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 — available to people on low incomes, depending on whether they are working full-time, working 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 7. Help is also available for bringing up children: the Child Tax Credit (see Chapter 5) has been available to the majority of families, whether the parents are working or not, but there are significant changes from 6 April 2013.