If you’re struggling with the rising cost of living, you could be entitled to more financial support than you are currently claiming. If you or your partner have just found out you’re pregnant or you already have a little one, there is additional help available that you could be eligible for. This article will run through some of the basics, but please check the government website or Citizens Advice for more details.
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is money paid to parents or carers responsible for bringing up a child. You can claim Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
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under 16
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under 20 if they stay in approved education or training
You’ll usually be seen as responsible for a child if:
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you live with them
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or you’re paying at least the same amount as Child Benefit looking after them on food, clothes etc.
Though only one person can receive Child Benefit, there is no limit to how many children that person can claim for.
How do I apply?
You can check your eligibility and claim Child Benefit directly via the government website, 48 hours after you’ve registered the birth of your child, or after a child comes to live with you.
Can I claim over the phone or face-to-face?
You can claim over the phone, by post, or online. You can find the relevant forms and further information on the government website here.
What information do I need to apply?
You’ll need:
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your child’s birth or adoption certificate
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your bank or building society details
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your National Insurance number
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your partner’s National Insurance number, if applicable
If your child’s birth was registered outside the UK, you’ll need to send:
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your child’s original birth or adoption certificate
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your child’s passport or the travel document they used to enter the UK
Healthy Start scheme
Shopping is one of the biggest expenses for families. If you’re eligible, the NHS Healthy Start scheme could make a real difference. The scheme provides a digital pre-paid card for milk, fruit, and vegetables to pregnant women, and infant milk and vitamins for families with young children under the age of four. The Healthy Start card can be used in shops that are registered with the scheme, which includes most major retailers.
Can I claim?
If you’re receiving a qualifying benefit and are pregnant or have parental responsibility for at least one child under the age of 4, you can apply online here.
If you’re pregnant and under 18, you can claim even if you do not receive any benefits.
What will I receive?
You will be sent a Healthy Start digital card with money on it that you can use in selected UK shops. Your card will be automatically topped up every four weeks.
You can use your card to buy:
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plain liquid cow’s milk
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fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
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fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
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infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
You can also use your card to collect:
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Healthy Start vitamins – these support women during pregnancy and breastfeeding
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vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable for use from birth to four years
Where can I use the card?
You can use your card in most places that sell milk, infant formula, fruit, and vegetables.
They must also display a Mastercard® logo to be eligible. You can normally find the logo on the shop door or at the till, or ask an employee if you aren’t sure.
If you try to spend the money anywhere else, including for online shopping, the card will be declined.
Read more and apply for the Healthy Start scheme via the NHS website.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help you with living costs. You may be able to get Universal Credit if you are:
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out of work
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working, but on a low income (including if you are self-employed or work part time)
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unable to work (for example, because of a health condition)
To claim you must:
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live in the UK
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be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
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be under State Pension age
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have £16,000 or less in money, savings, and investments
How do I apply?
You can apply for Universal Credit through the government website.
Can I claim over the phone or face-to-face?
You might be able to apply for Universal Credit over the phone or, in exceptional circumstances, arrange for someone to visit you at home. Citizens Advice can provide further information and guidance to help you work out if you can claim by phone or have a home visit.
What information do I need to apply?
To apply online you’ll need:
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your bank, building society, or credit union account details
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an email address
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access to a phone
If you do not have these three, you can call the Universal Credit helpline, go to a job centre, or use the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service.
You’ll need to be able to prove your identity using documents –, for example:
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driving licence
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passport
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debit or credit card
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payslip or P60
To complete your claim, you will need to be able to provide information about:
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your housing
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your earnings
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your national insurance number, if you have one
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other benefits you get
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any disability or health condition that affects your work
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how much you pay for childcare (if you want help with childcare costs)
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your total savings and any investments you have, including shares or property rentals
Use the government benefits calculator to see what benefits you may be eligible for.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You may be eligible for a PIP if you need extra help because of an illness, disability, or mental health condition. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
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a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
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difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition
How do I apply?
Before you apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), check if you are eligible. You can start your claim over the phone or by post. You can only apply for PIP online in some areas. You’ll need to check your postcode when you start your application.
What information do I need to apply?
You’ll need:
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your contact details – for example, a telephone number
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your date of birth
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your National Insurance number, if you have one (you can find this on letters about tax, pensions, and benefits)
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your bank or building society account number and sort code
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your doctor or health worker’s name, address, and telephone number
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dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent in a care home or hospital
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dates for any time you spent abroad for more than four weeks at a time, and the countries you visited
Read more about how to apply for PIP on the government website.
For more information on ways you can receive financial help as a parent/carer, please visit the government website.
Resources
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
https://advicelocal.uk/find-an-adviser
