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