Benefits & money · England
Help with living costs and work
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You may be able to get help with living costs.
Different benefits have different rules.
Income is money you get, such as wages or benefits.
Universal Credit may help if you have a low income.
You may get it while working or when you are not working.
Your income, savings and household situation affect the rules.
Tell Universal Credit if your health makes working difficult.
You may need to send medical information.
The benefit office will check which rules apply to you.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance is another benefit.
It may help when illness or disability limits your ability to work.
It has rules about your National Insurance payments and credits.
National Insurance payments and credits are recorded by the government.
This record helps decide whether you can get some benefits.
Ask a benefits adviser to check your record and the rules.
You may be able to get help with rent.
This could be through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
Ask your council separately about help with Council Tax.
Pension Credit may help with low income at State Pension age.
State Pension age is when you can usually claim the government retirement pension.
Ask a benefits adviser to check what applies to your household.
Access to Work may help you get or stay in a job.
It can help pay for some support linked to your disability.
Your employer still has duties to make reasonable changes at work.
Ask for a benefits check before changing an existing claim.
A benefits adviser can explain how one change affects other payments.
Tell them about the people who live with you.
What you can do next
Ask for a benefits check for your whole household.
Ask what would change if you start work.
Find benefits advice and checking tools Web pageCalculatorsAdvice finderThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
Help with income, rent and work
Universal Credit, New Style ESA, Pension Credit and practical help with work.
Income, housing and employment support · England
Universal Credit for living costs
Universal Credit may help if you have a low income, whether you work or not. It usually covers working-age households. Your circumstances, income and savings matter, including your partner’s if you live together. Rules for students and 16- or 17-year-olds need particular care.
If disability affects your ability to work
Tell Universal Credit about your health condition and provide the evidence requested. Work-capability rules decide whether work requirements change and whether an extra amount is due. Getting PIP does not by itself decide this. The current health-element rules depend on your circumstances and when you reported your condition.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance
New Style ESA may help if illness or disability limits your ability to work and you meet the National Insurance contribution conditions. Your partner’s earnings and your savings do not normally affect it, but pension income can. If you also receive Universal Credit, the ESA payment is normally deducted from it.
Rent and Council Tax
Help with rent usually comes through Universal Credit, but Housing Benefit still applies in some circumstances. Accommodation type and age can matter. Ask the council separately about Council Tax Reduction and disability-related reductions; do not assume these are included in another claim.
Pension Credit
At State Pension age, Pension Credit may top up a low income. There can be extra amounts for disability or caring. Couples where only one person has reached State Pension age need a specific check. Pension Credit is separate from the State Pension.
Support to get or stay in work
Access to Work may fund practical help such as assistive software, a job coach or disability-related travel support. It does not replace adjustments an employer must make. Before starting work or changing an existing benefit claim, ask how the change affects your whole household.
Words you could use
“Please check all the help our household may qualify for, and what would change if I start work or make a new claim.”
Where the information comes from
Links checked 26 October 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- GOV.UK: Universal Credit eligibility Web page
Income, savings, couples, age and student rules.
- GOV.UK: Universal Credit extra amounts Web page
Current health-related additions and interactions with other benefits.
- GOV.UK: New Style ESA Web page
Contribution conditions and how ESA works with other income.
- GOV.UK: home and housing support Web page
Rent, Council Tax and home-adaptation support.
- GOV.UK: Pension Credit Web page
Help with living costs at State Pension age.
- GOV.UK: Access to Work Web page
Practical work support and the distinction from employer adjustments.