Reduced Earnings Allowance (REA)

What is it?

• Help if you cannot earn as much as you normally could because of an accident or disease caused by work.

Can I get it?

Are you:

• Unable to do your usual job or work with similar pay because of an accident or disease caused by work?
• Suffering from an illness or disability because of an accident or disease which occurred before 1 October 1990?

If YES to both, claim REA.

What else should I know?

How much will I get?

(Only use the amounts shown as a guide. The rules for benefits mean that your individual circumstances may affect the amount you can get. This means you will not always be able to work out exactly how much you will get by using these amounts.)

Maximum rate £49.52 a week

How do I claim?

Claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.

Contact your social security office for a claim form. Find your local office on this site or look in the phone book under Jobcentre Plus, or Social Security.

It is important that we can be sure of your identity when you make a claim. We may need to ask you about your background and look at any official documents you have to support the information you give.

I am already getting it. What happens if:

I go into hospital or someone I claim for goes into hospital?
Your REA is not affected however long you are in hospital.

I go to live abroad or visit?
Let us know as soon as you can that you are going abroad. You can usually do this by contacting your Jobcentre Plus office or social security office.

If you are going abroad permanently to a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you cannot get REA.

More information

To get more information or leaflets, get in touch with your Jobcentre Plus office or social security office.

A confidential telephone service is available for people with disabilities and their carers. Ring the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) on 0800 88 22 00. People with speech or hearing problems using a textphone can dial 0800 24 33 55.

The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice. This advice must not be taken as a decision on any matter about which you are making an enquiry

Other help

Definitions

The European Economic Area (EEA) countries are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (UK).

UK means England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but not the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales.

Remember that this website is only a general guide to benefits and schemes and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law. We have made every effort to ensure that the information on this website is correct at the date shown at the top of this page. However, changes in the law may make the website become gradually less accurate.