Benefits information

Benefits information

This information can help you find some of the benefits you may be entitled to depending on your circumstances, calculate your own benefits, deal with benefit problems and avoid getting into benefit trouble.  

For those struggling with money and bills, go to: Support in Newcastle for those affected by the cost of living crisis 

More detail about the benefit system can be found in our Introduction to Benefits and Tax Credits guide below 

Benefit rates 

The Government usually changes benefit rates every April 

Details of benefit and tax credit rates now and in earlier years (Rightsnet)

For the year 2021 - 2022, there were two sets of rates due to the temporary uplift in Universal Credit:

What benefits can I receive in the following situations?  

Most benefits are administered by the Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Others are offered via HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the council or employers

More detail can be found in our Introduction to Benefits and Tax Credits guide below 

Bereaved 

You may be entitled to...

Caring for someone

You may be entitled to:

See also the useful Carersuk website

Responsible for a child 

You may be entitled to:

Disabled 

You may be entitled to:

See also ‘caring for someone’ above

See also benefit factsheets and guides from Disability Rights UK and advice and support for families with disabled children from Contact

Incapable of work 

You may be entitled to...

See also these factsheets below: 'How ESA is assessed', 'How to complete an ESA form' and 'How to avoid losing ESA'   

See also benefit factsheets and guides from Disability Rights UK

Managing on a low income 

You may be entitled to...

Also see  working and In urgent financial need or crisis below 

Also see our Debt and money advice page for help and advice

Need help with paying housing costs (rent or mortgage) or Council Tax

You may be entitled to...

Need help with NHS costs

See...

  • Online eligibility checking tool to see if you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and other NHS health costs such as sight tests
  • NHS Low Income Scheme for help with the cost of NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and more
  • Maternity exemption certificate for free NHS prescriptions (this is valid until your child is one, and can also be used to prove your entitlement to free NHS dental treatment)

An older person - of pension age 

You may be entitled to...

See also benefits for older people from AgeUK

Pregnant 

You may be entitled to...

See also know your rights from Maternity Action

Unemployed and looking for work 

You may be entitled to...

 Working 

You may be entitled to… 

Also see our factsheets ‘Benefits in work’ and ‘Redundancy, finishing work and benefits’ below 

Also see Benefits and Tax Credits from workingfamilies.org

In urgent financial need or crisis 

As well as the above weekly benefits, the DWP and jobcentre also provide single payments in certain situations, for example:

  • Budgeting loans, funeral and maternity grants from the Social Fund by the DWP 
  • Repayable 'short term benefit advances' for those waiting for a benefit payment and in financial need.
  • Under Universal Credit 'budgeting advances' replace budgeting loans and 'advance payments' replace short term benefit advances. 

See help with urgent and one-off needs by the Council and others on our Debt and Money Advice page.

See also Dealing with an avoiding benefit problems below 

Found out about grants you could get from turn2us

Online benefit calculators 

Visit our page check your benefits online to get an estimate of the benefits you may be able to claim. Some provide a comparison between benefits


What other help am I entitled to? 

If you have mobility or accessibility issues you may be able to get your home adapted. Find out about home adaptations

If you are disabled you may be able to apply for a blue badge. Apply for a blue badge

See InformationNOW for local services and information 

See turn2us and entitledto

How will the changes to benefits affect me? 

The Government has made some major changes to benefits called 'welfare reform' and regularly changes benefit rules. Find out more about benefit changes

Dealing with and avoiding benefit problems 

Self help factsheets and guides 

Also see our guide to the benefits system: Introduction to Benefits and Tax Credits  June 2023 (pdf 243kb)

Where can I go for further information and advice? 

Visit Benefit advice services in Newcastle and benefit offices
Visit the government webpage on benefits 
Visit the Citizens Advice webpages on benefits 
 

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