Benefits, tax credits and pensions
Benefits are essential to the welfare of many people.
As your circumstances change you should check to see whether you become entitled to extra help – don't miss out as some changes cannot be backdated.
General advice
Local benefits advice
These local councils offer advice on Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit:
Help for older people
Help with heating
- Keep Warm, Keep Well
Households on benefits may qualify for grants towards heating and insulation.
- Green home
For more energy saving tips and other grants.
Some specific benefits
- Tax credits
Find out if you qualify, and how to claim.
- Income Support
Paid to people with a low income. It can include help with costs, such as free prescriptions from your doctor and dental treatment. It is not paid to unemployed people or people in full-time work.
- Job Seeker's Allowance
If you are paid National Insurance contributions you may be eligible for Job Seeker's Allowance at a fixed rate for up to 26 weeks.
- Council Tax
Your local district or borough council can help you with council tax benefits. Follow the link above for contact details.
- Housing benefit
This is also paid through your local district or borough council. Follow the link for contact details.
- Blind Allowance
A special income tax allowance that reduces the amount of income that you have to pay tax on. You do not need to be totally blind to be able to claim but you will need to be certified as blind.
- Carer's Allowance
(Formally know as invalid care allowance) is a weekly payment for people looking after a disabled person for at least 35 hours per week.
- Disability Living Allowance (Adults)
A benefit for people under 65 who have a mental or physical impairment. It is split into two parts. The ‘care' component for people who need looking after, and the ‘mobility' component to help people to get around. If you are over 65 you may be able to claim attendance allowance instead.
- Disability Living Allowance (Children)
For carers who have a child with severe physical, or mental illness, or disability who needs much more help or looking after than other children of the same age because of their illness or impairment.