Explore Your Economic Aid Options in the UK
When embarking on a new life in a different country, any kind of assistance is valuable. The UK offers a variety of benefits intended to ease your economic transition as an expatriate. In this article, we will present the top four forms of financial assistance you can apply for in the UK.
It’s important to note that most of these benefits and the information we will provide below apply primarily to England, Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own benefits and requirements.
Four Benefits You Can Apply for in the UK: The Most Practical Ones
1. Jobseeker’s Allowance
If you’re struggling to find employment or work less than 16 hours a week, this benefit could be of great interest to you. You can receive up to £74 per week.
Some of the requirements include being of legal age, not being a full-time student, actively seeking employment (or working less than 16 hours per week if you’re already employed), and if you have a partner, they should not work more than 24 hours a week.
2. Housing Benefit
This benefit is designed to assist you with rent costs. The amount will depend on your personal and housing circumstances.
However, the majority of landlords in the private sector prefer to avoid tenants who are receiving this aid because the way to perceive monthly rent can be more complicated and slower than usual.
To apply, you must be renting, have low income or be receiving other benefits, and have savings less than £16,000. In addition, if you’re under 35 and single, you will only be able to receive this aid for a single room or a room in a shared house.
3. Working Tax Credit
This is an excellent way to supplement your wage if it’s a bit scarce. It’s one of the easiest benefits to apply for and receive in the UK. The amount will depend on your annual income.
To obtain it, you must work at least 30 hours a week and meet the economic requirements, which vary. For example, a single person without children must not earn more than £13,100 per year to apply for this aid.
4. Council Tax Reduction
As you probably already know if you’ve been living in the UK for a few weeks or months, all dwellings must pay a monthly council tax. Depending on the range of your housing, this could be a considerable amount, so this reduction might be very beneficial.
General requirements for applying for a council tax reduction include having low income or receiving other benefits. The calculation of the amount and eligibility is not straightforward, so it’s best that you consult the official website or head to the nearest council office.