Fees & Funding > Severe Disability Premium | Check If You’re Eligible

Severe Disability Premium | Check If You’re Eligible

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Katy Jones

Customer Care Expert

Last Updated: 18/04/2024

A disability premium is an additional sum of money that gets added to certain means-tested benefits. There are three different disability premiums - standard, enhanced and severe. Which one your loved one is eligible for depends on how their disability affects them on a daily basis and which other benefits they claim.

Here, we’ve explained how the Severe Disability Premium works, whether you or your loved one are eligible, how to apply and how much you’ll get.

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What Is a Severe Disability Premium?

A Severe Disability Premium is an additional amount you or a loved one could qualify for on top of certain means-tested benefits’ basic personal allowances. This premium aims to help you cover the costs of everyday living and any additional support you require, depending on your unique health requirements.

People are usually eligible for a Severe Disability Premium when they claim a disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.

This premium is paid on top of:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit

Are You Eligible For a Severe Disability Premium?

To meet the eligibility criteria for a Severe Disability Premium, you’ll need to receive one of the following disability benefits:

Adult Disability Payment in Scotland (the daily living component)
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Constant Attendance Allowance paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Disablement Pension
Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (the care component at the middle or highest rate)
Personal Independence Payment (the daily living component)

You also need to be receiving a means-tested benefit (meaning it relates to your income), such as:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefit
The Guarantee part of Pension Credit

There are additional eligibility rules, depending on whether you’re single or in a couple. We’ve explained these below.

If you’re single

You’ll be ineligible for the Severe Disability Premium if somebody who looks after you receives Carer’s Allowance or the Carers Element of Universal Credit.

You’ll also be ineligible if you live with any other non-dependant adults (unless they also receive a relevant qualifying disability benefit or are registered blind).

We can help you find the best home carer for you or your loved one’s care needs, including domiciliary (hourly) and live-in carers. Request a free list of home care agencies, and our care experts will match you with suitable carers with availability in your local area.

If you’re in a couple

You’ll be ineligible for the Severe Disability Premium if you and your partner are looked after by somebody who receives Carer’s Allowance or the Carers Element of Universal Credit for looking after either of you. If somebody receives either of these benefits for looking after just one of you, you can instead get the Severe Disability Premium at the single rate.

You also be ineligible if either of you live with any other non-dependant adults (unless they also receive a relevant qualifying disability benefit or are registered blind).

You both need to receive a relevant qualifying disability benefit (or just one of you receives a relevant benefit and the other is registered blind).

There are circumstances in which you can get the Severe Disability Premium, even if there are other adults living with you. However, these are complicated, so we’d recommend seeking out expert advice, such as through Turn2Us.

Severe Disability Premium and Carers

Be sure to discuss the Severe Disability Premium with the person who cares for you. If they’re planning on claiming Carer’s Allowance or the Carers Element of Universal Credit, this will prevent you from receiving a Severe Disability Premium. Any Council Tax Support you receive may also be affected.

Again, we’d recommend seeking advice, as the rules surrounding this can often be a tricky and complicated area to navigate. You can use Turn2Us to find local advice.

How To Claim the Severe Disability Premium

You’ll need to contact the office for the benefit you receive and let them know that you think you’re entitled to a Severe Disability Premium.

These benefits include:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit

In some cases, you may need to contact your local council to let them know that you’d like to make a claim for a Severe Disability Premium.

Once you’ve told the relevant benefits office or your local council that you think you’re entitled to a Severe Disability Premium, you could be sent a form to fill out.

How Much Severe Disability Premium You’ll Get

The Severe Disability Premium is paid at two rates, depending on whether you’re single or in a couple.

Single claimants

The single-person rate is £81.50 per week, £353.17 per month and £4,238 per year.

Joint claimants

The rate for joint claimants is double that of the single-person rate. If you claim as a couple, together you’ll get £163.00 per week, £706.33 per month and £8,476 per year.

Both you and your partner need to be eligible to get the Severe Disability Premium as joint claimants. If you and your partner both receive a qualifying benefit and somebody receives Carer’s Allowance or the Carer’s Element of Universal Credit for looking after either of you, your Severe Disability Premium will instead be paid at the single rate.

How To Challenge a Severe Disability Premium Decision

If you disagree with a decision made about you or your loved one’s eligibility for a Severe Disability Premium, you can request a written statement of reasons.

If you believe the wrong decision has been made, you can ask for this to be re-reviewed. You can also appeal. People often believe an incorrect decision was made due to incorrect information being used.

You’ll usually only get one month to dispute a decision, so it’s important to act quickly and seek out any necessary advice.

Turn2Us has a guide explaining how to challenge decisions by the Department for Work and Pensions.

We’re on a mission to support individuals and their loved ones throughout each stage of their later living journey. For more information, check out everything Lottie has to offer.

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Written by our team of experts and designed to help families fund later life care in England.