Increase your income
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
Faced with changes such as redundancy, short-time working, illness, caring for another person, having a child or bereavement, you may have to cope with living on less. Can you find ways to increase your income?
Can you claim any benefits?
Depending on your circumstances you may be able to claim benefits including:
- Jobseeker’s allowance, income support or employment support allowance if you are unemployed.
- Housing benefit to help with your rent.
- Support for mortgage interest to help with a mortgage.
- Disability living allowance if you are disabled.
- Carer’s allowance if you look after someone who is disabled.
- Tax credits if you are working, or have children or both.
You can find out what benefits you may be entitled to by using the benefit adviser questionnaire on the Directgov website, then use the online calculators at the Turn2us website to work out how much you’re likely to get. If you have problems, or need help with your claim, contact a local advice centre - use our directory to find services in your area.
New child
- Find out about child related benefits you may be able to claim, including maternity benefits and Child Benefit – a benefit paid to most families with children.
- If you or your partner are working, you may be able to claim tax credits to increase your income and help with childcare costs.
Facing redundancy
- Don’t miss out on a redundancy payment.
- Find out your rights if your employer went bust – you may be due some money.
Living alone
- If you are living on your own, you may want to consider claiming a reduction in your council tax.
Sharing your home with non-dependant adults
Are you living with grown up children or other relatives? Whether they are working or not, they could be costing you money.
- If you are claiming housing benefit or council tax benefit, the amount you are paid will usually be reduced, even if they are not working, so you will be paying more towards your rent, and you will have to cover any shortfall.
- Use Shelter's budget calculator to work out the true running costs of your home – it could help you to decide what a fair contribution towards household costs should be.
If your partner has died
Although it can be hard to deal with financial matters when you are bereaved, it’s important to start sorting things out – particularly as there are time limits on making claims for benefits.
- Find out about help with bereavement benefits including funeral payments, lump-sum and regular benefits, and benefits if you are a bereaved parent.
- Don’t assume you are responsible for your partner’s debts. Unless it’s a joint debt where you signed the agreement too, you are probably not liable. Get advice if you have any doubts.
Spare room in your house
- Could you rent out a room tax free using the Government’s Rent a room scheme?
Can you work more?
- If you are out of work, make sure you get all the help you can from Jobcentre Plus services.
- It’s not always possible, but could you take on a second job?
- If you are now caring for children, can you work from home during school term-time?
Stuff to sell?
If your home is overflowing with wanted possessions, could you sell them to raise some cash? Maybe consider ebay, Amazon, Gumtree, Etsy for craft items or try car boot sales.
What's your attitude to money?
Whatever the situation with your finances, it’s good to know where you stand and that you are making the most of what you have.
Try using the health check, a new online money planner from the not-for-profit Money Advice Service. It takes just 10 minutes to answer some straightforward questions and the health check will give you a personalised action plan setting out the top three things you can do to make the most of your money right now, and to plan for future goals.
