Get Support: Money
This section includes
- Help with benefits
- Help with Health costs
- Help with Cost of Living
- Help with emergency needs
- Finding affordable Internet
- Help with benefits
- Help with Health costs
- Help with Cost of Living
- Help with emergency needs
- Finding affordable Internet
How do I apply for benefits?
When and how do I apply for Universal Credit (UC)?
UC is the primary financial help you receive so you should apply straight away. Go to: www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim
NOTE:
If you do not yet have a bank account please follow these steps:
If a claimant does not have a bank account at the time they are making a new claim to Universal Credit, the following steps must be followed: during the new claim add 6 zeros (000000) for the sort code add 8 zeros (00000000) for the bank account number this will need to be done 4 times to progress the claim. If there is no option to say they don't have a bank account they will have to follow the above steps
See also Citizens Advice Bureau - What is Universal Credit
Can I get a Universal Credit advance?
As long as they have a live UC claim, as well as a National Insurance Number, job centre can issue a full new claim advance. Weybridge Jobcentre covers over 90% of Elmbridge postcodes (in terms of UC claims) – and covers the following: KT7, KT8, KT10, KT11, KT12, KT13, KT14 7, KT14 9, KT15, KT16, and KT22 0. Postcodes beginning KT6 would be covered by Kingston Job Centre.
When and how can I cancel or change a Universal Credit appointment?
You can change or cancel a Universal Credit appointment, following DWP guidelines, by signing in to your Universal Credit Account or by phoning: 0800 169 0190
If you are on jobseeker’s allowance, you must prioritise your jobseeker’s activities, such as: attending interviews, job fairs, training courses, etc... If any of those activities are clashing with your UC signing in appointments with a coach, you can re-arrange your UC appointment as described above. Changing your UC appointment in advance, following DWP guidelines, provided you have a valid reason, will not affect your benefits.
Universal Credit frequently asked questions
What are the monthly standard allowances?
If you’re single and under 25: £265.31
If you’re single and 25 or over: £334.91
If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25: £416.45 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over: £525.72 (for you both)
For your first child: £290.00 (born before 6 April 2017), £244.58 (born on or after 6 April 2017)
For your second child and any other eligible children: £244.58 per child
How Your Earnings and Hours Affect Your Payments?
Your Universal Credit payment will reduce as you earn more. For every £1 you or your partner earns your payment goes down by 55p. There are different rules if you’re self-employed. There’s no limit to how many hours you can work. Most employers will report your earnings for you.
You can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit is reduced if you or your partner are either responsible for a child or are living with a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work. This is called a ‘work allowance’.
Monthly work allowance
You get help with housing costs: £344
You do not get help with housing costs: £573
Reporting Change of Address and Housing Costs?
Report changes through your universal credit account. This is on the Home tab then Change of circumstances then Where you live and what it costs. The DWP will then send you a to-do asking for proof of the tenancy and proof of address. The most you can receive is the local housing allowance (LHA) rate for your household. This can be found at lha-direct.voa.gov.uk. Once you start paying rent a housing element will be included in your universal credit and will be paid monthly in arrears. Universal credit payment dates will not change.
Childcare costs
You can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re working. If you live with your partner both of you need to be working, unless one of you is unable to work due to a disability or health condition. The childcare needs to be from an Ofsted registered provider. You can get help paying for childcare including nurseries, childminders, breakfast clubs, after school care and holiday clubs.
The most you can get each month is:
• £646.35 for one child
• £1108.04 for 2 or more children
You need to pay your childcare costs up front and claim the money back as part of your payment. You can get support to help you pay your childcare costs up front. Talk to your work coach after you’ve made your claim.
Finding Childcare and funded hours.
You can find out about your options of funded childcare at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
The easiest place to find registered childcare is at familyinformationdirectory.surreycc.gov.uk/ then click on the Childcare finder or at www.childcare.co.uk
Can I get help with my NHS health costs if I'm a refugee or Asylum Seeker? If you receive Asylum Support from UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration), you’re entitled to a HC2 certificate, free NHS prescriptions, free NHS dental treatment, free NHS sight tests, help towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses, free NHS wigs and fabric supports, help towards travel costs to receive NHS treatment
Read more
If you are in receipt of universal credit and your take-home pay per month is up to £435 or up to £935 if you are responsible for a child or have limited capability for work. You are likely to be asked to show your last month payment statement. Further information is available at: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/
ENIC – Statement of Comparability
ENIC is a service available if you need to evidence the level of your overseas qualification for employment, study, professional registration, or another reason. There website is https://www.enic.org.uk/Qualifications. If you need this is support for application for employment, please discuss this with your work coach.
Flexible Support Fund
Your work coach has funding to support you in removing barrier to finding or start work – this could be internet access, travel cost to interviews or to start work, appropriate clothing, upfront childcare cost. If there is a Barrier to you starting work, please discuss this with your Work Coach.
Benefit Calculator – Entitled to
This will give you an estimate of the benefits you could get and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or increase your hours. The website is: www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator
When and how should I apply for Pension Credits
Go to Pension Credit: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Help with Energy and other costs
Sometimes you can claim extra money for particularly cold weather, or get help with insulating your house to keep it warmer, or your electricity company will discount you if you are on certain benefits..
More info here - Government Cost Of Living Support
How to reduce your Council Tax Bill - Council Tax Support Scheme
More info here - Government Cost Of Living Support
How to reduce your Council Tax Bill - Council Tax Support Scheme
Food Support
Community Fridges
Community fridges take surplus food from supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste and offer it free or pay as you can afford. They are not foodbanks, and the food is available for all. They are a great way to make your money go further, as well as helping the environment.
Elmbridge ECO Hub - Walton on Thames - https://elmbridgeecohub.org.uk/
Lower Green Community Centre - Esher - https://www.lowergreen.org/
Hebrews Coffee Shop - Addlestone - Community Fridge and pay-as-you-feel cafe - https://www.stpaulscofe.org/hebrewscoffeeshop.htm
Surplus to Supper - Sunbury - Weekend pay-as-you-feel Surplus Shop - https://www.surplustosupper.org/
Community Fridges
Depending on your circumstances, we can help you access the Foodbanks that require voucher. Please get in touch with us and we can talk through your needs and budget.
Hebrews Coffee Shop - Addlestone - Community Fridge and pay-as-you-feel cafe - https://www.stpaulscofe.org/hebrewscoffeeshop.htm
Surplus to Supper - Sunbury - Weekend pay-as-you-feel Surplus Shop - https://www.surplustosupper.org/
Community Fridges
Depending on your circumstances, we can help you access the Foodbanks that require voucher. Please get in touch with us and we can talk through your needs and budget.
How can I pay for emergency needs? Elmbridge CAN Support Fund 200
The fund provides small grants of up to £200 to refugees and asylum seekers living in Elmbridge and is funded entirely by charity donations.
The grants can be used for emergency needs (needs are deemed essential if they are necessary to provide a basic standard of living according to the standards of the majority of people in the area). Find out about the Elmbridge CAN Support Fund 200 and how to apply.
DONATIONS to the support fund can be made on our donate page
The grants can be used for emergency needs (needs are deemed essential if they are necessary to provide a basic standard of living according to the standards of the majority of people in the area). Find out about the Elmbridge CAN Support Fund 200 and how to apply.
DONATIONS to the support fund can be made on our donate page
How do I find affordable internet?
There are a range of internet providers offering social tariffs (more affordable broadband deals).
These are all available to people in receipt of Universal Credit. Some have broader criteria as well meaning you may be eligible for other reasons. Click here to go to the Ofcom webpage comparing the social tariffs.
These are all available to people in receipt of Universal Credit. Some have broader criteria as well meaning you may be eligible for other reasons. Click here to go to the Ofcom webpage comparing the social tariffs.