Prescriptions are free in Northern Ireland. This includes medication, wigs and surgical appliances.
Some people may be entitled to help with other help costs because of age, their medical condition, benefits they are getting or because of a low income.
For more information,...
National insurance is a tax on your earnings that goes into the National Insurance Fund which pays for various benefits. This guide covers some basic information about NIC.
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Age Rules: You pay national insurance cont...
If you were working when you became ill, you might be getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). SSP will be paid for the first 28 weeks that you are not able to work. If you were self-employed, you might be able to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You may also contin...
If you rent your home and get Housing Benefit (England, Scotland and Wales) or Housing Benefit (Northern Ireland), your benefit will stop if you are going to be in hospital for more than 52 weeks.
Your Council Tax Support will also stop if you are going to be in hospital for...
Your partner should tell whoever pays them benefits that you have gone into hospital. The amount of benefit they get may change if you are likely to be in hospital for a long time or if they are your carer.
Your carer will stop getting Carer’s Allowance once you have been in...
If you are not getting any benefits when you go into hospital, for example because you were working before you became ill, you might be able to get benefits when you are in hospital.
If you are not well enough to return to work when you leave hospital, you can carry on getti...
If you have spent time as an in-patient in a hospital, it is the hospital's duty to arrange a discharge plan before you return home. The hospital should carry out a needs assessment to assess the level of care you need will need in order to cope at home safely. Although this ...
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can get a Disabled Facilities Grant for things like making it easier to get in and out of your home, for example, by widening doors, providing ramps or suitable bathroom or kitchen facilities. A local authority must give you a D...
The first step is to have your needs assessed by these services through a Health and Social Care Assessment (also sometimes called a 'community care assessment' or an 'assessment of need'). Once you have been assessed, depending on your care needs, they will draw up a care pl...
Age UK information about help at homeCitizens Advice information on social care and support (Please note this links to the Scotland information as the England information is currently not available on this site. There is information for each country of the UK so make sure you...