Update: New income source options

To help you to keep information about your clients as accurate as possible, we have added Fostering allowance and Severe Disability Premium (SDP) compensation payment as options on the source of income drop-down. You can now enter the amount coming from these sources when you complete the income and earnings section.

Update: New COVID-19 Council Tax Support flagged

The Government has given councils additional funding during COVID-19 to support households in receipt of Council Tax Support. The Government has suggested that councils provide a top up of £12.50 per month and this is now shown on the calculator. Some councils have decided to provide different levels of top-up. You may want to contact your local council to find out if they have varied from this standard amount.

You will see this change appear in two areas of your calculator:

• On the Results page click on the information icon next to Council Tax Support
• In the Information about your case pop up, as a notification

Update: Easier application for new-style JSA/ESA and Pension Credit

New-style Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance, as well as Pension Credit, can now be claimed online. We've added links to apply throughout the calculator, where appropriate. Simply click on 'Apply' next to the benefit and the application page will open up in a new window.

Update: Clearer display for Universal Credit claimants in temporary accommodation

For clients living in temporary accommodation and in receipt of both Housing Benefit and Universal Credit, the calculator has a new specific display to show exactly how their Housing Benefit is calculated. The display also shows how the benefit cap affects these clients.

Update: Upgraded log in with Multi-Factor Authentication and Single Sign-On

We’ve upgraded our login system. Your email address and password will stay the same.

• You can add multi-factor authentication (known as MFA or 2FA) to your password-based login to protect against theft of your login details. This will be optional
• We can implement Single Sign-On for organisations, using your own internal identity systems for seamless calculator usage. Contact us to set this up.

We run regular, free introductory training webinars for all our customers. Scheduled every second week of the month and lasting 45 minutes, the online sessions go through the main features of the Benefit and Budgeting Calculator. Perfect for introducing new users or refreshing existing users.

Our next online training session is on Tuesday 14 July at 12:00 to 12:45.

Tell us if you find any bugs or errors in the calculator via the online chat facility or by clicking on the button below. Please also tell us what enhancements or brand new features you'd like to see in your calculator.