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.
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If you are already receiving Housing Benefit you may be able to get additional help from your local council if you are struggling to pay your rent.
Income Support has been replaced by Universal Credit (UC) for most people. If you already receive Income Support and you are still eligible your Income Support payments will continue.
If you pay Council Tax and you are on a low income and have savings of less than £16,000, you may be eligible for Local Council Tax Support/Reduction. You can apply whether you rent or own your home, or even live rent-free.
Jobseeker’s Allowance is the main benefit for people who are unemployed but are capable of working and are looking for a job. In order to qualify you must be able to start a job straight away.
Working Tax Credit is a payment for people who are working but are on a low income. You can receive the payment if you are over 16, work for more than a certain number of hours a week and you income is below a certain level.
If you’re a homeowner getting certain income related benefits you might be able to get help towards interest payments on your mortgage and some loans for repairs and improvements to the home
The Social Fund is a scheme to help people who are on low income with certain one-off or occasional expenses. These additional payments are outside the range of regular benefit payments.
From April 2013, the Government introduced a cap on the total amount of benefit that people aged 16 to 64 can receive. If you are affected, your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will go down to make sure that the total amount of benefit you get isn’t more than the …
If you are unhappy about a decision regarding your benefit, benefit claim, tax credits or National Insurance you can ask for more information, an explanation or request for the decision to be reconsidered. You can make a formal complaint about the service you received and under certain conditions you can …
Benefit fraud costs the taxpayer over a billion pounds every year. If you know or have a strong suspicion that someone is committing benefit fraud you should report them straight away, remaining anonymous if you wish to.
