There may be other benefits that you can claim to increase your income. Below is a summary of the most common benefits with links to the Direct Gov website where you can get more information.
Attendance Allowance
This is paid to people aged over 65 who have care needs because of a disability. Claiming Attendance Allowance can be complicated, but you can get help to complete the claim form.
Click here for more details.
Bereavement Benefits
There are several different sorts of bereavement benefit that can be paid. They depend on your circumstances and your late partner’s national insurance record.
Click here for more details.
Carers Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is paid people who are caring for a disabled person. The disabled person must be getting either Attendance Allowance or the middle or high rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance. It can reduce the disabled person’s entitlement to Income Support or Pension Credit so it is important to seek advice before claiming.
Click here for more details.
Child Benefit
This is paid to anyone who is bringing up a child. It is not affected by income or savings. It is paid by HM Revenue and Customs.
Click here for more details.
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is paid by HM Revenue and Customs. It is for anyone who is bringing up a child. It can be paid to people who are working or those claiming benefits.
Click here for more details.
Council Tax Benefit
This is paid by the Local Authority, and is claimed in the same way as Housing Benefit.
Click here for more details.
Disability Living Allowance
This is a benefit for people who have either care needs or mobility problems because of a disability. It is for people who are aged under 65. It can also be paid for children. Claiming Disability Living Allowance can be difficult, and it is worth seeking help with completing the claim form.
Click here for more details.
Employment and Support Allowance
ESA is paid to people who are not able to work because of ill health. There are two sorts of ESA. Contributory ESA is paid to people who have paid enough National Insurance contributions. Income-based ESA is for people on a low income.
Click here for more details.
Incapacity Benefit
This has now been replaced by Employment and Support Allowance for new claimants. It will continue to be paid to people who were already getting it. Incapacity Benefit was paid to people who are not able to work because of ill health. Payment depends on whether you have paid enough national insurance contributions.
Click here for more details.
Income Support
Income Support is paid to people who have a low income, and who are not expected to work because of their circumstances. It is affect by both income and savings.
Click here for more details.
Jobseekers Allowance
There are two types of Jobseekers Allowance, contributory and income-based. It is paid to people who are not working full-time and who are expected to be looking for work. In order to qualify you must be capable of work and actively seeking work.
Click here for more details.
Pension Credit
This is paid to people aged over 60. There are two types of credit – guarantee and savings. It is not dependant on having paid national insurance contributions.
Click here for more details.
State Pension
State Pension is paid to people who have reached the state retirement age. The amount that you get depends on your or your partners national insurance record.
Click here for more details.
Working Tax Credit
This is paid by HM Revenue and Customs. It is paid to people who are in work, as a ‘top up’ to their wages.
Click here for more details.
Information about other less common benefits can be found by following the links from the main Directgov webpage.
Click here for more details.
There are websites that can check your benefit entitlement including www.turn2us.org.uk
