Passport Benefits

School meals

You will qualify if you have children at school and you or your partner claim Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance Pension Credit or Only entitled to Child Tax Credit. Dumfries and Galloway Claim forms available to print out here or from your own local education authority or schools.

School clothing grant

Same qualifying conditions as above. £50 cash per school age child. Dumfries and Galloway Claim forms available to print out here or from your local education offices. Check locally for this.

Bus pass

Available to all pensioners. Also available to you if you have any one of the following, any rate of mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, blind or partially sighted, profoundly deaf, mobility supplement, war pension over 80%, have been denied a driving license due to medical grounds, receiving care due to mental disorder, or able to supply medical evidence of your limited mobility, Dumfries and Galloway Claim forms available to print out here or contact your local Social Work department.

Free car tax

Available to you or your main car if you have the high rate mobility award of Disability Living Allowance. Contact the Disability Unit in Blackpool. 08457 - 123456

Blue parking badge

Available to people over 2, who have the high rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, or mobility supplement, or registered blind, or a permanent and substantial disability which causes problems with walking. Dumfries and Galloway forms available to print out here or contact your local Social Work department.

Discount leisure pass

Gives 50% of entry to all Council owned leisure and sport facilities, in Dumfries and Galloway, and Annandale and Eskdale sport and leisure trust facilities, skating, swimming, bowling, Robert burns centre, etc. Available to you and your children, if you have any one of the following, Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers, Incapacity, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance, Widow/ers Benefits, Severe Disablement Allowance, full time students, or employment training trainees. Dumfries and Galloway forms available to print out here or contact your local leisure facility or Council for this.

Railcard.

Train fares reduced by 33% for you and reduced fares for your carer, available to you if you have any one of the following, mobility supplement, war pension over 80%, middle or high rate care of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, or are deaf, or registered as visually impaired, or have attacks of epilepsy, contact your local train station.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Free loft, pipes, and tank insulation, or free cavity wall insulation, or heater controls upgraded, or draught proofing for outside doors and windows. If you or your partner have any one or more of the following, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Based Jobseekers, Income Support, Constant Attendance Allowance, mobility supplement, available to you if you own or rent your home, freephone 0800 072 0150

Prescriptions, Dental and Hospital fares

You qualify automatically with Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance. Others who could get help include certain Disabled who work, and others with low incomes. Claim on form HC1 available from local Benefits Agency.

Taxi Card

Taxi fares reduced by 40%, available if you have the high rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, or registered blind, or have mobility supplement, or over retirement age with restricted mobility, Dumfries and Galloway Claim forms available to print out here or contact your local Social Work Department. Check locally for this.

Housing grants

Available to homeowners and tenants. Some are means tested some are not. Ask at the local Council.

Social Fund payments

Grants and loans available to help with various costs: funeral, birth, emergencies, setting up home, etc.

Back to Work Bonus

This is now replaced by a Job Grant, contact the Job Centre.

Child Maintenance Bonus

This is now replaced by a Job grant, contact the Job Centre.

Housing Benefit Extended Payment

Housing Benefit Extended Payment can be available for 4 weeks when a person ceases to be entitled to Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) because their employment has removed entitlement to benefit. NOTE: Employent must be expected to last for 5 weeks or more.

Council Tax Benefit Extended Payment

Council Tax Benefit Extended Payment can be available for 4 weeks when a person ceases to be entitled to Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) because of their employment.

Their employment must be expected to last for 5 weeks or more.

Income Support - Lone Parent's Benefit Run-on

A Lone Parent may receive two weeks Income Support after they have started work if they have been in receipt of Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based), as a lone parent, immediately before starting work providing that:

the work has to be for 16 hours or more each week;
the job is expected to last for at least 5 weeks;
they have been receiving Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based) without a break, for at least 26 weeks prior to starting work; they have been a lone parent for at least 26 weeks. Should be paid automatically.

DISCLAIMER - Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, we cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences. The information should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law. If you wish to know more about your benefit rights, you should seek independent advice.