When you’re struggling with your finances, even the simplest tasks such as food shopping, paying a bill or opening mail, can cause an extraordinary amount of worry and stress which could seriously impact on your mental health.
However, did you know that you may be entitled to extra benefits, such as Universal Credit, even if you’re still in work?
Universal Credit is a benefit for working-aged people and the amount you can get will depend on your individual circumstances and how much income you have. You can also claim for Universal Credit if you work but have low earnings and if you live in rented accommodation an amount for housing costs will also be included. For more information on Universal Credit, click on the links below:
If you need extra help because of an illness, disability or mental health condition, you may be entitled to PIP to help with your daily living or to improve your mobility. PIP can cover things like:
Unlike Employment and Support Allowance, to qualify for PIP you don’t need to have paid any National Insurance, and it doesn’t matter what your income is, if you’re working or if you have any savings. To be eligible for PIP you need to be classified as ‘needing help to do an activity’. This means you need a person or device to:
You may also be classified as needing help if you do an activity yourself but:
For more information about PIP, click on the links below:
Once your Statutory Sick Pay is exhausted after 28 weeks, you can claim ESA from the following day. ESA can be paid in addition to your occupational sick pay and is currently paid at a rate of £75 per week.
After the initial 13-week assessment phase, the Department of Work and Pensions will assess your ability to work, and if you’re deemed unable to work, your weekly entitlement will increase to £114 pr week. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be entitled to Universal Credit as a top up.
ESA is claimable by anyone who has paid the appropriate amount of Class 1 national insurance contribution in the qualifying number of tax years (usually the last two years). It isn’t means tested and is only reduced by an Occupational Pension if this is over £85pw. ESA is taxable.
To learn more about ESA, click on the links below:
When a loved one has passed away, many people don’t know where to start handling the situation, and finances can seem especially overwhelming. However, did you know that if you’ve recently experienced a bereavement, you may be eligible for additional benefits and support from the Department of Work and Pensions?
Following the death of a loved one, widows, widowers or surviving civil partners are entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment. The payment consists of a one-off lump sum and up to 18 monthly instalments. In order to be eligible, your partner must have died before they reached state pension age.
Bereavement Support Payments have two rates:
Any Bereavement Support Payment you receive (standard or higher rate) is not included as income when working out your entitlement to other benefits.
If you need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging, you may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment if you receive any of the following:
A Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay some of the costs for:
For more information about Funeral Expenses Payments, click on the links below:
TASC is here to support the financial wellbeing of the UK's ambulance community. Learn more about our services and who we can help.
Learn more >Download our interactive PDF to track your monthly income and outgoings and get a better understanding of your finances.
Download now >Download our interactive PDF to track your daily spend and manage your finances.
Download now >In this news post, our Money Advisor offers three small steps you can take to help get their finances back in the black
Learn more >On the face of it, setting a budget is easy; however it can be quite complicated making a realistic budget that’s simple to monitor and control. In this news post, our Money Advisor offers nine tips to set a better budget.
Learn more >As part of our commitment to supporting the financial wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance community, we employ an experienced Money Advisor who can:
To find out more, visit our financial services webpage. Alternatively download a TASC application form or email support@theasc.org.uk
After Paul reduced his hours at work to care for his daughter he started to struggle with his finances. Paul’s manager suggested contacting TASC and we arranged for Paul to receive a financial grant and support with TASC’s Money Advisor to help maximise his income. Read Paul’s story
Please note that this page was last updated in October 2021, and the figures on this page may have been updated since then. For the latest information, please visit the UK Government website.
Our services are completely confidential and anything you share with us will be kept in the strictest confidence and in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).