Managing my money

Every year many people miss out on benefits they may be entitled to, click the button below to use an online calculator to check whether you may be entitled to more.

Benefits calculator

We want you to be happy and successful in your home and being able to manage your money is a big part of this.

Your priority bills include things like rent, council tax, water, TV license, energy bills, housekeeping, clothing and travel costs.

After this you should think about your other costs like mobile phone bills, internet, TV costs and any debts you owe.

Your priority bills at the top of your essential list are:

After these essential items you should think about your other spending. This might include:

Each local authority is responsible for providing its own council tax reduction scheme, so the scheme could be slightly different depending on where you live.

Some local authorities expect all working age households to contribute something towards their council tax, regardless of income. There are some groups that are protected so you’ll need to check if you fall into one of these groups.

How is it tested?

The reduction scheme is what we call ‘means tested’ which means that the decision is based on your income and personal circumstances, as well as those living in your household.

Who should I get in touch with?

You can either contact your local authority directly to work out whether you’re entitled to support, or you can speak to our Money Advice team. 

Council Tax Support can normally only be backdated by one month so you should claim as soon as you think you’re entitled to support.

Can I get a council tax discount?

You may be able to reduce your council tax bill if you qualify for what’s called a ‘status discount’. These discounts aren’t means tested but are linked to your status e.g. if you’re a single person, student or have certain medical conditions.

Whether you receive an exemption or discount will depend on your individual circumstances and who else lives in the property with you. Below are some of the most common discounts and exemptions.

• Single person discount – you will qualify for a 25% discount if you are the only qualifying adult living in the household.
• Students – you must be a full time student.
• People in detention – if you are in prison or another form of detention. 
• Severe mental impairments – if you have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning that is likely to be permanent. This condition needs to be medically certified and you’ll need to be entitled to a qualifying disability benefit.
• Hospital patient – if you’re an inpatient for a long period of time and you can no longer be considered as a resident in your usual home. 

If you’d like some more information on council tax discounts you can contact your local council or visit their website for all the details.

Having a bank account should help you take control of your money and will keep it safe and secure at the same time. You can have your wages, benefits and other income paid into your account without worrying about keeping cash in your home. 

Depending on the type of account you have, you may be able to set up bill payments and direct debits to make sure your bills are paid on time, especially essential bills such as rent and council tax.

Finding the right account

There are so many types of accounts out there it’s important that you do some research to find the right one for you. Some accounts have a monthly charge and other are free, some may also offer free travel insurance and other extras which you may not need. There are also other alternatives such as credit union accounts and post office accounts. 

For more help on choosing the right account, click here to visit the government website - Money Helper.

Types of account

Opening your account

Once you have chosen the type of account you want, you will need to complete an application form and will be asked to provide proof of your identity (this could be a passport or driving licence) and proof of address (rent book or council tax bill). If you can’t provide these documents you can see if your account provider will accept another document.

Remember, before you sign up for the account, make sure you understand everything about it such as any fees or charges that you might need to pay. If you have difficulty opening a bank account you may be able to open a credit union account instead.