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Benefits calculator

My Money Steps›My advice›Benefits calculator›Your life and work
Step 4 of 8

Your life and work

Now, it's about getting to know you better - your earnings from work, your health condition, and any responsibilities you have for taking care of others.

Enter the amount of money you get after income tax and National Insurance contributions are taken out. If you are unemployed, enter zero as your income. Look at the "How to answer" section below to learn how to include other types of income like benefits and money from being self-employed.

£
Weekly Monthly Yearly
How to answer

We need to know your take-home income to calculate means-tested benefits like Universal Credit and Pension Credit. If you're not sure, you can use MoneyHelper's Salary Calculator, it's free, quick, and confidential.

If your salary varies every month, any means-tested benefit you get will vary too. To get an indication of how much you can expect, you could enter the average amount you normally get, and then when you complete the questionnaire you can use the "what if" feature to check what you'd get in a good month and how much you'd get in a bad month.

This will be either the amount taken from your salary or the money you put into your work or personal pension. Don't include the money that your employer puts into your work pension.

£
Weekly Monthly Yearly
Do you have an illness or disability that affects your daily life or mobility?

This includes physical or mental health conditions that have lasted, or are expected to last, at least 12 months. For example, you might need help moving around or completing everyday tasks like washing, cooking, or managing money.

Yes
No
Do you care for someone who is sick or disabled?

You should be the primary caregiver and provide care for at least 35 hours a week for a person who receives a disability-related benefit. This person can be anyone, like your child, partner, or family member.

Yes
No
How to answer

The main carer should be responsible for providing at least 35 hours of care per week. The care can include emotional support, memory help, and physical care for those with mental health issues or memory problems.

The person you're caring for could be anyone including your child, your partner, or a family member. However, this person must receive one of the following benefits:

  • Attendance Allowance.
  • Disability Living Allowance (the middle or highest care rate).
  • Scottish Child Disability Payment (the middle or highest care rate).
  • Personal Independence Payment (daily living component).
  • Scottish Adult Disability Payment (daily living component).
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment.
  • Constant Attendance Allowance paid with Industrial Injuries Benefit or War Disablement Pension.

Select "No" if someone else is already claiming Carers Allowance or the Carers Element of Universal Credit for the same person.

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