Maximising Income

Are you getting all the income you can? Here are a few helpful pointers that will help you to maximise your income . . .

You may have made National Insurance contributions throughout your working life and therefore, if you should find yourself in difficulty, there is money there to help you through these tough times.

Any family with income under £66,000 may be entitled to some form of benefit such as Job Seekers Allowance, Tax Credits, Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, etc. The link to www.entitledto.co.uk can help you determine what you may be able to claim.

From April 2009, you can claim a one-off, tax-free payment from H M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) if you're a mum-to-be who's at least 25 weeks pregnant. The payment is called 'Health in Pregnancy Grant' and is to help you prepare for the birth of your baby.

Click here to find out more.

Another helpful place for information on your entitlements is the Government's own site designed to help people understand their rights and how to claim them.

There is a lot of other useful information on here as well. Depending on your circumstances, items you might want to look for (you can click through on the words) include:

Warm Front Scheme - if you are over 60 you have a good chance of getting help. Younger individuals on benefits may also get help. Money, Tax and Benefits - everything you need to know all in one place

Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) is an insurance policy designed to cover debt repayments such as loans, mortgages or credit cards in the event you lose your job or become ill.

It can be a very useful insurance cover and can give you peace of mind should the worst happen. However, many providers have mis-sold such cover in the past. The Which? site provides you with the tools to check if you've been mis-sold a policy and how to go about reclaiming your money.

Other ways you can increase your income

Consider taking in a lodger if you have a spare roomAsk children working full time to contribute to the bills or pay board Sell unwanted items on eBay or at a carboot saleGet a second job, working part-timeIncrease your salary by getting a promotion or going for a new job

Finally, once you have maximised your income look to . . .

  and don't forget to . . .