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Benefits calculator

My Money Steps›My advice›Benefits calculator›Your household finances
Step 6 of 8

Your household finances

We need to know about any other money coming in and expenses that impact your benefits, as well as your savings and investments.

The childcare must be with a registered childminder or nursery. It may also include summer school or after-school clubs.

£
Weekly 4 weekly Monthly
Does your household receive any other income?

Select "Yes" if your household gets Spousal Maintenance payments, Maternity Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or income from Income Protection Insurance.

Yes
No

This includes things like cash, bonds, shares or the net value of property other than your main home. Don't include any debts in this calculation.

£
How to answer

Include the value of cash and other assets your household owns in the UK or abroad, such as:

  • Cash.
  • Current and savings accounts.
  • Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Lifetime ISAs (LISAs).
  • Bonds, shares and investment funds.
  • The net value of any property that does not meet one of the disregard rules below (market value minus 10 % selling costs and any outstanding mortgage).
  • Lump-sum payments you can access, for example from a trust, pension, annuity or redundancy.

You can normally ignore capital held in these categories:

  • Money deposited with a housing association as a condition of your tenancy.
  • Occupational and personal pensions you cannot yet draw on.
  • Life-insurance policies.
  • Business assets (equipment, stock or money set aside to pay tax).
  • Money held in a trust that you cannot directly access.
  • Back-payments of means-tested benefits, ignored for the first 12 months after you receive them.

Property that is usually disregarded:

  • Premises used as your main home.
  • Premises occupied by your former partner who is a lone parent, ignored indefinitely.
  • Premises occupied by your former partner who is not a lone parent, ignored for up to 6 months under Universal Credit.
  • Premises occupied by your partner when you are permanently living elsewhere (for example, in a care home).
  • Premises occupied by a close relative who is over State Pension age or has limited capability for work.

A property you no longer live in can normally be ignored for up to 6 months if any of these apply:

  • You left it following a relationship breakdown.
  • You are taking legal steps to occupy it.
  • You are actively taking steps to sell it.
  • You are carrying out essential repairs to make it habitable.
  • You have bought another property but have not moved in yet.
  • You have sold the property and intend to use the proceeds to buy another home.
  • You have received insurance money to repair your home.
  • You have taken out a loan for essential repairs.
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