Support For Mortgage Interest (SMI) is a benefit available to owner-occupiers to help with housing costs such as mortgage interest and other home loans or repair bills. However from April 2018 it is being abolished and replaced with a loan system that will affect current and new claimants. The new system will mean loans have […]

Severe Disablement Premium is an additional amount of financial support made automatically available to those who have to deal with the cost of being disabled. It can be included with a number of means tested benefits including… Income Support Employment & Support Allowance (income-related) Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based) Guarantee Pension Credit Housing Benefit But can also […]

Reduced Earnings Allowance is a benefit available to those who cannot earn as much as they used to due to an industrial injury or disease which occurred before 1 October 1990. How much can I get? The maximum amount you can claim is £67.88 per week. Qualifying Conditions You must meet all these qualifying conditions […]

Local Welfare Assistance provides emergency financial support and is administered by local authorities to help people on low incomes. Basic Eligibility Schemes vary from location to location but you normally can only apply if you are receiving certain benefits including… Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related) Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-based) Universal Credit Pension Credit Income Support How […]

If illness or disability means you cannot work or must consider working fewer hours, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is there as a safety net to take care of some of your financial worries. ESA comes as two separate benefits… A contributions-based benefit based on your history of paying National Insurance Contributions (NIC) A benefit […]

Healthy Start Food Vouchers can be swapped for healthy essential food items such as vegetables, milk and fruit. Pre cooked foods or foods with a high salt or sugar content cannot be used under this scheme. The scheme is only available between the 1st November and 31st March Basic Eligibility You must be either 10 […]

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is paid to those who have contracted a disease or sustained an industrial injury whilst in the workplace. The benefit is non-means tested and does not have any income or personal savings restrictions. Basic Eligibility The DWP lists this technical guidance which outlines which types of diseases and industrial injuries will […]

The Winter Fuel payment is a one-off payment made to pensioners to help to deal with the cost of heating their homes in the Winter. It is a tax free, non-means tested benefit. Basic Eligibility Below is the qualifying criteria.. You must have been born on or before the 5th of August 1953 in order […]

If you are expecting a baby or due to adopt one then you could apply for a one off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) payment. This can only be paid if the expectant child is the only child aged under 16 in the household. You have autonomy over how the money is spent, which […]

Statutory Sick Pay is paid by employers to those who are sick and cannot work. Basic eligibility The vast majority of workers will be eligible for sick pay including full and part time staff, agency workers and those working on a fixed term contract. You must on average earn more than £113 per week, but […]