Citizens Advice & Benefits Guidance

Citizen’s Advice give people the knowledge they need to find their way forward. Their network of independent charities offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free.

Please find your local Citizen’s Advice at – Find your local Citizens Advice – Citizens Advice

Benefits

What benefits can I claim?
Explore your benefit entitlement:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) accessibility in sickle cell disease?

PIP is a benefit for people who have long term health conditions like sickle cell disease. However, it is not based on the condition itself, but how it affects you day to day.

This link explores general PIP entitlement

Getting PIP can be challenging. It would be a good idea to talk to a benefits adviser to explore this further. You can also liaise with our South East London Social Care Advisor Deborah Patrick – contact details are available via your CNS team.

If you do not have recourse to public funds there is support you can access.

Someone with ‘NRPF’ status cannot claim any benefit that is classed as a ‘public fund’. There are a small number of benefits that are not classed as public funds. If you meet the other eligibility criteria, you may be able to make a claim for these.

See: https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/benefits-and-housing-public-funds/benefits/benefits-that-are-not-public-funds#guide-content

https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk

Immigration

Staying in the UK with a skilled worker visa:

If you have been living in the UK on a skilled worker visa for more than five years, you may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). You can check the requirements and apply online here: https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-tier-2-t2-skilled-worker-visa

There is more general information about ILR here

Sponsorship licence issues:

See https://www.gov.uk/employee-lose-sponsor-licence

If you do nothing and your visa comes to an end, you will become an overstayer. If this happens, you should seek advice from an immigration adviser immediately:

https:// www.citizensadvice.org.uk /immigration/problems-with-a-visa/overstayed-visa

You can use this link to help you find an immigration adviser in your area: https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser

Employment

I need to work from home because of my condition:

Any employee can make a statutory flexible working request. ‘Flexible working’ can include hybrid working and working from home.

Acas provides comprehensive guidance on your right to make the request, how to make the request and what to do if your employer denies your request: https://www.acas.org.uk/statutory-flexible-working-requests

Discuss your needs with your manager and formulate a plan on how best to support you within your workplace. Your consultant can provide a letter that explains your condition and the impacts it may have on your work.

Consider Occupational Health involvement.

If you need further help/support: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/grievance-meetings/dealing-with-grievances-at-work/

Equality Advisory Support Service: https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/

Housing

Damp and mould are very challenging housing issues. Advice is different depending on if you are a private or social (council or housing association) tenant.

Private tenant: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_and_mould_in_rented_homes

Social tenant: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_mould_social_housing

Homelessness Assistance:
Homelessness assistance and local authority allocation of housing are both considered public funds.

https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/benefits-and-housing-public-funds/housing

A person with no recourse to public funds can apply for housing association properties if they apply to the housing associations independently.

https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/benefits-and-housing-public-funds/housing/housing-association-tenancies#guide-content

SCD Issues Children

Below are some more specific issues raised.

Benefits

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children:

DLA is a benefit for children, under the age of 16, who have long term health conditions like sickle cell disease. However, it is not based on the condition itself, but how it affects your child day to day.

Entitlement to DLA is based on the level of supervision your child requires because of their health condition. If your child’s need is substantially greater than the needs of another child without their health conditions, it is possible that they will qualify for DLA. There are several relevant factors to consider, including the age of the child and the frequency of crisis events.

See: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/resources/disability-living-allowance-dla and https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/benefits-financial-help/disability-living-allowance/

Benefits:

Some benefits relating to children, such as Child Benefit, are based on the immigration status of the parent.

See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/child-benefit/before-you-claim/check-if-you-can-get-child-benefit/

Other benefits, such as DLA, are based on the immigration status of the child.

See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/disability-living-allowance/before-you-claim-dla/check-if-you-can-get-dla/#h-if-your-child-isn-t-a-british-citizen

15 or 30 free hours of childcare:

Entitlement to the 15 or 30 free hours of childcare is based on immigration status. The person applying must have:

one of the following: