Benefits and tax credits are payments from the government to certain people on low incomes, or to meet specific needs. They can help you if you are on a low income or reduced income, are out of work, have children or are a carer.

What types of benefits are there?

Benefits usually come under one of two types:

Means–tested benefits

Your entitlement to means-tested benefits depends on how much you have in income, savings and other capital. You can get these benefits even if you have not paid enough national insurance contributions.

Non-means-tested benefits

Non-means-tested benefits don't take into account your income and savings in the same way as means-tested benefits do, but they do have their own rules which must be met.

For more information on benefits & financial support available, please see the Articles on the right-hand side.