Government Benefits – For Those On Low Incomes

One of a series examining the different types of government benefits, this guide looks at some of the options available to assist those who're on a low income and are struggling to support themselves or their families.

Income support â€" this is a means-based allowance for those who are unable to work full time and have a low income, or who can only work less than 16 hours per week. It can be very helpful for people who have children or who look after an elderly or disabled person, or who are ill or disabled. Again, you won't qualify if you have more than £16,000 of savings. There are lots of different factors that will be taken into consideration in order to determine your eligibility for income support, including your age, your income, your savings, your dependants, whether you have a partner, your partner's income, your partner's savings, and whether you're disabled or caring for someone. People on income support also qualify for free NHS dentistry and prescriptions, as well as housing and council tax benefit. You can claim online or in person at a jobcentre plus, and as part of the application process you'll have an interview with a personal adviser who'll review your financial situation with you.

Working tax credits â€" again designed to support working families or individuals on a low income, this benefit is suitable for people who work at least 16 hours per week and have dependants to support, or people who have no children but who work over 30 hours per week in a low-paid job. Some of the factors that will be taken into consideration when calculating how much you'll receive in working tax credits are your income, the number of hours you work, whether you live with a partner, the number of children you have, how much you spend on childcare, whether you're entitled to any other benefits, or whether you're disabled. It's managed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), who'll pay it directly into your bank account. To claim, either phone your nearest HMRC office or pop into your local jobcentre plus.

Council tax benefit â€" you'll be eligible to receive council tax benefit (up to 100% reduction in your council tax bill) if you're on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings. If you don't qualify to receive it, you may still be eligible to receive a 'second adult rebate', giving money off your council tax bill in circumstances where you share your home with another adult who isn't your partner and who doesn't pay council tax or is on a low income. If you claim income support or jobseeker's allowance, you'll be given a form for claiming council tax benefit.

Housing benefit â€" housing benefit, paid by local councils, assists those who're unable to pay their rent. You can claim this whether you're a council tenant or live in a privately rented property. You'll only qualify if you're on a low income with less than £16,000 of savings, aren't a full-time student and don't live with a close relative. If you're living in a council property you'll receive housing benefit directly into your rent account from your local council. If you're in privately rented premises, the council will investigate whether the rent amount asked for the property is acceptable for its size and location and for the size of your family in order to determine your eligibility. If you do qualify, you'll either receive a cheque or direct payment into your bank account, or your landlord will be paid directly.

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About Benedict Rohan

Benedict Rohan Website: http://www.mortgagenation.co.uk Benedict Rohan works as a freelance finance writer. Commercial Mortgage, Homeowner Loans, Remortgages


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Future Outlook For Medical Transcription

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the future outlook for medical transcription looks good. This is a lucrative, in demand-career with great growth opportunities.

If you're considering a medical transcription course or are already taking one, this is good news. It means you will have plenty of employment as well as financial opportunities.

Although, medical transcription is predicted to grow and remain stable, there are a few common concerns among the MT community.

These are the most common.

Will voice recognition replace transcriptionists?

There has been talk for a long time about voice recognition and new software which will replace the jobs of MTs. This will not affect you any time soon. There are a number of growing issues and concerns with this software. It is not being used in a large setting and has not yet replaced the need for medical transcription on the whole.

Medical terminology is complex and the regulations for patient records are stricter than ever. At present, the most accurate way to transcribe these records is by trained MTs.

According to the Medical Records Institute, which actually promotes the use of computerized medical records, current research shows use of speech recognition in the medical fields is less than 1%.

What about offshore transcription companies?

Some companies are using offshore transcription companies to save money. However, while outsourcing medical transcription to offshore companies can save money, many companies are not following this route.

There are various concerns and issues with outsourcing to offshore companies. Offshore MT companies are not required to comply with HIPPA regulations. This means they don't follow the HIPPA security and privacy guidelines to safeguard medical records.

In some cases it can be done, but mandatory agreements required by HIPPA guidelines must be signed. And precautions must be taken so that data isn't sent overseas. The overseas vendors must log on to U.S. database to do their work, which means extra systems and measures must be put in place. This can be expensive and time consuming.

Although, some companies may find the need for saving money is worth these risks, most won't.

I agree with the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics and believe the future of medical transcription looks good and there are many opportunities out there for the taking.

However, although the future of MT looks promising, times HAVE changed. MTs of today should start adapting to the ever changing business technology around them.

The technology is there and available for us to take our businesses to the next level. With a few clicks of a mouse we can build our own MT website, set up an online diary or download files for transcribing.

Be smart in your business, keep up with the times, adapt to technology and your future outlook will look better than ever.

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About Mila Sidman

Mila Sidman is an experienced MT and owner of www.AskTheMT.com - an informative website dedicated to answering all your medical transcription questions.