Benefits | Money.uk.net

Child benefit

A benefit for each dependant child.

You are entitled to Child Benefit if your income does not exceed £50 000 per year and you are responsible for dependants under the age of 20 if they are attending a non-advanced education.

Child benefit is payable at a rate of £20.70 per week for the first child and £13.70 per week for any other children.

This benefit is payable if you are responsible for the child and:

You are residing in the UK with the child; or,

You support and are responsible for the child who lives in another country of European Union.

New comers to the UK must meet at least one of the following:

be employed;

be working as a self-employed sole trader;

be actively looking for work in United Kingdom and be registered at a local Jobcentre as an unemployed person.

On receipt of a positive decision, payments will be backdated up to 3 months from the date of the form.

Tax Credits

Help for low earners.

This benefit is awarded to individuals and families on low income and is formed of two elements - Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is payable to individuals who are responsible for children under the age of 20 in the United Kingdom. In order to qualify for this benefit you do not need to be in employment, however there are other requirements, such as:

- to be responsible for the child;

- to have been a resident in the UK for the past 3 months and income should not exceed the threshold.

Working Tax Credit

You should be entitled to Working Tax Credit if you are aged 25 or over, are working a set number of hours a week and are on low income:

- if you are single/couple with no dependants you need to work at least 30 hours a week;

- if you are a lone parent the required number of working hours is 16 per week;

- couples with dependants are required to work at least 24 hours per week;

Working families that are eligible to receive Working Tax Credit are entitled to Childcare element as long as parents work at least 16 hours per week each and are using a service of a registered childcare provider.

Please remember! Tax Credits are payable based on the previous financial year information for the year ahead, it is important HMRC is updated with any changes in income or circumstances to avoid overpayment that will need to be paid back.

Housing benefit

A benefit to help you pay rent.

You could get Housing Benefit, if you’re on a low income, to help you pay rent and receive a Council Tax Reduction.

Benefit is payable to individuals who are responsible for paying rent for the property they live in, are on low income or are getting other benefits. Amount of award depends on your personal circumstances. You will not be entitled to this benefit if you are: a full-time student without children; live in a home of close relative; asylum seeker; or have saving over 16 000 pounds.

Maternity Allowance

A benefit to help you through maternity leave.

Maternity Allowance is payable to mothers-to-be or new mothers if they were working as self-employed or are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay in the United Kingdom.

Maternity Allowance is 90% of average weekly pay or as a standard amount of £139.58 per week, whichever is lower.

Benefit is payable for 39 weeks during a Maternity leave:

- if you were employed but your employer refuses to pay Statutory Maternity Pay; or

- if you were self-employed and have worked at least 26 weeks in the period of 66 weeks before the week the baby is due.

There is a time scale when you can claim, so do not delay the claim.

Pension Credit

Retire with no worries.

Pension Credit - benefit awarded to individuals who have reached pension age and are on low income. This benefit is payable up to £151.20 per week for single and up to £230.80 per week for couple applicants. Please note, income is calculated adding up all the income you might receive including foreign pension, property let, etc. In the case where total weekly income is less than the set minimum standard (£151.20 p/w for singles and £230.80 p/w for couples), Pension Credit will be paid to compensate this shortage.

Eligibility:

You live in Great Britain

You have reached pension age

You are Habitually resident