Guides
UK benefits guides, in plain English
Calm, careful explainers on Universal Credit, redundancy, sick pay, rent and mortgages. We use words like may, could and indicative on purpose — only the DWP and your local council can give an official decision.
Start with the most-read guides
Redundancy
What benefits can I claim after losing my job?
A calm, step-by-step UK roadmap after job loss — Universal Credit, New Style JSA, Council Tax Reduction, housing support, NHS help, energy grants and more. Plain English, updated for 2026/27.
10 min read · Updated 28 May 2026
Redundancy
How redundancy pay affects Universal Credit (PILON, savings, timing)
How statutory and enhanced redundancy pay, PILON, holiday pay and final salary are treated by Universal Credit — capital vs earnings, assessment-period timing and worked examples. 2026/27 rules.
11 min read · Updated 28 May 2026
Housing
Help with rent after losing your job
Universal Credit housing element, Discretionary Housing Payments, Housing Benefit and other UK support that may help you cover rent after losing your income.
5 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
Universal Credit after redundancy: who can claim and how much
A calm, plain English guide to claiming Universal Credit after redundancy — how redundancy pay, savings, notice pay, a working partner and housing costs change what you receive. 2026/27 rules.
9 min read · Updated 28 May 2026
Universal Credit
How much savings can I have on Universal Credit?
A calm, comprehensive UK guide to savings and Universal Credit — the £6,000 and £16,000 thresholds, tariff income, what counts as capital, what doesn't, and how inheritance, ISAs and redundancy money are treated. Updated for 2026/27.
10 min read · Updated 2 April 2026
Households
Can I claim benefits if my partner works?
How a partner's income and savings affect UK benefits like Universal Credit, New Style JSA, ESA and PIP, with plain English examples.
5 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Redundancy
What to do after losing your job in the UK
A calm, practical checklist for the first days and weeks after losing your job in the UK — benefits, bills, debts and support.
6 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Health
Benefits while signed off sick
Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit and New Style ESA — what UK employees and workers may be able to claim while signed off sick.
5 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Health
Benefits if you cannot work due to illness
Universal Credit, New Style ESA and PIP for people in the UK who can't work due to long-term illness or disability — what may be available and how it fits together.
6 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Housing
Help with mortgage payments after redundancy
Support for Mortgage Interest, lender forbearance and other UK options if you're struggling with your mortgage after losing your job.
5 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
Can I claim Universal Credit if I got redundancy pay?
Yes — you can usually still claim Universal Credit after receiving redundancy pay, as long as your total savings (including the redundancy lump sum) stay under £16,000. Plain-English guide for UK households.
8 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
Universal Credit savings limit: £6,000 and £16,000 explained
How the £6,000 and £16,000 savings thresholds affect a Universal Credit claim — what counts as capital, how tariff income is worked out, and where redundancy pay and inheritance fit in. Plain English, 2026/27 rules.
8 min read · Updated 11 April 2026
Universal Credit
What happens to Universal Credit if my partner works?
If you live with a partner, Universal Credit is assessed jointly. Their take-home pay reduces your UC by about 55p in the £1 after any work allowance. Plain-English guide for UK households.
7 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
How long does Universal Credit take after redundancy?
Your first Universal Credit payment usually arrives about five weeks after you claim. This guide explains why, what to do in the meantime, and how to request an advance.
6 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
Documents you need for a Universal Credit claim
A clear checklist of the documents DWP usually asks for when you claim Universal Credit — ID, bank details, housing costs, earnings and savings. Practical guide for UK households.
6 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
What happens if my redundancy pay is delayed?
If your redundancy pay hasn't arrived on time, you can still claim Universal Credit, ask your employer for a written timeline, and apply to the Redundancy Payments Service if the employer is insolvent. Plain-English guide.
7 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
Can I claim Universal Credit if I own my home?
Yes — owning your home doesn't stop you claiming Universal Credit. The home you live in is ignored as capital. You may also qualify for Support for Mortgage Interest after a waiting period.
7 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
Help with bills while waiting for Universal Credit
Practical options for covering rent, energy, food and council tax during the five-week wait for your first Universal Credit payment. UK-focused, plain English.
7 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Council Tax
Council Tax Reduction after redundancy
Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Support) can cut your bill by up to 100% after redundancy. It's a separate scheme run by each local council. Plain-English guide to applying.
6 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
Can I get Universal Credit while working part-time?
Yes — Universal Credit is designed to top up low earnings. There's no hours limit, but earnings above your work allowance reduce UC by 55p in the £1. Plain-English guide for UK workers.
7 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Housing
Help with rent after redundancy: what support you can claim
If you've lost your job and worry about paying rent, several types of support may help — from the Universal Credit housing element to Discretionary Housing Payments. A plain-English guide.
9 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Housing
Mortgage support after losing your job: your options
Worried about your mortgage after redundancy? You may have options — lender forbearance, Support for Mortgage Interest, and the Mortgage Charter. A calm, practical guide.
9 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Universal Credit
What happens if my savings go over £16,000?
If household savings reach £16,000, Universal Credit usually stops. But other support may still apply — New Style JSA, Council Tax Reduction, and more. A clear guide.
8 min read · Updated 17 March 2026
Couples & families
Can I get benefits if my partner earns too much?
Even when a partner earns a good wage, some benefits may still apply after redundancy. New Style JSA, Child Benefit and Council Tax Reduction don't always depend on partner income. A clear guide.
8 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Housing
Council Tax Reduction after job loss: how to apply
After redundancy, Council Tax Reduction can cut your bill significantly — sometimes to zero. It's a separate claim from Universal Credit. A clear guide to applying.
7 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Bills & essentials
Help with energy bills after redundancy: what you can claim
After job loss, several schemes may help with energy bills — from supplier hardship funds to the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments. A practical guide.
8 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Couples & families
Support for parents after losing their job
Parents have extra support routes after redundancy — child element of UC, free childcare, Healthy Start, free school meals and more. A focused guide for families.
9 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Couples & families
Can I get help with childcare costs on Universal Credit?
Universal Credit can reimburse up to 85% of childcare costs for working parents. A clear guide to who qualifies, monthly caps, and how to get costs paid up-front.
8 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Job loss
What support is available while looking for work?
Looking for work after redundancy? Several income, training and travel-cost supports may apply — UC, New Style JSA, Flexible Support Fund and more. A clear guide.
8 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Job loss
What happens if my hours are reduced?
Reduced hours, short-time working or lay-off can shrink your income overnight. UC can top up low wages — and other rights and support may apply. A clear guide.
8 min read · Updated 26 May 2026
Redundancy
Does redundancy money count as savings?
How Universal Credit treats redundancy pay once it arrives — when it counts as savings, when it counts as earnings, and how monthly assessment periods change the picture. Plain English, with worked examples. Updated for 2026/27.
8 min read · Updated 28 May 2026
Universal Credit
Can inheritance affect Universal Credit?
A careful UK guide to how inheritance is treated by Universal Credit — when it counts, when it doesn't, how trusts and gifts are assessed, and what catches grieving families out. Plain English, updated for 2026/27.
9 min read · Updated 28 March 2026
Savings & capital
Can I have £20,000 savings on Universal Credit?
A careful UK guide to whether you can claim Universal Credit with £20,000 in savings — how the £16,000 capital limit works, what counts, temporary capital, couples, inheritance and the things that catch people out. Plain English, updated for 2026/27.
10 min read · Updated 2 May 2026
Savings & capital
Do Premium Bonds count as savings for Universal Credit?
Yes — Premium Bonds count as capital for Universal Credit and most means-tested benefits. A clear UK guide to how NS&I holdings are valued, what you must report, and how they interact with the £6,000 and £16,000 thresholds.
6 min read · Updated 24 February 2026
Universal Credit
Can I spend inheritance before claiming Universal Credit?
A careful UK guide to spending inherited money before claiming Universal Credit — what is considered reasonable, what counts as deprivation of capital, how DWP looks at the timing, and when to get specialist advice. Plain English, updated for 2026/27.
10 min read · Updated 29 April 2026
Universal Credit
What counts as deprivation of capital?
A careful UK guide to deprivation of capital — what DWP looks for, common misconceptions about gifts, transfers and spending, realistic claimant scenarios, and how 'notional capital' works in practice. Plain English, updated for 2026/27.
11 min read · Updated 15 May 2026
Universal Credit
How DWP checks savings for Universal Credit
A calm, transparent UK guide to how DWP verifies savings for Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits — what bank statements are asked for, what data-matching exists, what triggers a review, and how to keep your claim straightforward. Updated for 2026/27.
8 min read · Updated 4 March 2026
Universal Credit
Can I transfer savings to my partner to claim Universal Credit?
A careful UK guide to whether transferring savings to a partner, parent or family member helps a Universal Credit claim. Covers joint assessment, deprivation of capital, evidence, and when to get specialist advice. Plain English, updated for 2026/27.
9 min read · Updated 21 May 2026
Redundancy
PILON and Universal Credit — how pay in lieu of notice affects your claim
A careful UK guide to how Pay In Lieu of Notice interacts with a Universal Credit claim. Covers timing inside the assessment period, why PILON is treated as earnings, realistic worked examples, and what usually happens next. Updated for 2026/27.
9 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Redundancy
Is PILON taxed? A plain-English guide for UK workers
Yes — PILON is fully taxed in the UK. This guide explains why, how Post-Employment Notice Pay (PENP) works, what appears on your payslip, and how the tax interacts with redundancy pay and Universal Credit. Updated for 2026/27.
7 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Redundancy
PILON vs redundancy pay — what's the difference?
A plain-English comparison of Pay In Lieu of Notice and statutory redundancy pay in the UK — what each one is, how they're taxed differently, how Universal Credit treats them, and how to read a redundancy settlement. Updated for 2026/27.
7 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Universal Credit
My partner got redundancy but I still work — what changes for benefits?
A plain-English UK guide to what happens to a household's benefit position when one partner is made redundant and the other keeps working. Covers joint UC claims, how your earnings interact with their redundancy pay, and what people often miss. Updated for 2026/27.
9 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Universal Credit
Joint Universal Credit claim after redundancy — how it works for couples
A careful UK guide to making a joint Universal Credit claim as a couple after one of you has been made redundant. Covers the claim mechanics, who provides what evidence, assessment period timing, and what changes in your first three months. Updated for 2026/27.
8 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Universal Credit
What if only one partner has the savings? Universal Credit and couples
A plain-English UK guide to how Universal Credit treats savings held by only one partner in a couple. Covers joint assessment, why transfers don't help, deprivation of capital risk, and realistic options. Updated for 2026/27.
8 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Universal Credit
Does my partner's income affect Universal Credit?
A plain-English UK guide to how a partner's earnings are treated in a Universal Credit joint claim — the taper, work allowance, what's counted as income, and what people often get wrong. Updated for 2026/27.
8 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
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