3: State Benefits Pt. 1

Question 1

Describe means testing

Answer 1

Assessing someone’s financial situation to determine their eligibility for benefits

Question 2

Describe a contributory benefit

Answer 2

One that is paid to those who have paid enough NICs

Question 3

What are newer means tested benefits now known as?

Answer 3

Income-based benefits

Question 4

Can a benefit be both means tested and non-contributory?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

Which 3 allowances did Bereavement Support Payment replace?

Answer 5

Bereavement payment
Widowed Parent’s allowance
Bereavement allowance

Question 6

Does Bereavement Support Payment stop if the claimant remarries or cohabits?

Answer 6

No

Question 7

Is Bereavement Support Payment taxable?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

Does Bereavement Support Payment affect income-based benefits (means-tested) or the benefit cap?

Answer 8

No

Question 9

The Bereavement Support Payment excludes claims for deceased cohabiting partners, and only includes spouses and civil partners. True of false?

Answer 9

False, with effect Feb 2023, cohabiting partners have been included

Question 10

What are the 2024/25 rates for the Bereavement Support Payment?

Answer 10

£2,500 lump sum, plus 18x £100 per month (no kids)

£3,500 lump sum, plus 18x £350 per month (no kids)

Question 11

In which 2 circumstances might a Bereavement Support Payment claim be reduced?

Answer 11

If the partner died after 9 February 2023 and/or if the claim is made more than three months after they died.

Question 12

Jobseeker’s Allowance and contributory
Employment and Support Allowance are not affected by receipt of the Bereavement Support Payment, true or false?

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What legislation introduced equal treatment for widows and widowers?

Answer 13

Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999

Question 14

For how long was the legacy Bereavement Allowance paid?

Answer 14

52 weeks

Question 15

Which 1 of the 3 legacy bereavement benefits were tax-free?

Answer 15

The Bereavement Payment

Question 16

Which 2 conditions would the surviving spouse needed to have met for a successful Widowed Parents Allowance claim?

Answer 16

1. Entitled to child benefit
2. If female, expecting late husbands baby
   Or if civil partnership, pregnant from fertility treatment

Question 17

Which legacy bereavement benefit included additional S2P and SERPS, if the deceased spouse/civil partner was a member?

Answer 17

Widowed Parents Allowance

Question 18

Which 3 conditions would the surviving spouse needed to have met for a successful legacy Bereavement Allowance claim?

Answer 18

1. Deceased had satisfactory NIC record or death caused by job
2. Survivor at least 45 years old at date of death, but younger than SPA
3. Survivor not entitled to Widows Parents Allowance

Question 19

When do legacy Bereavement Allowance payments cease?

Answer 19

On remarriage or cohabitation, or on reaching SPA

Question 20

Both legacy Widowed Parent’s Allowance and Bereavement Allowance are collected under the benefit cap. True or false?

Answer 20

What benefits are available to one spouse or partner on the death of the other,
assuming they have no children and meet requirements?

Question 21

What benefits are available today, to one spouse or partner on the death of the other, assuming they have no children and meet requirements?

Answer 21

Bereavement Support Allowance

Question 22

Income related benefits are usually not available to anyone with capital over X amount, and begin to reduce/taper by £1 for every £250 of savings, when capital is in excess of Y.

Answer 22

X = £16,000
Y = £6,000

Question 23

How many hours can someone work and still receive Income Support, and under what terms of employment?

Answer 23

Are not in full-time paid work (you can work less than 16 hours a week, and your partner can work less than 24 hours a week)

Question 24

Income Support is paid in addition to Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. True or false?

Answer 24

False

Question 25

New income support claims can be claimed today. True or false?

Answer 25

False, it's now Universal Credit

Question 26

When might income support become a taxable benefit?

Answer 26

If the claimant is on strike or involved in a trade dispute and is one of a ‘couple’, and is receiving benefit for their partner.

Question 27

Was income support means-tested or contributory-based?

Answer 27

Means tested

Question 28

What is the capital limit you can have to successfully claim Jobseeker’s Allowance?

Answer 28

None, it is not means-tested

Question 29

How long is new-style Jobseeker’s Allowance payable for?

Answer 29

6 months

Question 30

Is Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) taxable?

Answer 30

Yes

Question 31

After what period does Jobseeker’s Allowance become means-tested?

Answer 31

6 months

Question 32

Who pays statutory sick pay?

Answer 32

Employer

Question 33

Statutory sick pay is not means-tested. True or false?

Answer 33

True

Question 34

How long is Statutory Sick Pay payable for?

Answer 34

Up to 28 weeks

Question 35

What earnings qualify for Statutory Sick Pay?

Answer 35

£123+ per week

Question 36

Is Statutory Sick Pay taxable?

Answer 36

Yes

Question 37

What can employees apply for if still sick after Statutory Sick Pay ends?

Answer 37

Employment and Support Allowance

Question 38

Who is Employment and Support Allowance for?

Answer 38

Those unable to work due to illness or disability

Question 39

What are the two types of Employment and Support Allowance?

Answer 39

New-style ESA → Not means-tested, taxable, based on NIC history Income-based ESA → Means-tested, not taxable, replaced by Universal Credit

Question 40

How long does the assessment phase of Employment and Support Allowance last?

Answer 40

Up to 13 weeks but can be extended under certain conditions (i.e., where it is not possible to complete the assessment in 13 weeks because the individual is too ill to attend a face-to-face examination)