Legal & business

Welfare benefi ts for musicians

Eden Waygood, ISM’s Membership & Services Offi cer, runs through some of the state benefi ts you might be entitled to

Above: Eden Waygood, ISM Membership & Services Offi cer Photo: Emile Holba As we head into winter with many parts of the country in regional lockdowns, we understand that your ability to generate income may have reduced and that some of you may be experiencing fi nancial diffi culties. Here we take you through some of the state benefi ts you might be entitled to; for details of eligibility and how to apply please visit our website at: ism.org/advice/welfare-benefi ts-musicians Remember that you may qualify for most of these benefi ts even if you are self-employed.

Universal Credit Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs or payments twice a month for some people in Scotland. Universal Credit is replacing the following benefi ts, which are being phased out: • Child Tax Credit • Housing Benefi t • Income Support • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance • Working Tax Credit You can remain on any of the above benefi ts without applying for Universal Credit. However, if your circumstances change and you need to make a new claim to one of the above benefi ts, as these benefi ts are not accepting new applicants, your new claim will fall under Universal Credit. If you are receiving any of the above benefi ts or tax credits they will stop if you make a Universal Credit claim. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

If you are employed and normally earn more than the ‘lower earnings limit’ you should be entitled to SSP. You may also be entitled to contractual sick pay from your employer and this may mean that you suffer no loss of earnings in the fi rst weeks off work. If you are employed and still unable to return to work when your period of SSP stops after 28 weeks, you may then qualify for contributions-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You qualify for this benefi t if: • you are assessed as having ’limited capability for work’ • you are under state pension age and • you have paid suffi cient National Insurance contributions If you are self-employed and have been paying Class 2 National Insurance contributions you qualify for contributions-based ESA, as long as you satisfy the other two conditions.

Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

In some cases, you may be able to apply for ESA. ESA gives additional support to people who have limited capacity to work due to their sickness or disability. If you do not receive SSP, for example those who are self-employed or are in employment but earn less than £118 a week, you should consider making a claim. You can apply for ESA whether or not you are in work. You must be under state pension age and there are no conditions to working while claiming ESA. You cannot receive ESA at the same time as receiving SSP from your employer, however you can apply for

ESA up to three months before your SSP ends. ESA is not offered to those currently receiving Statutory Maternity Pay or Jobseeker’s Allowance. You can receive Universal Credit at the same time as or instead of ESA.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP can help you with some of the extra costs you may incur from having long-term illness or disability. You could receive between £23.60 and £151.40 a week if you’re aged 16 or over and have not reached State Pension age. The amount you receive depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself. PIP is not means-tested, is not taxable and is payable whether or not you are in work. Your carer could receive Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs. If you receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) (this is ending for people aged 16 to 64), you can continue to receive this if you’re under 16 or if you were born on or before 8 April 1948 and have an existing claim. You’ll continue to receive DLA until the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) invites you to apply for PIP. You do not need to do anything until DWP writes to you about your DLA, unless your circumstances change. If you’ve reached state pension age, you can apply for Attendance Allowance. Attendance Allowance is paid to people who have reached state pension age and have additional care needs due to a illness or disability. Attendance Allowance is tax-free and is not affected by income, capital, National Insurance contributions or work. Attendance Allowance is meant to compensate for the extra costs of having a disability but can be spent in any way. Pension Credit If you have reached the age where you qualify for a state retirement pension and have only a limited income, you may be entitled to Pension Credit. Pension Credit is an income-related benefi t made up of two parts: • Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit: Guarantee

Credit tops up your weekly income if it is below the minimum threshold. The minimum weekly income is currently £173.75 if you are single and £265.20 for couples. You may still be eligible if you have savings, a pension or your own home • Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved money towards their retirement, for example a pension.

Can EU citizens apply for UK benefi ts?

European Union (EU) citizens may be able to claim benefi ts if they have the right to reside in the UK or can pass the habitual residence test. To pass this test, you’ll need to show you’ve made the UK your home and plan to stay here. You don’t need to pass the habitual residence test if you have settled status or have certain types of right to reside, for example because you are working or are self-employed.

Universal credit: gov.uk/universal-credit Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay Employment Support Allowance (ESA): gov.uk/employment-support-allowance Personal Independence Payment (PIP): gov.uk/pip Carers Allowance: gov.uk/carers-allowance Disability Living Allowance: gov.uk/dla-disability-living-allowance-benefi t Attendance Allowance: gov.uk/attendance-allowance Pension Credit: gov.uk/pension-credit ISM advice page ‘COVID-19: Funds for musicians’: ism.org/advice/ funds-musicians-covid-19

Protect yourself at work with 30% off PPE

Ethical stationery company Ethstat is offering ISM members an exclusive 30% discount on personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, hand sanitiser, cleaning supplies, gloves, wipes and visors, as well as additional discounts on offi ce supplies and carbon reporting. Ethstat is a social enterprise and gives all profi ts from PPE supplies to help provide critical PPE for the homeless, care homes and dementia families.

Access the discount at ism.org/my-ism/your-discounts