Benefits, debts and money problems

Help with rent

• Universal credit housing element

• Housing benefit if you are pension age

• Housing benefit in a hostel, refuge, temporary or supported housing

Help with other living costs

• Crisis payments from your council

• Emergency grants and money help

• Help with energy bills and debts

• Help with council tax

Applying for universal credit

• How to claim universal credit (UC)

• Moving from ESA to universal credit

• Extra help if you claim universal credit

• Universal credit advances - an interest free loan if you need money in the 5 week wait for your first UC payment

Universal credit housing element

Universal credit has a housing element to help with rent.

• Non dependant deductions and universal credit

• When universal credit can be paid direct to your landlord

Understanding universal credit

• Universal credit payments - what to do if you get less than you expect

• Universal credit deductions - what to do about money taken off for debts

• Universal credit and working

• Universal credit savings limits

• Can you get universal credit if you own a property?

• Dealing with the benefit cap

Private renting on benefits

• How to find landlords who accept benefits

• Do your benefits go up if your rent increases?

• Challenge landlords and agents who say no benefits or families

• Local housing allowance (LHA) for private renters

How much benefit can you get towards rent?

• How many bedrooms you can claim benefits for

• How to deal with the bedroom tax

• Claiming benefits if you rent from family

• What to do if your ex partner is not paying rent

Opening a bank account

• Basic bank accounts with no credit check

• How to open a bank account if you're homeless