List of Top Grants and Benefits Offered in the UK

The UK government has put into place numerous grants and benefits that are designed to help low-income earners meet their financial needs. These benefits and grants were created to help offset some of the costs involved in maintaining your household and to bring additional income into the household.

If you are a low-income earner living in the UK, you should take some time to understand these grants and benefits and determine if any of the them are right for you. Below is a look at the top benefits and grants offered by the government.

Income Support Benefits
Income Support. If you have no, or low, income, you may be eligible to receive regular Income Support payments to offset some of your household expenses. This benefit is designed for those people who are not working or work less than 16 hours a week. If eligible, you could receive between £56.80 and £72.40 per week.

Job Seekers Allowance. This benefit is for those workers who recently lost their job. It provides at least £57.35 on a weekly basis, but the exact amount of your payment is dependent on your specific situation. You can continue to receive this payment during the time you are looking for a new job.

State Pension. Once you reach the age of 65-years old and are no longer working full-time,  you may be eligible for State Pension payments. The amount of your payment will depend on several factors, such as your current income and any assets you may have.

Pension Credit. The Pension Credit benefit is designed to ensure that seniors receive enough money on a weekly basis to live on. This benefit ensures that you will receive a total of £148.35 a week for an individual and £226.50 a week for a couple, or the government will make up the difference.

 
Energy Grants and Benefits
Warm Home Discount. This benefit will help to provide you a discount of up to £140 off your winter heating bills.

Winter Fuel Payment. This is an annual payment of between £100 and £300 to help offset your heating bills during the summer. This payment is usually sent out prior to Christmas every year.

Cold Weather Payment. Every time the temperature in your area dips below zero degrees for seven days in a row, this benefit will send you a payment of £25 to help cover the additional costs needed to heat your home.

Energy Trust Scheme.  If you have overdue bills with your energy supplier, you may qualify for a hardship grant. Each energy company, including British Gas Energy Trust, Npower Energy Fund, and EDF Energy Trust, operates their own hardship grant program, so you must contact your specific supplier.

WaterSure Scheme. This program is designed to help people who have fallen behind on their water bills. While it will not take away your payment altogether, it can greatly reduce the amount of arrears you owe, and help you set up a workable and affordable repayment plan.

Housing Benefits
Housing Benefit. You may also be eligible to receive help paying your monthly rental payments. This benefit will directly lower the amount of rent you owe, by paying a portion of the costs for you.

Council Tax Reduction. You may also be able to receive a reduction on the amount of council tax you owe. This programs is operated at the local level and is therefore different form location to location.

 
Loans and Grants
Budgeting Loan. If you have been receiving governmental benefits for at least 26 weeks, you may be eligible to take out a Budgeting Loan. This is a no-interest loan that must be repaid within two years.

Community Care Grants. These grants are no longer available at the federal level, and instead each local council operates their own grant program. You can contact your local council to see what types of grants are available in your area.

The combination of these benefits can save you a lot of money from month to month. By spending less on these typical household expenses, you can have more money available to spend towards other things or to put towards your savings. Contact agencies in your local area today to see what benefits and grants you may be eligible for today.

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