Benefits support
Supporting your financial wellbeing
Working behind the scenes in the film, TV, and cinema industry can come with unique financial challenges, especially for freelancers. If you’re worried about your income, it’s important to know that you might be eligible for additional support. We’re here to help you navigate the system.
In this section, you’ll find useful information, tools, and resources to help you understand which benefits and grants you may be eligible to claim.
Check your benefits eligibility
Research shows that over £22 billion in benefits go unclaimed each year in the UK. In the last year, more than two million benefit calculations have been made by people looking to check their entitlements.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for:
- Work-related benefits if you’re working (including self-employed) and your household income is below £40,000.
- Benefits if you’re not in work due to unemployment or other reasons.
- Child Benefit payments if you have children.
- Housing support, such as help with mortgage, rent, or Council Tax relief.
- Disability benefits or support if you’re sick or a carer.
- Retirement benefits if you’re around or over retirement age.
Navigating the benefits system can be complex, but we provide access to expert resources to help you understand what’s available. Below are some of the key schemes and resources you should know about:
Self-employment and benefits tips
Our partners at Turn2us provide helpful guidance and tips on the benefits available to those who are self-employed or have fluctuating earnings. Some key benefits include:
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
- Universal Credit for the self-employed.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP): A benefit for those with long-term mental or physical health conditions. Use the PIP helper tool from Turn2us for application support. Importantly, PIP is not means-tested, so savings and income don’t affect eligibility.
- Carer's Allowance for those supporting loved ones.
Free tools and resources
If you're navigating benefits like Universal Credit, especially as a freelancer, there are tools and resources to make the process easier:
- MoneyHelper's useful guide to applying for Universal Credit: A comprehensive guide specifically for self-employed workers.
- Citizens Advice Help to Claim advisers: They provide early-stage support with your Universal Credit claim.
- Citizens Advice can also help check eligibility for the new versions of Jobseeker’s Allowance or the Employment and Support Allowance
- Organisations such as Mental Health and Money Advice and Citizens Advice provide guidance on disability benefits like PIP or Attendance Allowance.
Use our free benefits calculator
Use our confidential Benefits Calculator to check which benefits you may be eligible for. This simple tool helps you navigate the system and understand the financial support available to you.
Need Help?
If you have questions or need further guidance, reach out to us for support. Our team is here to assist you in making the most of your benefits and welfare entitlements.
Grants
There are many charitable organisations that offer non-repayable grants. Eligibility differs from charity to charity, and it usually depends on personal circumstances, but in general you will have to be in financial need or on a low income.
Turn2Us provides a helpful grants search where you can look for charitable grants that are relevant to you just by entering a few basic details.
Grants from the Film and TV Charity
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Stop-Gap Grant
Grants of up to £750 open to people from all backgrounds to help manage urgent financial needs or to support with unexpected costs in a crisis.
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Sir Horace Ové Grant
Grants of up to £500 to help Black and Global Majority people to access opportunity and navigate barriers to career progression.
