1. Apply immediately. If you wait it is harder to get money back-dated and you could lose out. Claims take time to be dealt with and you may have to wait a while before you actually get the money.

2. Take someone with you to any benefits appointments. Choose someone who can help with the forms and the questions.

3. Keep a copy of the forms you fill in, any letters you write and any documents you send in. Keep a note of the date you sent things. Keep these copies and dates together safely. Keep ALL the letters the Council or Jobcentre Plus send you.

4. ALWAYS get a receipt when you hand in a form to the Jobcentre or Social Security Office saying they have received it. This is proof that you gave in your form if it gets lost.

5. Keep the Jobcentre, Social Security Office or Council informed if your circumstances change, like moving house, going to college or getting a job.

6. Get advice immediately if you are uncertain about your benefits or if your benefits stop and you don't know why. Go to the Council's welfare rights service or your local Citizens' Advice Bureau You may be able to appeal if you are turned down for benefits or disagree with a decision that has been made.

To claim you need to be:

• Aged 16 or over.
  
  
• Responsible for paying the rent in the place you live.
  
  
• On Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or on a low income – the amount of benefit you get will depend on your income.

You need to fill in a form from your Council. You will have to show proof of your National Insurance number, provide a bill, show the amount of rent you pay and you may have to show proof of your tenancy agreement. If you pay for services (meals, heating etc.) with your rent or if you have a private landlord, the amount of benefit you get may not cover everything.

Housing Benefit will not cover the deposit on a place.

It is worth noting that if you are a student you will not usually get Housing Benefit unless you are disabled or a single parent.

When you hand in a claim or any other paperwork, make sure you get a receipt that proves you have given it in.

Benefits are complicated and you should always get advice from your local Welfare Rights Service, Citizens' Advice Bureau, youth information project or support worker.

You can claim at your local Jobcentre Plus. You will need your National Insurance number and P45 (if you have been working). You will have an interview and be asked to sign a Jobseeker's agreement before you get paid any money. After this you need to ‘sign on' every 2 weeks.

Your benefit can be stopped in some circumstances, for example if you miss your signing on day or cannot provide evidence of actively seeking work. You may still be able to get benefit if you can show that without it you would suffer 'hardship'.

Barry, 19

Usually you have to be at least 18 to claim Income Support. If you are under 18 you can only claim if there are very specific circumstances.

You need to be unable to work. This means you are ill or disabled, a single parent, a carer or at least 29 weeks pregnant. If you are working, it must be for less than 16 hours a week and your earnings will affect the amount of benefit you get.

You should claim at your local Jobcentre Plus. If you are ill or disabled, you will need a medical certificate from your doctor.

If you are 16 or 17 and have no other income you can claim severe hardship payments.

If you are under 18 and unemployed you can apply for a Skillseeker placement. You can get information at school as well as at your local Jobcentre Plus.

On some placements you will be classed as a trainee and the minimum amount you should receive as an allowance is £55 per week. Some work places take you on as an employee and then you receive a wage.

If you are 18-24 and unemployed for more than 6 months you will probably have to go on a New Deal placement. On some placements you'll be classed as a trainee and receive an allowance the same as your normal weekly benefit. Otherwise you'll be paid a wage by your employer.

You can apply for these but there is no guarantee you will get them. You should claim at your local Jobcentre Plus.

• Community Care Grant - you may get this if, for example, you've been in care or in homeless accommodation and need help buying furniture to set up home. You must be getting Income Support or Jobseeker's allowance.
  
  
• Budgeting Loan - it can help, for instance, towards rent in advance and household items. To apply you need to have been getting Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance for at least 26 weeks. It has to be paid back.
  
  
• Crisis Loan - you can claim this when you have no other money, for example when you are first applying for benefit and waiting for it to come through. You can also apply for it if you can not get any other Social Fund money. You don't need to be on any benefits to apply for this. It has to be paid back.

If your application is refused you can ask for a review. It is best to get advice on this.

Affording a place	Household Budgeting
Health Budgeting