to get Carer’s Allowance (CA), the main social security benefit for carers.
CA is for the person who does the caring – not the person being cared for who may be a relative, friend or neighbour.
Carer’s Allowance can be paid to more than one person in a household, such as a couple caring for each other.
The rules for benefits mean that your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get. But on average the weekly amount you can get is £44.35.
How to claim:Contact your local social security office for a claim form or you can complete one online on the CA website. They will need to verify your identity when you make a claim so be prepared for them to ask for information about your background and for proof of identity.
Official Carer’s Allowance Website
Council Tax Benefit
Both council tax benefit and second adult rebate help people who are on low incomes to pay the council tax. Council Tax benefit and second adult rebate are administered by local authorities.
You can claim Council tax benefit to help towards your council tax bill if you are on a low income. You do not have to get any other benefits and it does not matter if you already get a discount on your council tax, for example if you live alone.
If you are a full-time student you will not usually have to pay council tax.
How to claim:
Contact your local social security office for a claim form or you can
complete one online on their website.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Many OCD sufferers may not be aware that they could be entitled to DLA Benefit. To qualify for DLA, OCD must affect your ability to attend to your bodily functions, plan, prepare and cook a main meal for yourself or affect your ability to get around or a combination.
There are two Components of DLA: The Care Component and The Mobility Component. The Care Component has 3 rates, as follows: Higher rate, Middle rate and Lower rate. The mobility Component has two rates, as follows: Higher rate and Lower rate. It is, however, possible to qualify for one Component of DLA without qualifying for the other Component.
If OCD affects your ability to wash or dress yourself, or if you need help attending to your toilet needs, or if you are unable to plan, prepare and cook a main meal for yourself, then you may qualify for the Care Component of DLA. The rate that you may be entitled to will depend on how your OCD affects your ability to carry out these functions. The benefit is not paid for your illness, you are not automatically entitled to it because you suffer from a specific illness. It is paid according to the way that your illness affects you. How much you may be entitled to also depends on whether you have needs during the day or if you have needs during the night or both. It also depends on how many times per day or per night you need help and for how long each time that you need help.
If you also have problems getting around, e.g. you need someone with you when you go out because you cannot cope on your own because of your problems with OCD or you suffer from panic attacks, you may qualify for the Lower rate of DLA Mobility Component. If you are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk, you may qualify for the Higher rate of DLA Mobility Component. If you have other disabilities as well these will all be taken into consideration.
How to claim:
Contact your local social security office for a claim form or you can
complete one online on the DLA website.
Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
Students suffering from OCD may not be aware that it is possible that they may qualify for extra funding through Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs).
Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) provide help for students who, because of their disability, have additional costs. It is available to full-and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. Part-time students must be studying at least 50 per cent of a full-time course.
DSAs pay for the extra costs you have to pay for attending your course
which are incurred because of a disability. An assessment will be carried
out by an experienced assessor to find out the level of support that you
may get.
You may need to have a supporting GP's report which may help you.
It is made up of four possible elements:
1. A non medical personal helper
2. Major items of specialist equipment
3. Travel to and from college/university
4. A general allowance for extra
costs
The award you may get from DSA is not income based i.e. it does not depend on your income or your family's income. It is different from a Student Loan in that you do not have to pay the assistance back.
The money you may get from DSA does not count as 'income' so you may still qualify for Income Support or Housing Benefit if you do need to apply.
You can contact your LEA in England and Wales and SAAS if you are in Scotland for further information.
Housing Benefit
Sometimes called 'rent rebate' or 'rent allowance' it is paid to you by your local council and helps you with paying rent (accommodation).
Housing Benefit is for people with a low income who have to pay rent. It is paid by your local authority regardless of whether you are available for, or in, full time work.
You cannot usually get Housing Benefit if you are a full-time student, unless you are disabled or have children. If you live with a partner, only one of you can get Housing Benefit.
How to claim:
Contact your local social security office for a claim form or you can
complete one online on the Housing Benefit website.
Official Housing Benefit Website
Incapacity Benefit
You can get Incapacity Benefit if you are of working age but cannot work because of sickness or disability. It is paid by social security if you cannot get Statutory Sick Pay from your employer, are self-employed, or if you have no employer. Entitlement depends upon your National Insurance record, and may be subject to a medical examination.
If you have paid National Insurance contributions and been incapable of work because of sickness or disability for at least 4 days in a row including weekends and public holidays then you can claim Incapacity Benefit.
How to claim:
Contact your local social security office or Jobcentre Plus office for
a claim form or you can complete one online on their website.
Official Incapacity Benefit Website
Income Support
Income Support is an income-related (means-tested) benefit paid to certain groups of people who do not have enough money to live on.
The money the claimant has coming in is known as her/his ‘income’. The claimant’s income is subtracted from a standard fixed income level, known as the ‘applicable amount’, and the difference between the two is the amount of income support payable. The applicable amount will vary for each person according to their circumstances.
Income Support is a non-contributory benefit. This means that a person does not have to have paid any national insurance contributions in order to qualify for Income Support.
If you are aged between 16 and 59 and on a low income, not working or working on average less than 16 hours a week then you should be able to claim for Income Support.
Savings over £6,000 usually affect how much Income Support you can get. Savings over £16,000 usually mean you cannot get Income Support. If you are aged 60 or over, this limit is £12,000. If you live with a partner, only one of you can make the claim and your partner's income and savings will be taken into account.
How to claim:
Contact your local jobcentre plus or social security office for a claim
form or you can complete one online on the income support website.
Official Income Support Website
Jobseeker's Allowance
Jobseeker's Allowance is for people who are capable of working, available for and actively seeking work.
As a rule this is not a benefit that OCD sufferers will be able to claim except if they are between jobs or feel able enough to return to work after overcoming their OCD.
How to claim:
Contact your local jobcentre plus office for a claim form.
Official Jobseeker's Allowance Website
Water Capping
Some water companies have now been given the go-ahead to force householders to install water meters, OCD-UK have raised concerns about the possible financial implications to those affected by contamination OCD.
Folkestone and Dover Water advised us about the Vulnerable Groups Regulations (Section 5) of the Water Industry Act 1999 which allowed for people with certain illnesses to apply for a capped water bill, however the water company representative advised us that OCD was not on the list and would not qualify.
Following some investigation we contacted OFWAT who made us aware that the Water Industry Act 1999 was amended in 2005 which now stipulates New regulation 2(2)(b) of the 1999 Regulations also requires the provision of assistance to relevant households which include a person suffering from any other medical condition which requires the use of extra water. This now means that people with OCD might now be eligible to apply for a capped bill.
In order to qualify for this capped bill you, or someone resident in your household, will need to be in receipt of one of the following seven benefits:
- Council tax benefit;
- Housing benefit;
- Income Support;
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance;
- The new working tax credit;
- The child tax credit ( except families in receipt of the family element
only); and pension credit.
and then of course have OCD as certified by your GP/Medical Records.
Because each case will be individual in terms of usage we would firstly
advise anybody concerned about the possible additional costs to check
your average bill under water metering compared to the capped bill by
contacting your water company who if required will then be able to send
you an application form to apply for a capped bill.
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