You may have the right to receive certain benefits if you are on a low income or if you have certain costs to meet because of your personal situation.

Applying for Benefits
You should apply immediately.  If you wait it is harder to get money back-dated and you could lose out.  Also, claims take time to be dealt and you may have to wait a while before you actually get the money.

Keep a copy of the forms you fill in, any letters you write and any documents you send in. 
Keep a note of the date you sent things. 
Keep these copies and dates together safely.
Keep all the letters the Council, Jobcentre or Social Security send you.

Always get a receipt when you hand in a form so that you proof that you gave in your form if it gets lost.

Get advice immediately if you are uncertain about your benefits or if your benefits stop and you don't know why.

Click on the boxes below to get the forms you need to fill out.

 
If you have to pay Council Tax and you live by yourself, you be entitle to get a 25% discount off your bill.

An Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is an allowance of £30 per week paid to eligible young people who stay on in full-time education at school or in college after their 16th birthday.