The benefits that you will be able to get will depend upon your individual circumstances. Listed below are some of the main benefits that you may be able to get.
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
These are paid if you are responsible for rent and/or council tax and you are on a low income. They are means tested benefits and cannot be claimed if you have savings over £16,000 if you are under age 60. (There are special rules if you are 60 or over-http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/benefitsage60plus_az). You can claim these benefits whether you are employed or self-employed or have an income from other sources in addition to your earnings. You will need to provide proof of your income and of any other adults living in your home – including grown up children unless they are higher education students.
These benefits are claimed from the Local Authority. You will be given one month to get all the information back to the local authority that they have asked you to provide for them to decide on your entitlement. In some circumstances you may be able to get your benefit backdated but you will have to show good reasons for this such as ill-health or bereavement. There will be a new way of getting help to pay your rent for private tenants from 7th April 2008 called local housing allowance. This will apply to private tenants who are making a new claim or who have a break in their existing claim of more than one week. If the tenant is getting housing benefit already but they have to make a new claim after 6th April because they change address, then they will be moved onto the new local housing allowance
JobCentrePlus - Working Age Benefits
Hounslow Council Tax benefit
Tax Credits
Working Tax Credit can be paid if you are working at least 16 hours per week and have children or an illness or disability. If you do not meet these conditions then you need to be working at least 30 hours per week and be aged 25 or over. There are special rules if you are 50 or over and work at least 16 hours per week. Child Tax Credit can be claimed if you have at least one dependant child up to age 16 or aged under 20 and still in full time education or unwaged training of at least 12 hours a week and the course being studied is no higher than A levels. Tax Credits are means tested and are paid by HM Revenue & Customs.
Tax credits - HM Revenues & Customs
NHS Health Benefits
These can be claimed for working adults and their partners if you are on a low income and you do not have savings over £16,000 and need help with prescription costs, dental or opticians fees, travelling to hospital or for surgical aids. There are also some other circumstances when you can get this help such as where there are very severe optical needs or you have specified illnesses or are pregnant or with a baby under 12 months (the savings rules do not apply in these circumstances). You may also qualify for help with NHS health costs if you get working tax credit and child tax credit together.
Welfare, Benefits and Debt