in this section
Where to get help and general advice
What will affect your claim?
Unemployed and 18+
Picture
Unemployed and age 16/17?
Aged 16-19, in school or FE (or recently left)
Pregnant?
New baby?
Caring for children
Sickness.
Disabled? Carer?
Help with paying rent
Help with paying Council Tax
Emergencies or extra expenses
Other students
For Contact Details see our A-Z
What follows is only a general guide, and certainly doesn't cover every benefit or rule. If you need help, or are struggling to make ends meet, get advice to find out what you are entitled to, especially if your situation is at all complicated!
Where rates are given these are for 2009/10. All rates are normally increased each April.
Depending on your income or circumstances, you may be entitled to free prescriptions, and free or partial help with dental care and glasses. See 'Free NHS treatment'
WHERE TO GET HELP
For advice about what benefits you might be entitled to and how to
apply, go to Castlegate or CAB, or call the Council Benefits Advice
Team. Castlegate will also help with filling in forms, and you can use
the phone there too. A Benefits Advice Team adviser can visit you at home if necessary or you can make an appointment at their office.
Future Prospects can help with benefits if they are linked to work or learning. For Contact Details see our
A-Z.
If you are having problems with your Housing Benefit claim, or you need help to make sure your claim is ready to be worked out, you can speak to/see the same HB Officer each time, which should help sort out problems early on. Phone/text for a Housing Benefit young person's rep. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
You might find direct.gov.uk useful for advice about any benefits.
GENERAL ADVICE
Most benefits claims are started over the phone, by ringing the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline. Tax Credits and Child Benefit have their own helpline numbers. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
If using the phone is a problem to you, go to the Jobcentre Plus and ask for help. If the new claims helpline arranges to phone you back and you miss the call, make sure you call them back or it can delay your claim. Make sure you check and correct any information they send back to you. Provide any extra information they ask for as soon as possible. Get help if you need it or help with filling in forms.
You will need your postcode, and National Insurance number - but if you don't have it, don't let that delay you. You will only usually get benefits from the time when you first start your claim but it's worth asking for your claim to be backdated if you have good reason. Tax Credits can be backdated up to 3 months. You will also need identification (passport, birth certificate, bank papers etc).
If you have no money while you are waiting for your first payment, you may be able to get a Crisis Loan. See here.
Benefits are normally paid into your bank or building society account, or Post Office card account. If this is a problem, ask at Jobcentre Plus.
You will receive a written decision about any claim for benefits. If you think the decision is wrong, you have the right to appeal, and they may change their decision if they look at it again. Get advice.
WHAT WILL AFFECT YOUR CLAIM?
Your age may affect how much money you get, for example Income Support and JSA rates are lower for those under 25. Some benefits can't be claimed if you are below a certain age, and if you are under 16 you can't claim any benefits for yourself (except Child Benefit for your own child); your parent/guardian should claim for you.
Most benefits will be affected if you are married or living with someone as if you were married - i.e. 'cohabiting'. Same-sex couples are treated in the same way as opposite-sex couples. If you are single, but are being treated as a couple because you live with someone else, get advice.
Income Support, Income-based JSA, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are all affected by your or your partner's earnings, although a small amount of your earnings is disregarded. This is £5 is you are single, £10 if you are a couple, £20 if you are disabled and £20 if you are a single parent (£25 for HB and CTB). These benefits may also be affected by any savings you have.
IF YOU ARE... UNEMPLOYED AND 18+
You may be able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). If you have a partner you may be able to claim for them, but if one of you is under 18, extra rules apply so get advice.
• Weekly rates for JSA (also Income Support and irESA)
Age 16-24: £50.95 pw Age 25 or over: £64.30 pw
Couple rate: both aged 18 or over: £100.95 pw
For couples where one or both of you is under 18, a lower rate of £76.90 may apply, depending on your circumstances.
• If you are 16/17 and unemployed, see here
• If you have children, see here
• If you can't work due to sickness, see here
• If you have a disability, see here
• If you are paying rent see here, or Council tax, see
here
If you are working part-time then you will lose some benefit.
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Make a claim by ringing the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline as soon as you are unemployed. For Contact Details see our A-Z. You (and your partner, if you are claiming for them) will have to attend a 'new jobseeker's interview'. Be on time - showing up late can affect your claim. You will also get a short interview each time you sign on, and another after 13 weeks.
Jobcentre Plus will ask you about why you are unemployed. If you left a job or got sacked because of misconduct you may lose benefit (but still make a claim as soon as you can, otherwise you may lose even more benefit!) This is called a sanction. If you don't think they were fair to sanction you, get advice and appeal. Appeals have a good chance of overturning the decision. You should not be sanctioned for leaving a training placement if it is your first offence.
To claim JSA you must be looking for a job or training placement.
You have to 'sign on' every two weeks, and show that you are 'available for' and 'actively seeking' work.
You can put some restrictions on your availability for work - e.g.
what areas you can travel to for work, the pay, the hours of the day you can work. These must be 'reasonable' (i.e. leave you with a
good chance of getting a job) or you could lose benefit. You can restrict your availability to your usual job/pay for up to 13 weeks.
You should also be able to make restrictions because for example you have caring responsibility for someone, or you have a disability
that restricts the type of work that you can do.
Actively seeking work usually means taking at least two steps every week to find work. Make sure you agree to what you can realistically do every week. Keep written records of everything you do. If you can't do this, discuss it at the interview.
JSA is normally paid every fortnight in arrears.
JSA and New Deal
The New Deal 18-24 is to help people 18-24 to find work. It's meant to be flexible, and is intended to give you the help that you think you need to get a job you will stay in. You'll automatically have to join when you have been claiming JSA for six months continuously.
You will be given intensive help for up to four months to try to find a job. If this isn't successful you will be offered a package of full time support in either a subsidised job; full time education or training; voluntary work; or a place on an Environmental Task Force. You should get a choice over your placement although you may not get to choose between all four options.
New Deal is compulsory - if you refuse or fail to take up a placement, or leave it early, you will lose benefit for two weeks for a first 'offence' and four weeks for a second 'offence'. If you are vulnerable (eg pregnant or have a child or have left care) you can get a reduced rate of JSA for these weeks.
The penalty for a third 'offence' is 26 weeks sanction. You normally cannot get a hardship payment during this time, but if you go back and finish your New Deal course you get your training allowance back immediately. If your JSA is still sanctioned after you finish your New Deal course, apply for a hardship payment (you don't have to be in a vulnerable group to claim this during a 26 week sanction).
IF YOU ARE... UNEMPLOYED AND AGE 16/17
Very few 16/17 year olds are able to claim JSA. This is because your parents or guardian are normally expected to support you financially at least until you are 18, and longer if you stay in Further Education. If you have left school recently, your parents may still be able to claim benefits for you for up to 20 weeks; see below
However you may be able to claim JSA 'hardship payments' in some circumstances e.g;
• your parents are unable to support you for example because they are claiming benefits or on a low income themselves or
• because you are temporarily laid off or on short time working, and are available for work or
• because you are accepted as having to live away from home* and you are looking for a full time job or Training Placement You will have to speak to someone from the Young Person's section of the Jobcentre Plus who will verify your situation.
* See below about claiming income support whilst living independently (the same rules apply).
You must register for work or training with Connexions at Castlegate and see your Connexions adviser on a regular basis. If you do not do this the Jobcentre Plus can stop your benefits. If you are claiming JSA as a couple you may have to register and meet with Connexions even if your partner is over 18. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
At 18 you will be entitled to JSA under the normal rules. See here.
• For weekly JSA (with IS and irESA) rates see here
IF YOU ARE... AGED 16-19 & IN SCHOOL OR F.E. (or recently left)
If you are living with your parent(s) or guardian
... they are normally expected to support you financially whilst you remain in school or Further Education, and can continue to claim Child Benefit and Tax Credits for you. They can reapply for these if you go back into education or an approved training course during this time.
You may well be entitled to claim an EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) as well whilst still in Further Ed. see here
When you leave school or Further Ed., whether at the end of your studies or because you quit the course, your parent(s)/guardian should be able to continue to claim benefits for you for up to 20 weeks after you leave, depending on the date of your leaving. If you have left school, the date that counts as your leaving date is the last Friday in June in Year 11, even if you haven't been attending school for ages. However your parents will need to inform the Child Benefit Office and Tax Credits Office within 3 months of the date of your leaving, and you will have to register for work or training with Connexions (either at Castlegate or with your Connexions adviser if you have one).
You may be able to claim Income Support while you continue in education, whether or not you live with your parents, but only in certain circumstances. For example because:
• you have a child for whom you can claim child benefit OR
• you have a disability OR
• you have to live apart from your parents: see the next section.
If you are not living with your parent/guardian
If you do not have a child or a disability, you may still be able to claim Income Support whilst you continue in education but again only in certain circumstances. Firstly your education needs to be 'relevant education' or 'approved training' see *Note below. Second, you need to be under 20 (If you are 19, you must have started or been accepted for your course or training before your 19th birthday). You would also need to fit into one of the following groups:
• you cannot live with your parents / guardian because you are estranged from them (e.g. they have kicked you out or you are in physical or moral danger or there is a serious risk to your physical or mental health if you stay OR
• you have no living parents or guardian OR
• you have left care and you cannot live with your parents (though Social Services may have to support you financially instead) OR
• you live apart from your parents and they cannot support you (because e.g. they are ill or disabled, in prison or can't come to this country because of immigration laws) OR
• you are a refugee or have limited leave to enter or remain in the UK and you are learning English at least 15 hours a week (for 9 months only during your first year in Great Britain)
* Note: relevant education means you are studying at school or college for more than 12 hours a week not above 'A' level or equivalent. You also qualify up to the 'terminal date' after the last term you were in education, even if you only attended for one day in that term. Get advice about the terminal date that applies to you. If you will be 20 before your course ends, get advice. 'Approved' training is e.g. e2e.
If you have left home or been kicked out, it is important that you do not give up your education as well, as you will need to be in relevant education or
'approved' training to get Income Support (unless you qualify for another reason).
You may also get an EMA in your own right, based upon your own
income rather than your parents. See
here.
• If you are paying rent see here
You may be entitled to free school meals if you are in year 11 or school sixth form.
If you need to claim for your partner, get advice as this can be complicated.
• For weekly income support rates (and JSA) see here.
To make a claim for Income Support you will have to talk to someone from the Young Person's section of Jobcentre Plus - call in at Castlegate or a Jobcentre Plus office to arrange an interview. At the interview you'll be asked why you cannot live at home. Your own evidence should normally be believed. If supporting evidence is needed this can be from e.g. a support worker or teacher you have contact with. There is no need for confirmation from your parents.
If you tell them you have been abused at home they may want to tell Social Services or the police about it. Normally they do not do this without your permission, but they may do so if they think the abuse is serious.
If it is your choice to move out of home, and there is no reason why you would not be able to return, you may not be able to claim Income Support; however you may still be able to claim other benefits, such as Housing Benefit if you are paying rent. (see here) Your parents may choose to support you, or you could work part-time while studying. You may be able to claim an EMA based on your own income. see here.
If you need money to live on immediately, apply for a crisis loan. see here.
IF YOU ARE... PREGNANT
If you are pregnant, you cannot make any claim for benefits earlier than 11 weeks before the week the baby is due, unless you can claim for some other reason. (Apart from Healthy Start Vouchers - see below). This might be because you are sick and unable to work (see here), because you are unemployed (see here if you are 18+ or here if you are 16/17) or because you are in Further Education and have to live away from home. see here.
You may be able to claim Healthy Start Vouchers if you are pregnant or have a child under age 4. These are worth £3.10 pw to put towards the cost of fruit and veg, milk, vitamins etc. Claiming depends on your income, though if you are under 18 and pregnant you automatically qualify. Your midwife should have forms or look at healthystart.nhs.uk to see if you qualify. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
Most pregnant women are also able to claim a one-off Health in Pregnancy Grant of £190. You can claim once you are 25 weeks pregnant (you can't claim once the baby is born). You must have had health advice from e.g. your midwife or GP and they will give you the form. It does not depend on your income.
Once you have reached 11 weeks before the week the baby is due (weeks are worked out Sunday to Saturday, and you will have to wait
for your MatB1 at your 20 week scan to get the date confirmed) you may be able to claim benefits depending on your
circumstances.
If you are pregnant and working
You should be able to claim either Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from your employer, or if not, Maternity Allowance (MA) from Jobcentre Plus, depending on the length of time you have been working and your average earnings. You can wait to claim these right up until the baby is due if you want. For SMP you must give your employer at least 28 days notice of the date from which you expect your employer to pay you SMP.
SMP and MA can be claimed for 39 weeks. The first 6 weeks of SMP may be at a higher rate, but after that, SMP and MA are at a maximum of £123.06 per week and depend on your earnings.
For SMP this is based on the wages earned roughly from the 22nd week to the 15th week before the week your baby is due, so if you are on a low wage but can increase your earnings in that period for example by doing extra hours, you may be better off later - get advice.
For MA you can choose the 8 weeks where you earned the most, within a certain time period, to maximise your MA. Ask for advice.
in the first instance, apply to your employer for SMP, as they are responsible for working out if you are entitled to it, and paying this to you if you are. Otherwise, claim MA by ringing the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline. If you are in a couple, you can claim SMP or MA independent of your partners earnings.
If you are pregnant and not working
You may be able to claim Income Support, but if you are in a couple, and your partner is working, their earnings will be taken into account, and you may not qualify.
For weekly income support rates (and JSA) rates
see here
Once your baby is born, you should be entitled to claim other benefits as well, for example Tax Credits and Child Benefit. See below.
IF YOU... NEED HELP WITH THE COST OF YOUR NEW BABY
You may be able to claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG). This is a grant of £500 to pay towards the cost of a new arrival. You do not have to pay it back. If you (or your partner) are claiming Income Support or Income-based JSA you can claim this before the baby is born - apply from 11 weeks before the baby is due.
Otherwise you may be able to claim in the first 3 months after your baby is born if you are on a low income. This is based on the level of Tax Credits you are entitled to. Ring the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline for a form, or download form SF100 from jobcentreplus.gov.uk
IF YOU ARE... CARING FOR CHILDREN
You may be able to claim Healthy Start Vouchers. See here.
You should be able to claim Child Benefit, whatever your income. Child Benefit is paid to couples and lone parents who are responsible for a child. Unlike Child Tax Credit you do not have to be over 16 to claim it. To claim, ring the Child Benefit helpline. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
• Child Benefit weekly rate:
First or only child: £20.00. Additional children: £13.20 each
You may be able to claim Tax Credits, depending on your income. There are two types of Tax Credit, and they are claimed together from the Tax Credits helpline. You can claim Child Tax Credit whether or not you are working. To be able to claim Working Tax Credit, you or your partner need to be working 16 hours or more a week, though you can split this between you if you both work less. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
IF YOU... CAN'T WORK BECAUSE YOU ARE SICK
If you are unemployed when you become sick you will need to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) from Jobcentre Plus. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
If you are working when you become sick, your employer must pay you Statutory Sick Pay (if you normally earn at least £90 per week on average). After 28 weeks you must claim ESA.
• Statutory sick pay is £79.15 per week
IF YOU... HAVE A DISABILITY (WHETHER OR NOT YOU WORK)
Benefits are available if you have a disability, or if you are unable to work because of a disability. The rules can be complicated - you should seek advice. There is, for example, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which is for those who need help to look after themselves or help in getting around. The amount will depend on how much help you need. It is paid on top of other benefits - and can increase the amount of other benefits that you get, for example, extra Income Support or Housing Benefit.
Working Tax Credit can also be claimed by people 16+ who are in work, but at a disadvantage in getting a job because of a disability.
IF YOU ARE... CARING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS SICK OR DISABLED
You may be able to claim 'Carer's Allowance' if you are caring for someone else for at least 35 hours per week. This will depend for example on your income (you need to be earning less than £95 per week net) and what benefits the person you are caring for claims.
If you are unemployed you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance instead of having to sign on - you may also get some Income Support as well. If you are earning too much to claim Carer's Allowance, it may still be worth putting in a claim for it, as having an 'underlying entitlement' to Carer's Allowance can increase, for example, the amount of Housing Benefit you get.
IF YOU... NEED HELP WITH PAYING YOUR RENT
You may be able to claim Housing Benefit. You can claim from age 16 onwards. You can claim if you are working and on a low income, or unemployed, or sick or disabled. You can claim if you are studying part time. If you are in full time education, you can usually only claim in limited circumstances - get advice.
You do not need your landlord's permission to apply for Housing Benefit, and they do not have to know that you are applying for it or receiving it, as long as you have proof of how much you are paying and what it is for. This would usually be provided by your tenancy agreement and/or rent book. If you are struggling to pay your rent whilst you wait for your claim to be worked out, you may need to let the landlord know why there is a delay. However you should not be kicked out for this. If this happens, get advice.
You cannot usually get Housing Benefit if you are paying rent to a close relative for living with them. However if you are paying them rent for another property they own you may be able to, so it is worth getting advice and putting in a claim.
If you make a claim for Income Support, ibJSA or irESA you'll get a
claim form for Housing Benefit at the same time. Otherwise you can get it from the
Housing Benefit Office or Community Services in Acomb. If you need help with your claim, you can now talk to the same HB Officer each time -
see here about Young People's Reps. For
Contact Details see our A-Z.
How much Housing Benefit will you get?
If you are on Income Support, income-based JSA or irESA and live in Council or Housing Association property, you will get 100% of your rent paid through Housing Benefit.
If you are in private rented accommodation then you will get the
current 'Local Housing Allowance' rate (see
below) subject to the £15 excess.
If you are working, your Housing Benefit is reduced depending on your income.
Housing Benefit only pays towards rent, and not other bills or services such as gas, electric, meals or cleaning. Your Housing Benefit may also be reduced if you have adult 'non-dependants' living with you, but this depends on their age and earnings.
Housing Benefit is paid in arrears, every week. If you need an urgent payment ask at Housing Benefit Office if this is possible. If you are still struggling to pay your rent and it is causing you hardship you may be able to get discretionary 'hardship payments' from the local authority, but you'll need to apply for these.
Housing Benefit is now normally paid to you, not your landlord. If you want it to go direct to your landlord you will need to show you are vulnerable in some way. If you are in arrears by 8 weeks or more your landlord can apply to have it paid direct to themselves.
If you are in private rented accommodation, your maximum Housing Benefit will be calculated using the new Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. Your LHA is based on the number of adults and the age of any children in your household, including any people that live with you.
However if you are single, childless and under 25 this will only be the 'shared room rate' even if you are in a one bedroom flat (though this might not apply if you are a care leaver). If you are a childless couple of any age you are entitled to the 'one bedroom' LHA rate, unless you are actually living in shared accommodation, in which case only the 'shared room rate' applies.
If your rent is cheaper than average, you could end up getting more Housing Benefit than your rent, depending on your income.
The figures for LHA are published each month on york.gov.uk, so you can work out how much Housing Benefit you will get.
IF YOU... NEED HELP WITH PAYING YOUR COUNCIL TAX
You may be able to claim Council Tax Benefit.
Council Tax is a tax on houses and flats. All home-owners and tenants over 18 have to pay it. However if you live in a shared house it is paid by the landlord. If you live by yourself you can apply for a 25% reduction.
If you are on Income Support, Income based JSA or irESA you should get 100% Council Tax Benefit. If you are working but on a low income, your Council Tax Benefit will be reduced depending on your income.
Most full time students are exempt from paying Council Tax. If you are under 18 you are also exempt. If you are a part-time student you may be able to claim Council Tax benefit. The rules are complicated, so get advice if you need to.
If you've applied for Housing Benefit this covers Council Tax Benefit as well. Otherwise phone Council Tax Benefits. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
IF YOU... NEED MONEY FOR AN EMERGENCY OR EXTRA EXPENSE
You may be able to get a loan or grant from the Social Fund, part of Jobcentre Plus.
Loans are either 'Crisis' or 'Budgeting' loans or non repayable grants (e.g. Community Care Grants) from the Social Fund. There is no guarantee of getting money in most cases, but if you need a payment, make a claim.
Loans have to be repaid through your benefits or wages. Crisis Loans can be made for emergencies e.g. money until your benefits come through, extra living costs, paying for B & B if you are homeless, or paying rent in advance. Budgeting loans can be made for extra household expenses such as a replacement cooker or new shoes.
Grants do not have to be paid back and may be made for one off expenses e.g. if you have been homeless they may help with the cost of resettling in accommodation, or for certain travel costs, funeral costs and other one off costs.
To apply for a crisis loan you will need to ring the Jobcentre Plus number for Crisis loan applications. For Contact Details see our A-Z. You can get forms for Budgeting loans or Community Care grants from Jobcentre Plus or from jobcentreplus.gov.uk
There may be other sources of funding if you are struggling to pay for something - ask at Castlegate.
OTHER STUDENTS
If you are aged 20+ and studying in full-time Further Education - A level or equivalent - you cannot normally claim benefits for yourself, though you may be able to claim for any children, or because of a disability. The rules for students are complicated, so get advice.
You may for example be able to claim JSA if the course is only part-time (this means less than 16 hours per week) and you can still fulfil the conditions to be 'available for' and 'actively seeking' work.
Otherwise you may be able to support yourself working part-time, and by claiming some Housing Benefit to help with the cost of rent, if you pay it. See here.
There are also 'Adult Learner Grants' of up to £30 per week depending on your income and circumstances. see here.
If you in Higher Education (university or equivalent), you cannot normally claim benefits, but if you need extra money to live on - for example because you have a child or disability - then seek advice, as the benefits system is complicated for students. See here.