Financial support and benefits 16+

Jobseeker's Allowance

You can apply for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) to help you when you look for work.
For more information or to apply: GOV.UK: Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) (opens new window)

Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

Provides money if you can't work because of illness or disability.
For more information or to apply: GOV.UK: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (opens new window)

Income Support

Extra money to help people on a low income or none at all.
For more information or to apply: GOV.UK: Income Support (opens new window)

Universal Credit (UC)

Universal Credit has started to replace 6 benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income.
For more information or to apply: GOV.UK - Universal Credit (opens new window)

For further information on Jobcentre Plus services visit: Contact Jobcentre Plus (opens new window)

A Personal Budget is an amount of money identified by Wiltshire Council to deliver all or some of the provision set out in an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. For health needs, the commissioning body responsible in Wiltshire is the BSW Integrated Care Board (ICB).

An outcome based assessment will be carried out to establish an approximate figure for how much the council would need to spend to meet an individual's needs. For more information visit: EHC assessments

Types of personal budget:

• a personal SEN budget is a sum of money made available to an educational setting by a local council, above and beyond the basic funding settings receive for all children and young people (top-up funding), to allow them to meet a child or young person's educational need. This budget will be used to support a child or young person to achieve pre-agreed educational outcomes. The need for a personal budget is considered as part of the statutory assessment. If you have questions about this you can talk to your lead worker if you have one, or call our single point of Contacts.
• a personal social care budget or direct payment is the money that can be made available if a child or young person is assessed as needing additional support at home or in their community. This assessment is carried out by a social care team. for more information visit Using direct payment or you can read the policy guidance information Direct-Payment-Guide (OpenDocument text format, 113 KB)(opens new window).
• a personal health budget is the money that can be made available to a child or young person with complex, long-term and/or life-limiting health conditions, who is assessed as needing continuing health care.

For more information visit: 0 to 25 SEND Personal Budget Guidance V6 FINAL ODT (OpenDocument text format, 435 KB)(opens new window)

If you or someone living in your property is permanently disabled you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) towards the cost of providing adaptations and facilities to enable the person with additional needs to continue to live there. Such grants are given by the council under Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and are means-tested except in the case of adaptations for children.

There are strict eligibility criteria for Disabled Facilities Grants.

Mandatory grants - include access into and around the property and the main rooms used by the person with additional needs, safety of the person and adapting the heating and lighting controls

Discretionary grants - In certain circumstances this provides a top-up if the grant exceeds £30,000. If you require further information about this please contact the Private Sector Housing Team (PSHT).

All the information you need can be found on:

Home adaptations, repair grants and loans 

Wiltshire's Short Breaks scheme, designed in consultation with parents and carers, enables eligible children and young people, who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), support to access activities and leisure opportunities.

For more information please visit:

Short Breaks

For young people with an EHCP who are considering moving on to university study, more details can be found by visiting the government information pages:

GOV.UK: Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability (opens new window)

The discretionary housing payment scheme provides limited funding to support customers who, because of their specific circumstances, are unable to cover their housing costs through regular housing support. The aim is to reduce the risk of homelessness and support the stability of families and communities in line with the council's goal to build sustainable communities and protect the most vulnerable in society.

Housing Benefit

Previously you may have accessed Disabled Living Allowance (DLA), this is only available up to 16 years of age now.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you're working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

All information can be found by visiting:

GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (opens new window)

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was put in place by the government to help households that would otherwise struggle to buy food, pay essential utility bills, or meet other essential living costs during the current cost-of-living challenges.

The fund is intended to cover a wide range of low-income households in need including:

• families with children of all ages
• pensioners
• unpaid carers
• care leavers
• households with a disability
• homeless
• Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Boater communities
• as part of the Armed Forces Covenant, we will also ensure there is support for those who are serving, have served and their families where need has been identified

Household Support Fund 2024 (HSF2024)

You do not have to be receiving benefits to be eligible for support from the HSF.

All information can be found at Family Fund Trust: Who do we help? (opens new window).

The Wiltshire Community Foundation (opens new window) is a registered charity and grant making trust. They offer financial assistance to young people who want to make the most of their potential. They offer a variety of funds to help support 0 to 25 year olds across Wiltshire.

The scholarship grant support students who want to gain an Undergraduate University degree. The offer a "scholarship programme" providing grants of up to £5000 per annum for the duration of the student's course. Students must be aged between 17 and 24 at the time of application.

Full information can be found at Wiltshire Community Foundation (opens new window).

This grant places all the emphasis on vocational training. It makes grants to individuals aged between 16 and 25. Applicants must usually have lived within the boundaries of Swindon or Wiltshire Councils for 5 years and the applicant or their parents/carers or guardians must be in receipt of means tested benefits. Grants are available up to £1000. The Foundation is particularly keen to fund "tools of the trade" or vocational training.

Full information can be found at Wiltshire Community Foundation (opens new window).

The scholarship grant support students who want to gain an Undergraduate University degree. The offer a "scholarship programme" providing grants of up to £5000 per annum for the duration of the student's course. Students must be aged between 17 and 24 at the time of application.

Full information can be found at Wiltshire Community Foundation (opens new window).

Information and advice on what you might need to consider while in hospital. Disability Rights UK: Benefits while in Hospital (opens new window).

National Government have a central website with the most accurate and up-to-date information on all kinds of benefits and monetary supports. Including:

• Blind person's allowance
• Carer's allowance
• Personal Independence Payment

They also have helpful tools like:

• Benefits calculator
• Complaints procedures

More information on the GOV.UK: Carers and disability benefits (opens new window) website.