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Increasing Income

Benefits

If you are claiming benefits, it is always worth getting a full benefits check by an expert. 

Even if you are NOT claiming any benefits, you may be able to claim something.

Job Centre Plus staff are not the experts they should be - they don't have enough detailed training, or time to help, and they often make mistakes. Instead you need to go to see a trained independent adviser at Citizens Advice Bureau, or a benefits specialist  from Manchester Advice, or from a similar service.

This page suggests where people living with HIV can go for benefits help and advice in NW England.

Always take any papers or letters from Benefits Offices, and other details of your income (wage slips and the like) with you.

It's worth checking benefits because

  • There may be (other) benefits you can claim
  • The amount you are getting may be wrong.

Benefits Experts know the obscure rules that can help you

Here are just two examples to show why you should see an expert adviser. The world of benefits is full of nooks and crannies that need an expert's advice, knowledge and experience. Benefits advisers love finding people extra money to claim. That's why they do advice work.

First example - if you are getting some Housing Benefit, you may be able to get a top-up called discretionary housing payment. An expert adviser can help people with HIV apply for this. It could help you pay off rent arrears, get a flat of your own instead of a room in a shared house, pay for a better or bigger home. Having HIV can count in your favour.

Or, second example - if you are working, you may be able to claim Working Tax Credit. For example having HIV may mean you fit the rules for a large disability element - £2530 a year - used to work out how much you should get. The rules for this are complex.

Not only could Tax Credits boost your income, but they might help you manage a drop in your income due to the recession, or shift from full-time to part-time work, or make life easier in other ways.

Those are just two examples of why it is worth going to an expert for a benefits and income check.

We can't promise that everyone will be advised how to get more money, but if you don't ask, you certainly won't get anything extra.

Basic Benefits Information from Citizens Advice

 

Other ways to increase your income 
  • Help with health, education and legal costs 
  • Government employment schemes
  • Becoming self-employed and  here
  • Take another job - such as part-time, evening, or weekend work
  • Turn your hobby and skills into something - make and sell things
  • Declutter your home and sell things you don't need
  • Rent out a room
  • Search the web for ideas, information and advice - but take care - if it looks to good to be true, there's a 99% chance it'll be a scam. Never pay someone money to do work for them at home - those are scams
  • DON'T Borrow money. Borrowing money to pay off debts makes money problems even worse. Instead get money advice from independent experts such as Citizens Advice Bureau.

If you are on benefits, there are strict rules about what you can and cannot do. Get advice from an expert.

Renting out a room? Always check with your / mortgage and home insurance company first.

 

 

Work and changing careers - What shall I do now? 

Try the prospects website to help you decide a career that suits you. Here's an unsolicited recommendation

I completed their What jobs suit me section. You have to register with the website to access the service but it is free – and excellent. It takes you through your values, what's important to you (money, status, helping old ladies etc), your interests, aspirations, etc then comes up with some general descriptions of the types of career that match up, and a big long list of specific jobs. It was reassuring for me to see that many of the jobs I'd been considering were on my personalised list. I can't recommend it highly enough – it's a good place for anyone to start. While badged as a graduate/postgraduate tool, because of the way it assesses your personal motivations and interests (as well as what you don't want), it is great for anyone considering a career change.

 

Click the links to the other pages in this Low Income  section, in the menu on the left

  • Cutting Spending Dealing with Debt
  • George House Trust low income help
  • Where to get help.

If you have suggestions for this page please email us