Finances

The UK has a welfare system which is designed to help those who face financial hardship, or who have specific needs. Your local Job Centre Plus will be able to help you find out which benefits you may be able to access. This may include:

• Universal Credit: a payment for those of working age, to help with your living costs if you’re on a low income. You could be working (including self-employed or part time) or be out of work.
• Pension Credit: extra money to help with your living costs if you are over the age of 66 and on a low income. Applications for Pensions is online or via telephone.
• Disability benefits: extra money to help with additional costs if you have a long term physical or mental health condition or disability .
• Carer’s Allowance: extra money if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week.
• Child Benefit: extra money to help with the cost of raising a child.

A link to the different types of benefits you could receive can be found here.

If you are in Scotland advice can be found here.

Citizens Advice also provides free advice on dealing with banking, debt, bankruptcy, and more. You can find your local Citizens Advice Bureau here if you are in England and Wales, here if you are in Scotland, and here if you are in Northern Ireland.

Opening a Bank account

There are a range of banks, and you can choose one that suits you best. There are also online-only providers which you can use.

The safest way to do this in your local bank branch rather than online so as to avoid any potential scams.

To open a bank account in the UK, you usually need to show proof of ID such as passport, biometric residency permit, driver’s licence or recognised identity card. You also need proof of permanent address. The Government is working with major banks to find a solution to enable you to open accounts without the usual permanent address requirement. A number of UK banks already have a system for opening accounts where you do not have a permanent UK address. You may need to get the help of a local charity or your local authority to help you do this.