Benefits The following information is a guide to the benefits that may be available to patients with aplastic anaemia, other rare bone marrow failure conditions and their families/carers. In addition to those listed, there are other means-tested or income-related benefits that may apply in certain circumstances. They include Income Support, Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, and Council Tax Reduction. For more detailed information, you can order our free printed booklet from our shop, or download it as a pdf here Benefits Booklet Request a free consultation with a benefits advisor Whether you have no idea what benefits you might be entitled to, you’d like support with filling in a specific application form or have a knotty question - our team is here to help! We will refer you to a qualified Benefits Advisor to provide you with expert advice. Request a consultation here Challenging a benefits decision If you have received a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decision which you disagree with, you can challenge this if you feel that it is incorrect, and many decisions are overturned on this basis. Common examples of decisions being overturned occur due to evidence being ignored as well as the law being incorrectly applied. The Aplastic Anaemia Trust may be able to help with this process, by providing free advice from a benefits advisor or providing information about your condition. Get in touch with us! Read more about how to challenge a benefits decision Types of benefit Entitlement to benefits depends on your circumstances and may be affected by your income, savings and national insurance (NI) contribution record. Means-tested benefits Means-tested or income-related benefits are affected by most other types of income and the amount of savings you have. Your NI contribution record does not matter. Non means-tested benefits Non-means-tested benefits are not usually affected by other money you have, although some are dependent on you earning a certain amount, whereas others can be reduced if you have earnings or an occupational or private pension. There are two types of non-means-tested benefits: non-contributory and contributory. For non-contributory benefits your NI record does not matter. For contributory benefits, you (or in some cases your partner) must have made sufficient NI contributions. Contributory benefits are also known as 'new style' benefits. Hospital travel fares Claimants claiming Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related), Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-based), Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) or named on or entitled to, an NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate can reclaim travel costs for journeys to and from hospital for NHS treatment. They can also do so, if on Universal Credit, if their earnings during their last complete assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if they had a child element or had limited capability for work. Patients living in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland who have to travel over 30 miles (or five miles by water) for treatment are also eligible to reclaim their travel costs as are patients who live on the Isles of Scilly who need to travel to a mainland hospital. Claimants not receiving any of these benefits may try to claim on the grounds of low income by completing form HC1. Possible welfare benefits available for people with rare bone marrow failure conditions, and carers Benefits which do not depend on income or savings Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Claim Line: 0800 917 2222 This is the new name of working-age Disability Living Allowance. This is a benefit for disabled adults (aged 16 to below state pension age). It takes into account how illness is affecting working age people in their day-to-day activities of daily living and mobility. PIP does not take into account income/savings and can be claimed whether one is in or out of work. Read more about Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Blue Badge Available through Local AuthorityThis applies if someone finds it difficult to get around and would like to park their car at a disabled parking space close to where they need to be. If someone is on PIP mobility component and score 8 points or more for moving around activity they will automatically qualify for Blue Badge. Attendance Allowance (AA) Claim Line: 0800 731 0122This benefit for people of state pension age takes into account how illness is affecting them in their day-to-day activities. AA does not take into account income/savings. Read more about attendance allowance. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Claim Line: 0800 121 4600This is a benefit for children who are below 16 years of age. It takes into account how illness is affecting them in their day-to-day activities. DLA has a care and a mobility component. A child may qualify for either or both of them.Read more about Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Carer’s Allowance Online at www.gov.uk or by phone: 0800 731 0297This applies if one is looking after someone who gets PIP Daily Living Component or DLA Middle or Higher Rate Care Component or AA. This is a taxable benefit. New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Claim Line: 0800 328 5644 (option 3 then option 2) or claim online at www.gov.ukThis is a sickness related benefit for working age people which starts after the 28 weeks of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). New Style ESA can be claimed in advance or backdated up to three months from SSP ending. The benefit is based on national insurance contributions. This is a taxable benefit. Read more about New Style ESA. Benefits which depend on income and/or savings Universal Credit (UC) Online: www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit This is a new benefit for working age people on low income/savings. UC replaces six current benefits: Income Support (IS)*, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (IR ESA), Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB JSA), Housing Benefit (HB), Child & Working Tax Credits. Read more about how to calculate universal credit. *IS may apply if someone claims CA The Universal Credit migration process is now concluding and if you are in receipt of any of the ‘6 legacy benefits’ mentioned overleaf, you should have received your migration notice letter through the post. This letter informs you of the date that you need to make your claim to Universal Credit to avoid your current claims being closed. If you make your claim by the date stated in the letter, you might be entitled to an additional amount without your Universal Credit claim called ‘Transitional Protection’. This ensures that at the point of transfer you will not be financially worse off as Universal Credit is calculated differently from the old-style legacy benefits. If you think that you will have difficulties making your claim by the stated deadline, you are able to ask for an extension which should be granted, and support is available to assist with this. If you do miss the deadline, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration if you can prove ‘good cause’ for failing to respond in time and if successful, any transitional elements can be included from day one of the claim. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) Through Local CouncilIf full help with rent is not covered through UC/HB then DHP may help cover the remainder of the rent. Read more about getting help with your rent or housing costs. Council Tax Reduction/Support (CTR/CTS) Through Local CouncilThis helps in reducing council tax. It takes into account income/savings. Read more about getting help with your council tax. Pension Credit (PC) Claim Line: 0800 991 234This is for pension age people on a low income. It takes into account your income and your savings as well. Read more about pension credit. Housing Benefit (HB) for over pension age Through Local CouncilThis is claimed for help with the rent by pension age people. HB takes into account income/savings. NHS Help with Health Costs: Online at https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-help-health-costsThis help includes help towards NHS prescriptions, NHS dental charges, NHS wigs and fabric supports, eye test, contact lenses or glasses and travel to receive NHS treatment. This can be claimed on low income grounds by completing HC1 form or for a refund HC5 form (ordered online) or one may qualify automatically if on particular means tested benefits like UC, PC (Guarantee Credit), IS, IR ESA, IB JSA or Tax Credits. More useful information Claiming benefits as an EEA national Information and advice for your Work Capability Assessment Last Updated: 5th February 2026 Manage Cookie Preferences