Benefits

The benefits system is designed to make sure that there is a minimum standard of living for everyone and My Advice Gateway provides information on how benefits are claimed and paid.

Details of planned changes to the benefit system can be found at here.

An A-Z of the Benefits System is available from GOV.UK and further information is available at CitizensAdvice, Turn2us, AgeUK and MoneyHelper.

Benefits categories

Pensions

TELEVISION LICENCE CONCESSIONS

In August 2020, the BBC introduced a new scheme that offers some over 75 households a free TV Licence.

Family and Children

STATUTORY ADOPTION PAY & LEAVE

If you are adopting a child or having a child through a surrogacy arrangement, you are entitled to a year of Statutory Adoption Leave plus ...

Benefits

BENEFITS CALCULATOR

You may be missing out on financial help that you are entitled to through welfare benefits. The entitledto calculator can help you check what benefits ...

Benefits

UNIVERSAL CREDIT

Universal Credit is a new single payment for people who are looking for work or on a low income. It is intended to help claimants ...

Sick or disabled

INDUSTRIAL INJURIES DISABLEMENT BENEFIT

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is for people who are disabled because of an accident at work, or who have certain diseases caused by their ...

Family and Children

STATUTORY PATERNITY PAY & LEAVE

You can get Statutory Paternity Pay to help you take one or two weeks off work when your wife, partner or civil partner gives birth ...

Benefits

UNIVERSAL CREDIT MAKING A CLAIM

You can claim Universal Credit online at home or from wherever you can access the internet making it easy to claim at a time that ...

Sick or disabled

DISABLED STUDENT ALLOWANCES (DSA’S)

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) are grants to help toward meeting the additional studying costs or expenses that students face as a direct result of a ...

Family and Children

SHARED PARENTAL/ADOPTION LEAVE AND PAY

Shared Parental/Adoption Leave is designed to give parents more flexibility in how to share the care of their child in the first year following birth ...

Benefits

UNIVERSAL CREDIT CLAIMANT COMMITMENT

Your Claimant Commitment will set out what you have agreed to do to prepare for and look for work, or to increase your earnings if ...

Sick or disabled

DISABILITY PREMIUMS

Disability Premiums are additional amounts that are included in some means-tested benefits to help with the cost of disability.

Family and Children

MATERNITY ALLOWANCE

If you are pregnant or have a new baby and you do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, you may be able to get Maternity ...

Benefits

UNIVERSAL CREDIT ADVANCES AND LOANS

If you don’t have enough to live on while you wait for your first UC payment or you need help to pay for emergency costs ...

Sick or disabled

CARER’S ALLOWANCE AND CARER PREMIUM

Carer's Allowance is money for people who provide regular care to someone who has a disability.

Family and Children

SURE START MATERNITY GRANT

If you get benefits or tax credits and are pregnant or have had a baby in the last three months you may be able to ...

Benefits

UNIVERSAL CREDIT PAYMENT

UC is a single payment that is paid monthly into your bank account. You may have to wait for up to 5 weeks for your ...

Sick or disabled

CARER’S CREDIT

Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that fills up gaps in your National Insurance record. It helps towards your State Pension while you’re not ...

Family and Children

GUARDIAN’S ALLOWANCE

If you look after a child whose parents have died, you may be able to claim Guardian's Allowance. In some circumstances, Guardian's Allowance can also ...

Benefits

UNIVERSAL MIGRATION

Universal Credit is replacing certain benefits in parts of the UK and will be rolled-out in phases between 2013 and 2017

Sick or disabled

ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE

Attendance Allowance is a tax-fee benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of illness or disability.