Cost of living support

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Benefits, tax and work

Find out what support is available in England to help increase your income. This includes the Cost of Living Payment, Universal Credit and Carer’s Allowance.

Find out about cost of living support in Scotland, support in Wales and support in Northern Ireland.

Payments and benefits

Cost of Living Payment

If you’re on certain benefits or tax credits check if you’re eligible for the Cost of Living Payment.

Universal Credit

Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit to get a regular payment to help with living costs if:

  • you’re on a low income
  • you’re out of work
  • you cannot work

Carer’s Allowance

If you care for someone who gets certain benefits at least 35 hours a week check if you’re eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work or if you need support to get back into work you can apply for Employment and Support Allowance.

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

If you need help when you’re looking for work check if you’re eligible for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Access to Work

If you have a physical or mental health condition or disability you can check if you’re eligible for Access to Work. This gives help to get or stay in work.

Reduce your tax bill

Marriage Allowance

If you’re married or in a civil partnership you can check if you’re eligible for Marriage Allowance. This lets you transfer some of your personal tax allowance to your partner if you do not pay Income Tax.

Check if you can claim tax relief on things you need to buy for your job.

Other help you can get

National Minimum Wage and Living Wage calculator for workers

If you’re employed, you can use this calculator to check if you’re getting the minimum wage.

Budgeting Loan

Check if you’re eligible for a Budgeting Loan or Budgeting Advance if you’ve been getting one or more of these benefits for the past 6 months:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit

You could get a Budgeting Advance even if you’ve not been getting one of these benefits for the past 6 months if you’re on Universal Credit and need the money to help you start a new job or stay in work.

Help to Save

If you get certain benefits and you’re on a low income you can get a bonus on your savings. Check if you’re eligible for support with savings (Help to Save).

View a printable version of the whole guide

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