As the cost-of-living crises continues, we are aware that increasing costs are being felt all over the country.

In this resource we aim to give you information to help you access any benefits that you may be entitled to. Some of these benefits can vary depending on what country you are in, or your local Council. We advise asking your local Council directly what supporting they can provide, as the local support offered can vary depending on where you live.

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General benefits:

The main benefit that you may be eligible for is Universal Credit (UC). This is usually a monthly payment awarded to those on low income, out of work or unable to work. Universal Credit is a little different in Northern Ireland and must be applied from Northern Ireland’s government website.

Universal Credit was created as a replacement for many of the previous benefits such as:

• Housing benefit
• Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Support

This benefit is valid up until you are earning a certain amount or are of pensionable age. For further information on eligibility, we suggest you visit the government website which outlines the requirements.

The Standard Allowance is as follows:

• if you are single and under 25 is £265.31 a month.
• If you are 25 or over its £334.91.
• If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25 it’s £416.45 (for you both).
• If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over it’s £525.72 (for you both).

You can receive additional payments if you have children and again if those children have a disability. You can also get an additional payment if you have a disability or health condition that limits your capability for work and work-related activity, or if you provide care for someone. To check your entitlements please see the turn2us benefits calculator.

Your payments may be reduced if the following apply.

• You are paying back an advance on a Universal Credit payment
• you have more than £6,000 in money, savings, and investments
• you’ve been overpaid benefits in the past
• you owe money for Council Tax, court fines, electricity, gas, water, or Child Maintenance
• you pay your gas or electricity bill directly from your Universal Credit payment
• you have a paid job
• you have other income – for example, money from pensions or certain other benefits

Personal Independence Payment (PIP):

This benefit is to help with the extra living costs if you have both:

• A long-term physical or mental condition or disability
• Difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For more information about this, check out this resource created by Citizen’s Advice explaining how this payment works. For each task they’ll look at:

• whether you can do it safely
• how long it takes you
• how often your condition affects this activity
• whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

If you live in Scotland you will need to apply for Adult Disability Payment instead, this is explained in more detail below.

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 Cost Of Living Payment:

If you are eligible for Universal Credit or other income or tax support, then you may be eligible for an additional Cost of Living additional payment of £650, split into two separate payments over a few months. You were eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £326 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit for an assessment period from 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. This payment was made in July by the DWP. You will be eligible for the second Cost of Living Payment of £324 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit for an assessment period from 26 August 2022 to 25 September 2022. This payment will be made in November.

This assessment period requires you to be receiving more than £0 of Universal Credit. This is awarded automatically.

Fuel Discount:

The £400 fuel discount is a non-repayable discount on your energy bills this winter from October 2022 to March 2023. This will be administered by all energy suppliers and will consist of a reduction of your energy bill of £66 in October and November 2022, increasing to a discount of £67 from December. As this discount is being administered by the supplier, there is nothing needed to be done by the bill payer to be eligible for this discount.

Below we have listed other benefits that may be entitled to that vary depending on your region. England and Wales provide the same benefit entitlements as each other, although your local council may have specific grants or arrangements in place. You should always contact your council directly  to request an explanation of what support they can provide.

Scotland:

The list of available benefits are detailed on the Scottish Government website which each lead to an explanation of how to apply as well as links to benefit calculators to see which you are eligible for. Below is a summary of each benefit that a 16–25-year-old would be entitled to.

• Self Isolation Grant: If you have a positive PCR test or someone you care for has a positive PCR test, and you are a low paid worker who’ll lose money from the self-isolation period, you could be eligible for the onetime payment of £225
• Scottish Welfare Fund: if you are on low income, receiving certain benefits you can apply for a grant, the grants are: Crisis grant – to help with unexpected emergency, Community Care Grant 0 to help you or someone you care for. This is applied through your local council
• Funeral Support Payment: to assist in the cost of a funeral
• Best Start Grant: to assist you with pregnancy and baby costs, Early learning and school ages, each payment is one-off. They also offer a food card to be used to buy healthy foods.
• Independent Living Fund Scotland Transition: If you have a disability or impairment you can apply to this fund for money to help you take part in a new activity or learn a skill.
• Job Start Payment: this exists to help with the costs of starting a new job if you have been out of work and are on benefits
• Young Carer Grant: is a yearly payment for 16-18 years olds who are young carers
• Scottish Child Payment: to help the costs of supporting family if you are in the care of a child, you may be entitled to this weekly payment of £20
• Adult disability Payment: is made up of two parts, daily living, and mobility. You may qualify for one or both parts. This is a weekly payment that has different tiers for a standard or enhanced award depending on the nature of your disability
• Heating & Housing Benefits: there are a few different forms of this such as a Discretionary Housing payment which is in addition to general housing benefit. These will be applied for via your local council
• Short-term Assistance: is a temporary payment when you are challenging a decision to reduce or stop your Adult Disability Payment, whilst the challenge is ongoing this payment will replace the amount that social security Scotland has reduce your disability payment by
• Additional Disability Support: this includes things like care, housing, transport, travel and are needed to be applied for separately

Northern Ireland:

• Bereavement Support Payment: this gives financial help to deal with the more immediate costs caused by the death of a spouse or civil partner
• Carers Allowance: If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability or health condition you may be eligible for this payment
• Carer’s Credit: This is a credit for carers to protect your future entitlement to State Pension and bereavement benefits.
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): This benefit offers support and financial help so you can do suitable work if able. You must have an illness or disability which affects your work ability, be unable to work for two or more days out of 7 consecutive days, be receiving special medical treatment

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