LRD guides and handbook March 2015

State benefits and tax credits 2015

Chapter 2

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

[ch 2: page 24]

There are a number of benefits – primarily Working Tax Credit, Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance, as well as Universal Credit (currently being rolled out – see Chapter 1) available to 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. These are set out in Chapter 4.