Government support

There are a number of ways to uplift your earnings, which you can learn more about in our video about side hustles. But as well as using your skills and managing your income, it’s worth checking if you may be entitled to government support. Did you know that many benefits are paid to people who are in work?

There are a range of benefits available for each stage of your life or circumstances. You can check out the gov.uk website to see what benefits you’re entitled to. Whatever your situation within the Armed Forces community, you may be eligible for support depending on your circumstances. Remember, these benefits are here to help you. Some people pride themselves on being able to work and earn without any support from the government – but the majority of benefit recipients are people who are in some form of work.  Benefits are not just for those unable to earn, they are there to support people in hard times. 

If you’re experiencing financial hardship, it is always worth exploring if you could be entitled to any additional government benefits, such as Universal Credit. If you’re serving overseas, or living abroad as part of a military family, you and your dependants may still be able to claim certain UK benefits, such as Child Benefit or Maternity Allowance. Organisations like the Royal British Legion or SSAFA can help you understand what support may be available.

Let’s meet Emma. Emma is a military spouse who works part-time while caring for her young child. Her partner is currently posted away from their permanent home, and Emma has reduced her working hours to balance childcare and family responsibilities. Emma checks the gov.uk website and uses a benefits calculator to understand what support may be available. She discovers she’s eligible for Universal Credit and additional childcare support during school holidays. This gives her extra financial support and the flexibility to increase her working hours when it suits her family. Although Emma is working, Universal Credit helps top up her income and support her household during this period. This additional support helps Emma feel more financially stable, without needing to take on more work than she can manage. But if her earnings increase, her Universal Credit may reduce, so it’s important for her to stay informed about how her income and benefits work together.

You can check what you’re entitled to on gov.uk or by speaking to a local advice service. If your income is low or your circumstances are challenging, you might be entitled to extra help, such as support for housing and living costs. 

Universal Credit, or UC, is a single monthly payment from the government that was brought in to replace six older benefits, like Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, and Tax Credits. So instead of applying for lots of different benefits, you just apply once for UC. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income or out of work, you’re over 18, under State Pension age, live in the UK, and have less than £16,000 in savings. The amount you get depends on your situation. Things like whether you have children, a partner, a disability, or rent to pay. If you earn money from work, your UC usually goes down, but you can still get some support. Payments normally come once a month, straight into your bank account. If you live with a partner, you make one joint claim, and most people need to show they’re looking for work unless they can’t because of caring duties, illness, or disability.

Here’s a quick example of how this might work for a civilian. Alex is 25, works part-time, earning a salary which only just covers her rent. Her UC includes a standard allowance and help with rent. Because Alex earns wages, her UC is reduced slightly. In the end, she still gets some UC to top up her wages. The result is that she has more than double the amount a month to live on than what she’d have without UC. This shows how UC can help top up wages and cover essentials- but remember, everyone’s circumstances and eligibility will be different. Veterans, Service families and dependants may also be eligible for other types of support, such as Child Benefit, Personal Independence Payment, or Armed Forces Independence Payment, depending on their circumstances.

You can check what you’re entitled to on gov.uk or by using a benefits calculator. You can also speak to support organisations such as Citizens Advice, SSAFA or the Royal British Legion for guidance. Millions go unclaimed in benefits each year. If your income is low or your circumstances are tough, it’s always worth checking what benefits you might be entitled to. They’re there to help you.