Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you’re State Pension age and disabled.

The bedroom ‘size criteria’ rule, or ‘bedroom tax’ as it’s more commonly known, restricts the size of home that Universal Credit or Housing Benefit can cover the rental costs for, based on the number of people in your household.

If you’re struggling to pay the bedroom tax you can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments through your local council if you meet certain criteria.

If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability, you may be eligible for extra money called Carer’s Allowance.

You could get Carer’s Credit if you’re caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week. Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record.

Your State Pension is based on your National Insurance record.

Your income, savings or investments will not affect eligibility for Carer’s Credit.

The Carer’s Element in Universal Credit (UC) is an additional amount added to your UC payment if you’re a full-time carer for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit. You may be eligible for this element if you meet the conditions for Carer’s Allowance, even if you don’t actually claim it, or if your earnings are too high to qualify for Carer’s Allowance.

You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:

• under 16
• under 20 if they stay in approved education or training

Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child. There’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.

Council Tax Support is a Council Tax discount. It reduces the amount of Council Tax you must pay. The size of the discount you get depends on your income.

You may be eligible for Council Tax Support if you:

• live in the UK
• are on a low income
• pay Council Tax

Council Tax Support is NOT  covered by Universal Credit.

If you’d like help to make a claim, please contact our Money Matters team on 0113 386 1000 or apply through your local council:

The bereavement benefits you can get will depend on your age and circumstances.

If you have care needs or a disability – or you’re caring for someone who does – there are benefits to help you manage with the extra costs. Some of these benefits aren’t affected by income or savings, and you might be able to keep them if you have to go into a care home.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children is a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that helps with the extra costs of caring for a child under 16 who has a disability or health condition. DLA is not means-tested, meaning your income doesn’t affect how much you can receive.

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit.

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either of the following apply:

• you have reached State Pension age
• you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you can get an extra amount of money to pay towards your housing costs.

If you’re pregnant in the UK you can access Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance (MA) for up to 39 weeks. If you’re working, there are options for paid and unpaid leave, including Statutory Maternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave.

You can also get free vitamins through the Healthy Start scheme, and potentially a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

State Pension

Your State Pension is a regular payment from the government that most people can claim when they reach State Pension age. It may be different to the age you can get a workplace or personal pension.

• Check your State Pension age
• Learn more about State Pensions

Pension Credit and Guaranteed Pension Credit

If you’re over State Pension age and finding it tricky to make ends meet, you might be able to claim Pension Credit to top up your income. It comes in two parts: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.

• Increase your retirement income with Pension Credit
• Advice on State Pension age benefits

Private pensions and savings

Some people also have private pensions and savings.

• Learn how you access your different pension pots

A Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

If you can’t work, or work reduced hours, because of sickness or disability – financial support is available. You might be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay, paid by your employer. If this has run out, or you can’t claim it, you might be able to claim:

• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Universal Credit
• other benefits

A terminal illness is a condition that cannot be cured and is likely to lead to death. It’s also sometimes referred to as a life-limiting illness. The Department or Work and Pensions (DWP) defines it as a progressive disease where death is reasonably expected within twelve months.

Useful resources:

• Managing money at the end of life – advice and support from Macmillan
• Benefits and ‘special rules’ when you’re nearing the end of your life – information from the government

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly, or sometimes twice monthly. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you can’t work.

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits:

• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you already get any of these benefits, you don’t need to do anything unless you have a change of circumstances or you get a letter called a Migration Notice telling you that you must claim Universal Credit.

Change of circumstances

It’s important you report a change of circumstances as soon as possible to prevent you being under or overpaid Universal Credit.

If you’re on Universal Credit you MUST also tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about any changes in rent and resubmit your housing costs on your online Universal Credit journal.

Migration Notice

If you get a Migration Notice, you must move to Universal Credit by the deadline date in your letter to keep getting financial support.

Once you receive your notice you’ll have 3 months to act so it’s important to seek help and advice straight away.

Call our Money Matters team on 0113 386 1000 for advice on:

• The best time within the 3-month window to move to Universal Credit
• How much you’re likely to receive in Universal Credit. We’ll also be able to provide tips so you can make sure your application is assessed correctly from the start
• If you’re entitled to any Transitional Protection – these are measures the Government has put in place to protect you against any income lost due to the switch over.

If you or your partner gets Pension Credit, this will also stop if one of you claims Universal Credit. You’ll continue getting any other benefits you already receive, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Carer’s Allowance.

If you get certain other benefits at the same time as Universal Credit, the amount of Universal Credit you receive will be reduced.

Council Tax Support is NOT claimed for or covered by Universal Credit.

Useful resources:

• Introduction video from the DWP about moving from ‘legacy’ benefits to Universal Credit (2 min watch)
• Step-by-step video guide from the DWP explaining how to make a Universal Credit claim (9 min watch)
• Information about additional elements of Universal Credit