Path to this page:Home >> Advice, Tax and Benefits >> Benefits >> Benefits and work

Benefits and work

“I am on benefits but I would like to go back to work. The job I am considering is not that well paid and I am worried I will be worse off if I give up my benefits. Is there any help for me?”

If you are starting work or returning to work you may qualify for extra help. People who work but have a low income can also qualify for extra help. Below are some of the allowances and benefits available.

Available from your JobCentre Plus

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

You may qualify if you:

  • are not working, or
  • are working on average less than 16 hours a week
  • are able to work and looking for work
  • cannot get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • have income and savings below a certain level.
|top

Income Support

If you are on a low income you may qualify for either Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. If you are a lone parent, sick or disabled, caring for someone who is ill or disabled or registered blind you may qualify for extra money.

Help from the Social Fund

If you are on a low-income benefit, you may qualify for help with costs of items for your home, or for a new baby, or dealing with an emergency.

|top

Cold Weather Payments

You may qualify if:

  • you or your partner are getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • you have a child under the age of five, or
  • you are disabled, or
  • you are aged 60 or over.

New Deal

New Deal often gives extra help to people wishing to move off benefits into work. There are New Deals for people who are:

  • lone parents
  • between 18-24 years old
  • over 25 years old
  • over 50 years old
  • disabled.

If you have been part of a New Deal, check to see what help you might receive.

|top

Job Grants

You may qualify for a Job Grant if you:

  • have been getting Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than two years and you start a new job
  • are a lone parent or the partner of a benefit claimant.

There is a new rate of £250 for households with children.

Jobmatch

Jobmatch Is an allowance paid for six months. You may qualify if you are:

  • taking part in the New Deal scheme
  • 18 to 24 years old
  • receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, and start part-time work.
|top

Employment on Trial

Is a scheme that allows some benefit claimants to try a new job without it affecting their previous entitlement if the job does not work out.

Child Maintenance Bonus

You may qualify if:

  • you get child maintenance and your income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support stops because of work.

Available from the Disability and Carers Unit

Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance

Are both available to help you with the extra costs associated with disability or illness:

  • whether or not you are still working
  • whether you are living alone or with others
  • whether you have a carer or not.

Any benefit you claim depends on your age:

  • if you are under 65 and need help with personal care or if you have difficulty getting around, you can claim Disability Living Allowance
  • if you are 65 or more and you need help with personal care, you can claim Attendance Allowance.

These allowances are not means-tested. They are also tax-free and do not affect claims for other entitlements such as Working Tax Credit.

|top

Available from the Inland Revenue

Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit

If you or your partner, if you have one, are working but have a low income, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit. For your household to be eligible for tax credits, you and / or your partner must be aged 16 or over and usually live in the United Kingdom. Child Tax Credit can be paid if you are responsible for at least one child, and have gross income up to £59,000 a year.

|top

Haringey Council can help with Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit

If you are paying rent and have a low income whilst working you may qualify for Housing Benefit from your local Council. If you have been getting Housing Benefit and your income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support stops because of work, you may qualify for an extended payment. If your job will last for five weeks or more contact your JobCentre Plus for more details.

If you are paying Council Tax and have a low income whilst working you may also qualify for Council Tax Benefit from your local Council. If you have been getting Council Tax Benefit and your income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support stops because of work you may qualify for an extended payment. If your job will last for five weeks or more contact your JobCentre Plus for more details about this.

For information about Housing and Council Tax Benefits, write to:

Haringey Council
PO Box 10505
Wood Green
N22 7WJ
Tel 020 8489 2800

|top

The National Health Service provides help with health costs and visits to hospital

If your income is low you may be entitled to help with health costs and visits to hospital.

Ev lînkên li jêr parçeke cîtewna Belediya Haringeyê nînin.

Ji kerema xwe daxûyaniya me ya legal bixwînin beriya ku hun van lînkan bi kar tînin.

|
update meUpdate Me
 

Page Last Updated: 7 July 2008

This page belongs to the following categories :
- Health and social care > Social services

 
|
three children smiling

Did you know?

With your help reporting dumped rubbish, we keep Haringey clean. Thank you!