What are benefits?
Benefits and tax credits are payments made by the government and their agencies to certain people on low incomes, or to meet specific needs.
Means-tested benefits. A means-tested benefit is one where your income and savings are checked to ensure your eligibility for that benefit.
Non-means tested. In some cases, a benefit can be given with no check on your income and savings, though other criteria would apply. The winter fuel allowance for pensioners is an example of this type of benefit.