Managing your income

The rising cost of living is impacting on household incomes. Help and support is available if you are finding it difficult to manage your money.

Benefits

You can use a benefit calculator to work out what benefits you are entitled to. You can also use them to work out how moving into work or moving jobs could affect your income and benefits.

If your household income is squeezed, Moneyhelper's guide will tell you how to claim any benefits you’re entitled to, find extra sources of income and understand the support available to help you manage household bills and save money.

Housing Benefit and Discretionary Housing Payments

Check how to claim Housing benefit.

If you are struggling to pay your rent, you may be entitled to Discretionary Housing Payments if the Housing Benefit or Universal Credits you receive does not cover your full rent.

Cost of Living Payments

The first instalment of the £650 Cost of Living Payments will be paid automatically to eligible people between 14 and 31 July. The remaining £324 will be paid in autumn. To find out more visit the GOV UK website.

 

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is being rolled out across the country and has replaced claims for the following means-test ‘legacy’ benefits: 

  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseek’s Allowance 
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit 
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance 

Visit the government's website for more information.

Citizens Advice offer a Help to Claim service to support you with the early stages of your claim. Their advisers can help you work out if you can get UC, help you complete an application and check that your first payment is correct.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

You may be entitled to PIP if you have a long term medical issue or be able to claim DLA for a child under 16 years.

Free school meals

You may be entitled to free school meals if you are entitled to benefits including Universal Credit and Tax Credits. Eligibility for free school meals may also attract other benefits such as, discounted or free school trips.

Council Tax

You may get a Council Tax reduction if your (and any partner’s) income and savings are low enough.

Council Tax is not payable on some properties. There are different types or classes of exemption. 

Find out what do if you're late paying your Council Tax bill.