Low Income
Income support: these are benefits that depend on your savings and income, but not founded on National Insurance contributions. If you have less than £8000 savings you may be able to get help with weekly living costs. If you are over sixty years of age or over you do not need to 'sign on' as unemployed to receive Income Support. The level of Income Support depends of different things including your actual age and whether you are disabled. If you have £3000 savings or over, this will affect how much money you will receive.
Housing and council tax benefit: if you are already on Income Support, it is possible to receive help with your rent with Housing Benefit and Council Tax. If you have more than £3000 in savings it will affect these benefits.
Social Fund
Cold weather payments: this is sent automatically in November/December, information is available from Social Security.
Funeral payment: this depends on your personal savings. It is not a loan but may have to be repaid from assets of the person who died.
Crisis loans: these have to be repaid. The loan is used to help individuals in the case of emergency, perhaps for a short term expense. Income is taken into consideration althought you do not have to receive Income Support or any other benefit. The loan is interest free: in other words you only pay back what you have borrowed.
Budeting loans: this is allowed up to £1000 in total. If you have been getting Income Support for at least 26 weeks, your application will be considered. The loan is repayable over a period of time, but there would be no interest to pay.
Freely Available Schemes
Television licences: for anyone aged 75 yeras or over the TV licence is free. You can have a free licence for your main home but not for a second home. Although free, you do still need a licence. If you 75th bithday falls in the year covered by the next licence, you can buy a short term licence to cover you until your birthday, or you can claim a refund on an existing licence for the months since you reached 75.
Cinemas and theatres: most cinemas and theatres provide concessions for people over pensionable age, and for the unemployed or those on benefit. Usually the concession will apply to certain days, usually matinees when there is plenty of seating available. Check at your local cinema or theatre for times.