Claim the benefits you are entitled to

Now more than ever it's important that you are making sure you are getting any benefits you are entitled to, to boost your income!
Many benefits go unclaimed because people don’t know what they are entitled to. Last year Nottingham advice services helped people to unlock many millions of pounds of unclaimed benefits and tax credits – often by helping to overturn benefits decisions which were wrongly refused.

Use A Benefits Calculator Tool

Check What You’re Entitled To

You can use an independent, free and anonymous benefits calculators to check what you could be entitled to. This will give you an estimate of:

the benefits you could get
how much your benefit payments could be
how your benefits will be affected if you start work or increase your hours
how your benefits will be affected if your circumstances change - for example, if you have a child or move in with your partner

Visit the GOV.UK Benefits calculators webpage below:

GOV.UK Benefits Calculators

Prioritise And Reduce Bills

View the Reduce Your Bills page for more information on other schemes available.

Contact An Advice Centre

If you would like to speak to someone there are many FREE and CONFIDENTIAL support services available across Nottingham & Nottinghamshire. Please visit the Where To Find Money Help & Advice page for your local advice services.

Council Tax Reductions & Support

Find out about the types of council tax discounts Nottingham City & Nottinghamshire County offer to support our residents. To find out the discounts and exemptions available please visit:

For Nottingham City Residents visit the Nottingham City Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions Webpage

For Nottinghamshire County Residents visit your local council website for further information:

If you are unsure of which council you are part of, please use the following link to Find your local council

Apply For Universal Credit

If you are considering claiming Universal Credit then you may want to get advice before making your claim.

If you are on existing benefits and make a Universal credit claim you cannot return to the existing benefit system. As well as the financial considerations there are differences in the way the benefits are paid and the levels of debt recovery from your benefit, which are higher than the existing benefit system.

If you are in any doubt about whether Universal Credit is right for you contact a local advice centre before making your claim.

To Apply for universal credit online and for more information please visit the official GOV.UK website

Benefits Advances & Hardship Payments

If you don’t have enough to live on while you wait for your first payment you may be able to get an advance of your first Universal Credit payment. Visit: Apply for a Universal Credit advance or hardship payment GOV.UK

Household Support Fund Vouchers

The Household Support Fund provides support to vulnerable residents in the following ways:

Free School Meal Vouchers
Supermarket Vouchers
Energy Vouchers
Food Bank Support
Social Eating Projects Support
Care Leaver Support
Asylum / Refugee Support
Mobile Food Supermarket Support

Further information on the support that is available and how to apply:

For Nottingham City Residents visit: Nottingham Council Household Support Fund Webpage

For Nottinghamshire County Residents visit: Nottinghamshire Household Support Fund (HSF)

Extra help with your Rent

Discretionary Housing Payments are for people who need extra help with their rent when their Housing Benefit does not meet the full value of their rent.

Nottingham City Council administers Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) on behalf of the Department for Works and Pensions.

People who have an entitlement to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and who have a shortfall are eligible to claim for help.

The award of a DHP as such does not guarantee that a further award will be made at a later date even if the claimant's circumstances have not changed.

This is a discretionary scheme and all applications for a DHP will be considered on an individual basis taking account of household type and circumstances.

For Nottingham City Residents, please visit: Extra help with your Rent - Nottingham City Council

For Nottinghamshire County Residents visit your local council website for further information:

Benefits & Support for Children

Childcare Calculator Tool:

Childcare Calculator

Best Start in Life - Advice and support for your child’s development

Government help with childcare costs for parents. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support. More information is available via the Best Start In Life GOV.UK Website.

Help With Childcare Costs

Find information about the childcare funding support available to help parents and carers in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to pay for childcare, and how to apply.

Your Notts Directory Help with childcare costs information page

Nottingham City Residents Support & Benefits for Children

There are a number of benefits for school aged children from free school meals, transport and uniform allowance, to find out more please visit the Nottingham City GOV Website.

NHS Healthy Start Scheme

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks. For more information, please visit the Healthy Start Website.