The benefits system provides practical help and financial support if you are unemployed and looking for work. It also provides you with additional income when your earnings are low, if you are bringing up children, are retired, care for someone, are ill or have a disability. For full details, see: Benefits, debt and money advice 

How does the benefit system work?

The benefits system gives money to people when they do not have enough money for housing or food. People with children and some people in low paid work can also get extra money. The Government want to help people to get a job and to do well in that job.

What is the basic benefit in the UK?

Universal Credit (UC)

This replaces these six existing means-tested benefits: Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit.

Are UK benefits good?

Benefits in the UK are comparatively low by international standards with one of the lowest benefit rates relative to earnings. The basic rate of Universal Credit is worth around a sixth of average weekly pay. 

Who pays benefits in the UK?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK's biggest public service department it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers.

To find out what you may be entitled to: Benefits - GOV.UK

For further explanations of individual benefits and useful numbers: 

UK Benefits Guide

Useful Numbers - UK Benefits Guide

Worcestershire has a wide network of GPs which provide primary health care. Details of local clinics can be found here: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System

You can also find resources, information and support on our Health and Wellbeing pages.

Free health services

The following health services are free to everyone:

• GP advice and treatment
• services that are provided as part of the NHS 111 telephone advice line
• accident and emergency services provided at an A&E department, walk-in centre, minor injuries unit or urgent care centre
• diagnosis and treatment of some infectious and sexually transmitted diseases
• NHS services provided for COVID-19 investigation, diagnosis, treatment and vaccination
• family planning services (contraception)
• treatment for a physical or mental condition caused by torture, female genital mutilation, domestic violence or sexual violence

Mental health and wellbeing

We work with many services that are here for residents to support the mental health needs of adults and children. See our Mental health and emotional wellbeing pages for more information. 

If you need to talk to someone about your mental health or wellbeing, free support is available 24/7:

• immediate risk to life - call 999 or go straight to A&E 
• urgent advice - call 111

MIND

Confidential, emotional support for residents across Worcestershire is available through MIND in Worcestershire: Mental Health Support Worcestershire and Redditch 

Access requirements including interpretation can be discussed with the providers of the service upon referral/self-referral. 

More useful links

• Emotional Wellbeing toolkit (PDF)
• Support Groups (rethink.org)
• Mental health Archives - Refugee Council
• MANUP - Men's mental health charity
• Talking Therapies (NHS)

Children and Young People

• Join The Movement | Young People's Mental Health 
• Home - Kooth
• Resources - Beacon House - Beacon House has some great resources for talking to children about War and Conflict

UK vaccination programmes

If you want more information related to the vaccines offered in the UK and when to have them, please visit: Immunisations and vaccinations

Learning English is very useful if you live in the UK. It is important for everyone living in the UK to know some English to help with speaking to people and enjoying life in the community.

In the UK, learning English for non-native speakers is called ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). There are different levels of ESOL from Beginner to Advanced.

For full details see: Enhancing your English and Maths including ESOL where you can explore a range of courses.

Where can I learn English?

In Worcestershire, ESOL is available through:

• community classes
• colleges
• online courses
• libraries and adult/family learning programmes
• personalised learning plans (at home or library)
• voluntary support (group or one-on-one)

ESOL provision is funded by the following:

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)

Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)

UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)

You can also find out more on our Skills 4 Worcestershire website.

Worcestershire Libraries also offers ESOL courses: Library events and activities

Support for Ukranian Guests: 16+ Education for Hosts and Guests from Learning Services Worcestershire (PDF)

Test your English

You can test your English by using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education.

The education system in the UK is also split into "key stages" which breaks down as follows:

• key Stage 1: 5 to 7 years old
• key Stage 2: 7 to 11 years old
• key Stage 3: 11 to 14 years old
• key Stage 4: 14 to 16 years old

All education below the further education level is compulsory in the UK.

In Worcestershire, you can find all the information you need here: Schools, education and learning

Further education

Please be aware that a learner can only be enrolled on one mainstream, accredited course (qualification available). 

This means they cannot register for classes with both Adult and Community Learning and a college. and they cannot register at 2 different colleges. 

This restriction does not apply to community provision, so they can attend a college and community classes.

The following colleges offer further education courses: 

Heart of Worcestershire College

Evesham New College

Kidderminster College

Adult and community learning

Learning Services Worcestershire

Adult Learning Courses in libraries

Online courses

Courses for adults- WEA

Learn English - Free Online Course for Beginners

The UK’s international culture and education organisation

Case Studies

Case Study 1:

A Syrian woman attended community classes when she arrived. She then went to college and improved from beginner to Entry Level 2. She completed online Food Hygiene courses (levels 1 and 2) and now volunteers in a school kitchen, which she enjoys.

Case Study 2:

A disabled Syrian man attended community classes, learned online, then went to college, improving from beginner level. He learns English daily, has passed his driving test, and now drives his family around. He is also looking for a job.

Case Study 3:

A young Afghan woman, a doctor in Afghanistan, attended college and progressed to Level 2 English. She joined a WhatsApp group for medical workers to improve her technical English and learn about the UK medical industry. She volunteers with St. John’s Ambulance for experience and is preparing for medical exams to work in the UK.