Twelve payments and discounts, which could be worth £9,871 this year, are available to benefit claimants this month. Support ranges across everything from Council Tax and childcare to broadband, utility bills and travel.
Here’s a guide to the options available:
Free or cheap broadband – potential saving £300
Broadband providers offer social tariffs, which provide internet access at a significantly reduced monthly cost. This could result in savings of £300.
In light of the cost of living crisis and increasing broadband prices, Citizens Advice reported that up to a million people cancelled their broadband between May 2022-23.
Uswitch found that two-thirds of financially vulnerable households are unaware of these low-income broadband tariffs.
Council tax – potential saving £2,171
If you’re on a low income or claim benefits, you could be eligible for assistance. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100 percent.
Whether you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working, you can apply. The support you receive depends on where you live – each council runs its own scheme and your circumstances (for example income, number of children, benefits, residency status) as well as your household income – this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income and if your children live with you and if other adults live with you.
Help with energy bills – potential saving £750
If your supplier is aware of your situation, it can put measures in place to assist you – under Ofgem rules, all suppliers have to do this.
Your supplier can offer you a range of options which could help, which include:
Affordable debt repayment plans; Payment breaks (though this won’t be right for everyone); A full payment plan review; More time to pay; Payment reductions.
Another way energy companies are helping customers is by providing cash through a Hardship payment.
Pregnancy grant – potential saving £500
You could receive a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This is known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant.
You usually qualify for the grant if both of the following apply:
You are expecting your first child, or you are expecting a multiple birth (such as twins) and have children already
You or your partner already claim certain benefits
You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within 6 months after the baby’s birth. You do not have to repay the grant and it will not affect your other benefits or tax credits.
Free childcare – potential saving £1,739
In the UK, you can receive assistance with childcare costs through Tax Free Childcare or free childcare if you’re employed in England. Both Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare for working individuals can aid in covering the costs of childcare provided by a registered childminder, nanny, playscheme, nursery or club.
Additionally, it can be beneficial if the childcare is provided by a childminder or nanny associated with a registered childminder agency or childcare agency, a registered school or a home care worker affiliated with a registered home care agency. This type of service is referred to as ‘approved childcare’.
Water bill help – potential saving £1,000
WaterSure is a scheme designed to assist certain individuals with their water bills, potentially offering up to £1,000 in help. To qualify for the scheme, you must be receiving benefits and need to use a significant amount of water either for medical reasons or because your household has a specific number of school-age children.
You also need to have a water meter installed or be in the process of getting one.
If you are eligible for assistance through the WaterSure scheme, your water bill will be capped, meaning you won’t pay more than the average metered bill for the area your water company covers.
Money for health costs – potential saving £119
You could also receive money for health costs, up to £119.
If you’re referred to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
Cheap travel – potential saving £150
The Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card is offered to those unemployed and claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for 3-9 months (18-24 year olds) or 3-12 months (over 25s).
Other benefit recipients may be eligible for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card from 3 months of their claim if they are actively engaged with a Jobcentre Plus adviser. The card entitles holders to a 50 percent discount on selected rail tickets.
The flexible support fund can be utilised at the discretion of Jobcentre Plus staff to assist with travel costs related to an interview, training or for the initial months of commuting to work.
Free school meals – potential saving £500
Your child could be eligible for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Income Support
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Children who receive these benefits directly, rather than through a parent or guardian, are also entitled to free school meals.
Help to Save – potential saving £1,200
The Help to Save scheme offers participants the opportunity to earn two tax-free bonuses over a period of four years. You’ll receive any earned bonuses even if you withdraw money.
The most you can pay into your account each calendar month is £50, which is £2,400 over four years.
The most you can earn from your savings in 4 years is £1,200 in bonus money. Your bonus is paid into your bank account, not your Help to Save account.
Healthy start – potential support £442
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. They’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.
Help paying for funerals – potential support up to £1,000
You could get a Funeral Expenses Payment if you get certain benefits and need help to pay.
The payment will be recouped from any money you get from the estate of the person who has died.
The estate includes any money or property they had but not a house or personal things left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner.
You can also get up to £1,000 for any other expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin.
The payment typically doesn’t cover the entire cost of the funeral. The amount you receive is dependent on your circumstances.
