Benefits
This article provides benefits information and links to useful sites.
In this section you will find information about:
- Help with benefits issues - from making a new claim to issues with a current or pending claim.
- Finding out if you are entitled to any benefits. Different ways you can check if you can claim more than you are currently claiming.
- Information about some of the different benefits available. An A-Z list of different benefits and a brief description about each one.
- Benefits available to leaseholders. Help with mortgage interest payments.
BENEFITS NEWS
Extra money for working tenants (November 2009)
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced an extension in housing benefit entitlement that could help up to 200,000 working families.
Child benefit will no longer be taken into account when calculating entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Secretary of State Yvette Cooper said:
"We want to do more to help families who are working hard to get by during the recession. Already tax credits make sure families are better off in work, but this extra cash is a practical way to make sure the benefits from working are even stronger. And it will help cut child poverty too."
In response, shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May criticised this increase in public spending by saying:
"Housing benefit can provide valuable help to people in work, but the reality is that for too many people it represents part of a broader picture of benefit dependency."
Take advantage of a free finance check to find out if you may now be entitled to further benefits.
Good News for Pensioners (November 2009)
The savings limit for Pension Credit has been increased from November 2009. When working out your eligibility for Pension Credit, the first £6,000 of savings were disregarded. From November 2009, this amount has increased to £10,000.
Even if you have more than £10,000 in savings, you may still be eligible for some Pension Credit as only £1 is counted as income for every £500 you have over the £10,000 limit.
To find out if you may now be eligible for Pension Credit or any other benefits, you can book an appointment for a free Finance Check by telephoning 01202 264484. Or contact Pension Services on 0800 99 1234.