What Benefits Can I Claim in the UK 2026/27? A Quick Guide

The UK benefits system is large and confusing, and a lot of money goes unclaimed simply because people do not know what exists. This guide is a plain-English map: it groups the main benefits by situation and links to the detail, so you can see at a glance what is worth checking.

The single most useful step is at the end: run a free benefits calculator. But first, the lay of the land.

If you are on a low income or out of work

Universal Credit is the main working-age benefit. It replaced most of the old ones - Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related ESA, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and Income Support - for new claims. It can include help with rent and children, and it tapers as you earn rather than stopping at a cliff edge.

• Universal Credit for working people
• How Universal Credit interacts with earnings
• estimate it with the Universal Credit calculator

You may also get Council Tax Reduction from your local council, which is separate and applied to your Council Tax bill.

If you are over State Pension age

• Pension Credit tops your weekly income up to a guaranteed level and is a passport to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and a free TV licence at 75+. See the Pension Credit guide.
• Attendance Allowance helps if you need care because of a disability or illness - it is not means-tested. See the Attendance Allowance guide.

If you have a disability or health condition

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is for people under State Pension age with extra costs from a long-term condition. See the PIP eligibility guide.
• Attendance Allowance is the equivalent once you are over State Pension age.
• Blind Person's Allowance is a tax allowance (not a benefit) that increases your tax-free income - see the Blind Person's Allowance guide.

Neither PIP nor Attendance Allowance is means-tested or taxable.

If you care for someone

Carer's Allowance is for people who care at least 35 hours a week for someone getting a qualifying disability benefit. See the Carer's Allowance guide. Even if you cannot be paid it (for example because of your State Pension), an underlying entitlement can boost other benefits.

If you have children

• Child Benefit is paid for each child, though a tax charge claws it back at higher incomes. See the Child Benefit claim guide and the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
• Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare hours help with childcare costs. See the Tax-Free Childcare calculator.

Help with housing and Council Tax

Housing costs are usually met through Universal Credit (or Housing Benefit for some groups, such as pensioners). Two rules often reduce awards: the benefit cap and the spare room subsidy ("bedroom tax"). Council Tax Reduction is handled separately by your local council.

The one step that gives you a real answer

Reading lists only gets you so far. To find out what you can actually claim, use a free benefits calculator. The government itself points to three:

• Policy in Practice better off calculator
• entitledto benefits calculator
• Turn2us benefits calculator

They are free and anonymous. You will need your income and savings, rent or mortgage, Council Tax bill and household details. It is worth doing even if you assume you earn too much - and remember that some benefits (Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance) are badly under-claimed and can unlock others.

Related

Once you know your income position, the take-home pay calculator and the professions salary pages help you see how work and benefits fit together.