Am I eligible?
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Plain-English UK eligibility guides for benefits, tax reliefs and savings schemes — Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, PIP, Carer's Allowance, Marriage Allowance, Lifetime ISA, Child Benefit and more. Every rule cites a primary source.
- Crisis and Resilience Fund (formerly the Household Support Fund)
Am I eligible for the Crisis and Resilience Fund (formerly the Household Support Fund)?
The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026. In England, the Crisis and Resilience Fund replaced it from 1 April 2026 and is run by your local council, which sets its own rules. It is aimed at anyone vulnerable or unable to pay for essentials — you do not have to be on benefits.
- Cold Weather Payment
Am I eligible for a Cold Weather Payment?
You get £25 for each seven-day period when the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or below, between 1 November and 31 March. It is paid automatically to people on certain benefits such as Pension Credit and some Universal Credit claimants. Scotland runs its own Winter Heating Payment instead.
- Winter Fuel Payment
Am I eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?
Most people of State Pension age get the Winter Fuel Payment (£200, or £300 if 80+) to help with heating. Following changes, the payment is recovered through the tax system from individuals with income above £35,000, so higher-income pensioners effectively do not keep it. It is usually paid automatically.
- Universal Credit
Am I eligible for Universal Credit?
You can usually claim Universal Credit if you're 18+, under State Pension age, live in the UK, have savings under £16,000 and (with a partner) claim jointly. The detail depends on income, housing costs, health and children.
- Pension Credit
Am I eligible for Pension Credit?
If you're State Pension age and your weekly income is under £227.10 (single) or £346.60 (couple) for 2025/26, you may qualify for Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit). Around 760,000 eligible pensioners don't claim it — and missing out also loses the Winter Fuel Payment from 2024/25.
- Marriage Allowance
Am I eligible for Marriage Allowance?
If you're married or in a civil partnership, one of you earns under the Personal Allowance (£12,570) and the other is a basic-rate taxpayer (earning £12,571–£50,270), you can transfer £1,260 of unused allowance and save up to £252 a year in tax. Backdate up to 4 tax years.
- Help to Save
Am I eligible for Help to Save?
If you're getting Universal Credit (and have take-home pay of £1+ in your last assessment period) or Working Tax Credit, you can open a Help to Save account. Save up to £50 a month for 4 years and get a 50% bonus — up to £1,200 free.
- Lifetime ISA
Am I eligible for a Lifetime ISA?
You can open a Lifetime ISA if you're 18–39 and a UK resident. Pay in up to £4,000 a year (counts towards the £20,000 ISA allowance) and get a 25% government bonus — up to £1,000 a year — to use for a first home (under £450,000) or after age 60.
- Child Benefit
Am I eligible for Child Benefit?
Child Benefit can be claimed for any child under 16 (or under 20 in approved education/training) by the person responsible for them. Higher-rate earners (£60,000+) repay some via the High Income Child Benefit Charge; at £80,000+ income, the full amount is repaid. Claiming (even at zero payment) still records NI credits towards the State Pension for years when the child is under 12.
- Council Tax Reduction
Am I eligible for Council Tax Reduction?
If you're on a low income or claim benefits, you may get up to 100% off your Council Tax through your council's Council Tax Reduction scheme. Each English council sets its own rules; Wales, Scotland and NI run nationwide schemes.
- Warm Home Discount
Am I eligible for the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount gives a one-off £150 reduction on your winter electricity bill. In England and Wales it is mostly automatic for Core Group 1 (Pension Credit Guarantee Credit) and Core Group 2 (qualifying means-tested benefits). Scotland operates a separate Core and Broader Group scheme.
- Carer's Allowance
Am I eligible for Carer's Allowance?
You may qualify for Carer's Allowance (£83.30/week, 2025/26) if you spend 35+ hours a week caring for someone on a qualifying disability benefit. From April 2025 you can earn up to £196 a week after tax/NI and certain deductions while claiming.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Am I eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
PIP is for working-age adults (16 to State Pension age) with a long-term physical or mental health condition. There are two components — daily living (£76.70 or £114.60 a week standard/enhanced, 2026/27) and mobility (£30.30 or £80 a week). You don't have to be unable to work.
- Attendance Allowance
Am I eligible for Attendance Allowance?
You may qualify for Attendance Allowance if you are over State Pension age, have needed care or supervision for at least six months because of illness or disability, and live in Great Britain. It is paid at a lower or higher weekly rate depending on how much help you need — and is not means-tested.
- DLA for children
Am I eligible for DLA for a child?
Your child may qualify for DLA if they are under 16, need substantially more care or supervision than others their age, or have severe walking difficulties — and meet UK residence rules. Scotland uses Child Disability Payment with similar tests.
- Tax-Free Childcare
Am I eligible for Tax-Free Childcare?
You may qualify if you (and your partner if you have one) expect to earn at least 16 hours a week at National Living Wage and no more than £100,000 adjusted net income each, your child meets the age rules (normally until the September after turning 11, or 16 if disabled), and you use registered childcare. You cannot claim alongside Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.
- Residence nil-rate band
Am I eligible for the residence nil-rate band?
An estate qualifies for the £175,000 residence nil-rate band when a qualifying home is left to direct descendants (children, grandchildren or their spouses) on death, and the net estate is no more than £2 million. The band tapers above £2m and is fully lost at £2.35m.
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
Am I eligible for New Style ESA?
You can usually get New Style ESA if a health condition or disability limits how much you can work and you have paid enough National Insurance recently. Savings do not block it. If you do not meet the NI test, claim Universal Credit instead.
- Maternity Allowance
Am I eligible for Maternity Allowance?
You can usually claim Maternity Allowance if you cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay and you have worked as an employee or self-employed person in the 66 weeks before the baby is due. The standard 2026/27 rate is £194.32 a week or 90 percent of average weekly earnings, whichever is less, for up to 39 weeks.
- Blue Badge
Am I eligible for a Blue Badge?
You can get a Blue Badge if you have a qualifying mobility award or if your council agrees you have very considerable difficulty walking or are at serious risk. In England some PIP scores are automatic. The badge is issued by your council, not DWP.
- Child Disability Payment
Am I eligible for Child Disability Payment?
A child living in Scotland under 16 may get Child Disability Payment if they need much more care or help getting about than other children the same age. A diagnosis is not required. Cash rates match DLA in 2026/27. Children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland claim DLA instead.
- Housing Benefit
Am I eligible for Housing Benefit?
You can usually only start a new Housing Benefit claim if you have reached State Pension age or you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing. From 1 July 2026 new working-age claims for ordinary tenancies are closed. Everyone else claims the housing element of Universal Credit.
- Housing Payment (England) / Discretionary Housing Payment
Am I eligible for extra housing payment or Discretionary Housing Payment?
You can ask your council for extra rent help if you already get Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element and still cannot cover the rent. In England from 1 April 2026 this is a Housing Payment. In Wales it is still a Discretionary Housing Payment. Awards are discretionary.
- Funeral Expenses Payment
Am I eligible for Funeral Expenses Payment?
You can usually claim if you or your partner get a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you are arranging the funeral, and you apply within six months. Scotland uses Funeral Support Payment instead.