2. Help if you are on a low income, whether in or out of work


There are a number of benefits — primarily Working Tax Credit, Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance, as well as Universal Credit (UC) (currently being rolled out) — for people on low incomes, depending on whether they are working full time or part time, or are out of work and looking for a job.


Other financial help, such as funeral and cold weather payments, may also be available, and help with housing costs for people on low incomes is explained in Chapter 6. 


Help is also available for bringing up children (see Chapter 4). While the Child Tax Credit used to be available to the majority of families, whether the parents are working or not, significant changes were introduced from April 2013 and further changes come into effect in April 2016 and April 2017 (see page 72).