The total of income other than earnings which can be disregarded is limited to £4.
Savings and capital: If a man or his wife owns the house they live in, its value will be ignored. Other savings, such as money in the National Savings Bank or Building Societies, are treated as capital. If a man and his wife and dependants have between them capital of less than £1,250, it will be ignored and so will any income it produces. If capital amounts to £1,250, or more, the actual income from it will not be counted; a weekly income, which is fully taken into account, will be calculated at the rate of 25p for each complete £50 on the basis that a person can reasonably be expected to draw something from capital over this amount for normal living expenses.
Exceptional needs
If a person has exceptional needs, lump-sum payments of benefit may be made in certain circumstances. Such payments may be made for example, where a person has inadequate stocks of bedding, or is without essential furniture or other household equipment. They may also be made where there is an exceptional need for clothing or footwear. People who consider that they have a special need should get in touch with the local social security office.
Emergencies
In an emergency such as flood or fire the local social security office will usually help in the task of relief. They can also help in less serious emergencies: for example, some payment may be made when a person has lost wages by being unavoidably prevented from going to work, or when he is in some other temporary emergency, and has insufficient resources for his immediate requirements. If the person is in full-time work the money may be recovered.
Appeals
A claimant has the right to appeal to an independent Appeal Tribunal, if he is dissatisfied with the decision on his claim or with any condition attaching to the award of benefit.
Automatic entitlement to other benefits
People receiving supplementary benefit and their dependants are also entitled to exemption from or refund of National Health Service charges for prescrip- tions, wigs and fabric supports, dental treatment and dentures and certain glasses; children under school age and expectant mothers are also entitled to free milk and vitamins; children at school do not have to pay for school meals; members of the family attending hospital for treatment under the National Health Service may claim a refund of fares.
How to claim
Leaflet SB1, which includes a claim form, is available from post offices and local social security offices. Unemployed people should claim on form B1 from unemployment benefit offices.
Further information: Leaflets SB1 (Cash help from supplementary benefit) from social security offices and post offices; SB8 (Supplementary pensions), SB9 (Supplementary allowances), OC2 (Help with heating costs) from social security offices; and leaflet SL8 (Cash help from supplementary benefit- unemployed) from social security offices and unemployment benefit offices.
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