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 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. While the Child Tax Credit (see Chapter 4) had been available to the majority of families, whether the parents are working or not, significant changes were introduced from April 2013.