Benefits and financial support if you're on a low income

Overview

Support may be available whether you are working, looking for work, unable to work, or over the qualifying pension age.

What you can receive depends on your income, savings, household, housing costs, health, and where you live.

Check what you could get

Use a benefits calculator or eligibility checker with recent information about your earnings, savings, rent or mortgage, Council Tax, and household.

Check each scheme separately because local and national support can use different rules.

Help with housing costs

Universal Credit or Housing Benefit may help eligible renters. Homeowners may qualify for help with mortgage interest after a waiting period, usually as a repayable loan.

Your local authority may offer Council Tax Reduction or additional help when your housing support does not cover all of your rent.

Help with heating costs

Some households can receive a discount or seasonal payment towards energy costs. Eligibility can depend on age, income, benefits, energy supplier, or local weather conditions.

Check whether support is automatic or requires an application, and keep your energy account details available.

Help if you're over the qualifying pension age

Pension Credit can top up a low retirement income and may provide access to other help. Additional support can include winter payments and a free or discounted television licence for eligible people.

A claim may be possible even if you own your home or have some savings.

Other support

• Local authorities may provide help with essential living costs.
• Help may be available with prescriptions and other health costs.
• A savings scheme or budgeting loan may be available to some benefit recipients.
• Benefit deductions can sometimes be arranged to repay priority debts and bills.
• A support visit may be available if you need help making a claim.