Artist's Resource Pack

Different benefits are given for different reasons. Some you can keep whilst you earn other money, others are affected by the amount you earn and may be stopped all together.

The Direct Gov website has information sheets on different disability benefits. This link will take you out of the artist’s resource site and to the part of the Direct Gov site which lists useful information sheets.
(www.direct.gov.uk/Bfsl1/ BenefitsAndFinancialSupport/Disabled_people/fs/en)

The biggest question is usually ‘what might happen to my benefits if I start earning money?’

Incapacity Benefit - If you are getting Incapacity Benefit, you are getting this because you cannot work. The only type of work you can do is called Permitted Work. This link will take you to the section on ‘Permitted Work’ within the artist’s resource site.

If you get Incapacity Benefit and also get a wage through Permitted Work, this could affect income-related benefits you get like Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

Disability Living Allowance and/or Attendance Allowance – these are paid to help you live your life, whether you work or not. They are not usually affected by any savings or income you may have and therefore are not usually affected by income from work.

Remember, if you stop getting one benefit, you may be entitled to others, especially if you are on a low income. For example, if you come off Incapacity Benefit, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit (if you are working 16 hours a week or more), support with housing benefit and other support, especially if you have a low income and/or dependant children.