Benefits

Universal Credit, PIP, Carer's Allowance and more

• Am I eligible for Universal Credit?Universal Credit eligibility in plain English: who can claim, age rules, the £16,000 savings limit, couples and students. From official GOV.UK rules.
• Are prescriptions free in Scotland?Prescriptions have been free in Scotland since April 2011. What applies to English prescriptions and Entitlement Cards. From legislation.gov.uk.
• Can grandparents claim Child Benefit?Grandparents can claim Child Benefit if a grandchild lives with them. Who gets priority, Guardian's Allowance and NI credits for childcare. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get a Budgeting Loan?Budgeting Loans of £100 to £812 if you have been on certain benefits for 6 months: who can apply, what they cover and repayment. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get a free TV licence at 75?Over 75 and on Pension Credit? You can get a free TV licence. Plus discounts for care homes and blind people. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get a Motability car with PIP?For a Motability car with PIP you need the enhanced mobility rate (£80 a week in 2026/27). Points needed, vehicle tax help and if PIP ends. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get a TV licence discount if I'm blind?TV licence discount for blind people: 50% off, £90 instead of £180 for colour, if you or someone you live with is registered blind. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get a Universal Credit advance?Universal Credit advance payments: first payment, change of circumstances and budgeting advances, how you repay them and hardship payments. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get Carer's Allowance?Carer's Allowance eligibility 2026/27: care 35 hours a week, earn £204 a week or less, and the person you care for gets a qualifying benefit. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get Child Benefit after my child turns 16?Child Benefit after 16: payments can continue to age 20 if your child stays in approved education or training. What counts and the deadlines. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get DLA for my child?DLA for children under 16 in 2026/27: care and mobility rates from £30.30 to £194.60 a week, who qualifies and Scotland's alternative. From GOV.UK.
• Can I get PIP for mental health?You can get PIP for anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. How prompting and psychological distress score points. From GOV.UK and the law.
• Can I get Universal Credit and PIP at the same time?Can you get Universal Credit and PIP together? How PIP affects UC, the benefit cap, the health amount, carers and savings in 2026/27. From GOV.UK.
• Can I still claim Housing Benefit?Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit. Who can still make a new claim and the savings limit. From GOV.UK.
• Can I work and claim PIP?Yes, you can work and get PIP. Your pay and savings do not affect it. How to claim while working, what to report and help at work. From GOV.UK.
• Can my council help with the cost of living?The Crisis and Resilience Fund gives councils in England money to help with essentials and housing costs from April 2026 to March 2029. From GOV.UK.
• Can PIP be backdated?Is PIP backdated? PIP is paid from your claim date, not from when your condition began. How the claim date works and how to protect it. From GOV.UK.
• Can students get Universal Credit?Which students can claim Universal Credit, how student loans count, the £110 monthly disregard, summer holidays and part-time study rules. From GOV.UK.
• Do I need a sick note for Universal Credit?When you need a fit note for Universal Credit, who can give one, how to add it to your account and what happens at your assessment. From GOV.UK.
• Does Attendance Allowance affect Pension Credit?Attendance Allowance is not counted as income for Pension Credit and can add £86.05 a week to it. Rules and an example for 2026/27. From GOV.UK.
• Has the two-child limit ended?The two-child limit ended on 6 April 2026. See 2026/27 child amounts, worked examples, the benefit cap and Northern Ireland rules. From GOV.UK.
• How can I work out how much Universal Credit I will get?Universal Credit calculator guide for 2026/27: work out your payment step by step, with the work allowance, 55% taper, savings and examples. From GOV.UK.
• How do I appeal a PIP decision?PIP appeal guide: how to take a PIP decision to a free, independent tribunal, the one month deadline, evidence and where to get help. From GOV.UK.
• How do I apply for Carer's Allowance?How to apply for Carer's Allowance online or by post: what you need, step by step, backdating and what happens next. From GOV.UK.
• How do I apply for PIP?How to apply for PIP: start your claim on 0800 917 2222 or by post, then fill in the 'How your disability affects you' form. Step by step. From GOV.UK.
• How do I apply for Universal Credit?Apply for Universal Credit online: what you need, the 28-day rule, the helpline and free Help to Claim support. From GOV.UK.
• How do I challenge a benefit decision?How to challenge a PIP or other DWP benefit decision: ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month, then appeal to a tribunal. From GOV.UK.
• How do I get and fill in the Attendance Allowance form?How to get the Attendance Allowance form AA1A: online, download or by phone. Tips for filling it in and where to send it. From GOV.UK.
• How do PIP points work?PIP points system explained: the 12 activities, 8 points for the standard rate, 12 for the enhanced rate and how descriptors are scored. From GOV.UK.
• How do savings affect Universal Credit?How savings affect Universal Credit in 2026/27: the £6,000 and £16,000 limits, the £4.35 per £250 rule, what counts and what is ignored. From GOV.UK.
• How do you ask for a Universal Credit mandatory reconsideration?How to ask for a Universal Credit mandatory reconsideration: the one month deadline, using your journal, what to include and how to appeal. From GOV.UK.
• How does PIP work in Northern Ireland?PIP in Northern Ireland for 2026/27: weekly rates, who can get it, the PIP Centre phone number, the form, assessments and appeals. From nidirect.
• How does redundancy pay affect Universal Credit?Does redundancy pay affect Universal Credit? It counts as savings: the £6,000 and £16,000 limits, worked examples and New Style JSA. From GOV.UK.
• How does Universal Credit work for couples?How Universal Credit works for couples in 2026/27: joint claims, couple rates, partner income and savings, mixed age couples and split payments. From GOV.UK.
• How does Universal Credit work if you're self-employed?Universal Credit for the self-employed: gainful self-employment, the 12-month start-up period, the minimum income floor and monthly reporting. From GOV.UK.
• How does working affect my Universal Credit?How earnings reduce Universal Credit by 55p per £1, work allowances of £427 or £710, and restarting payments. From GOV.UK.
• How far back can Child Benefit be backdated?Child Benefit backdating is limited to 3 months from your claim date. See how much you could lose by claiming late and when to claim. From GOV.UK.
• How long does a PIP claim take?How long does a PIP claim take? A typical 18 weeks to a decision in July 2026. Waits at each stage, reconsiderations and appeals. From DWP data on GOV.UK.
• How much help with childcare costs can I get on Universal Credit?Universal Credit childcare help for 2026/27: up to 85% of costs, the £1,071.09 and £1,836.16 monthly limits, who qualifies and reporting deadlines. From GOV.UK.
• How much is ESA?New Style ESA rates for 2026/27: £95.55 a week in assessment if you are 25 or over and £145.90 in the support group, plus who can claim. From GOV.UK.
• How much is Jobseeker's Allowance?New Style Jobseeker's Allowance rates for 2026/27: £75.65 under 25 and £95.55 if 25 or over. Who can claim and how long it lasts. From GOV.UK.
• How much is PIP?PIP rates for 2026/27: daily living £76.70 or £114.60 a week, mobility £30.30 or £80.00, and how often PIP is paid. From official GOV.UK figures.
• How much is Universal Credit limited capability for work?Universal Credit limited capability for work: LCW and LCWRA amounts for 2026/27, the new higher and lower rates, and when payment starts. From GOV.UK.
• How much Universal Credit will I get?Universal Credit monthly rates: standard allowance, child amounts, childcare and housing help, and how savings reduce payments. From GOV.UK.
• Is the Household Support Fund still running?The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026. How the new Crisis and Resilience Fund works, who can get help and how to ask. From GOV.UK.
• Is there a Cost of Living Payment in 2026?No more Cost of Living Payments are planned. See every past amount from 2022 to 2024, who got them, and what help there is in 2026/27. From GOV.UK.
• Is there a free benefits calculator I can use?Find the free, anonymous benefits calculators listed on GOV.UK, what you need to use them and how Universal Credit amounts work in 2026/27. From GOV.UK.
• Is there a list of conditions that qualify for PIP?What conditions qualify for PIP? There is no list. PIP depends on how your condition affects 12 everyday activities, scored in points. From GOV.UK.
• What are the benefit rates for 2026/27?New benefit and pension rates for 2026/27: State Pension, PIP, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and more, with examples. From GOV.UK.
• What changes must I report on Universal Credit?Universal Credit change of circumstances: which changes to report, such as a new job, moving house, a partner moving in or health changes. From GOV.UK.
• What happens at a PIP assessment?What happens at a PIP assessment: formats, notice, bringing someone, recording, the 12 activities and points needed. From GOV.UK and DWP guidance.
• What happens at a PIP review?What happens at a PIP review: the 1 month form deadline, whether you need an assessment, possible outcomes and how to challenge. From GOV.UK.
• What happens if you are overpaid Universal Credit?Universal Credit overpayment: whether you must repay, how much DWP takes each month, how to challenge it and help if you cannot afford it. From GOV.UK.
• What is a broadband social tariff and who can get one?Broadband social tariffs are cheaper deals for people on means-tested benefits like Universal Credit, saving up to £220 a year. From GOV.UK.
• What is a Budgeting Advance?Universal Credit Budgeting Advance explained: who can get it, the £348, £464 and £812 limits, what it covers, repayment and how to apply. From GOV.UK.
• What is a Cold Weather Payment?Cold Weather Payments of £25 for each 7-day freezing spell from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, and who gets them. From official GOV.UK guidance.
• What is a Universal Credit assessment period?What a Universal Credit assessment period is, when it starts and ends, when you are paid, and why 2 paydays in one period can cut your payment. From GOV.UK.
• What is a Universal Credit Migration Notice?Got a Universal Credit Migration Notice? What it means, your deadline, how to ask for more time, and how transitional protection works. From GOV.UK.
• What is a Universal Credit sanction?Why Universal Credit sanctions happen, how the claimant commitment works, and how to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month. From GOV.UK.
• What is Adult Disability Payment?Adult Disability Payment is Scotland's disability benefit, replacing PIP. 2026/27 rates, who can get it and how to apply. From mygov.scot.
• What is Attendance Allowance and how much is it?Attendance Allowance rates for 2026/27 for people over State Pension age who need care: who can claim, and Scotland's alternative. From GOV.UK.
• What is Carer Support Payment in Scotland?Carers Allowance Scotland is now Carer Support Payment: up to £86.45 a week plus the £11.70 Scottish Carer Supplement. Who can get it. From mygov.scot.
• What is Carer's Allowance?Carer's Allowance is £86.45 a week in 2026/27 if you care 35 hours a week. Who can get it, the £204 earnings limit and other benefits. From GOV.UK.
• What is Carer's Credit?Carer's Credit gives you National Insurance credits if you care for someone at least 20 hours a week, protecting your State Pension. From GOV.UK.
• What is Child Disability Payment?Child Disability Payment helps with the extra costs of a disabled child in Scotland. 2026/27 weekly rates and how to apply. From mygov.scot.
• What is Help to Save?Help to Save for people on Universal Credit: save £1 to £50 a month and get a 50% government bonus over 4 years. Who can open one. From GOV.UK.
• What is Jobcentre Plus?What Jobcentre Plus does, how work coaches help, the phone numbers for new and existing benefit claims, and how to find your local office. From GOV.UK.
• What is Pension Age Disability Payment?Pension Age Disability Payment pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week to over State Pension age people in Scotland with care needs. How to apply. From mygov.scot.
• What is PIP (Personal Independence Payment)?PIP explained in plain English: what it is, who it is for, 2026/27 rates, how it is decided and how to apply. Not means-tested. From GOV.UK.
• What is Scottish Child Payment?Scottish Child Payment for 2026/27: £28.20 a week per child under 16, qualifying benefits, payments every 4 weeks and how to apply. From mygov.scot.
• What is the benefit cap?Benefit cap 2026/27 amounts for couples, single parents and single adults, in and outside Greater London, and which benefits count. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Christmas Bonus?The £10 Christmas Bonus for people on certain benefits: which benefits qualify, when it's paid and why you don't need to claim. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Disabled Persons Railcard?The Disabled Persons Railcard gives up to a third off rail tickets if you have a qualifying disability. How to apply and the rules in NI. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme?How the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme refunds fares, mileage and parking to hospital, who qualifies, UC limits and how to claim. From NHS sources.
• What is the NHS Low Income Scheme?What the NHS Low Income Scheme covers, the £16,000 savings limit, HC2 and HC3 certificates and how to apply online or on form HC1. From NHSBSA.
• What is the Restart Scheme?The Restart Scheme explained: who is referred, how long support lasts, what you must do and what happens if you miss sessions. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Universal Credit carer element?The Universal Credit carer element for 2026/27: £209.34 a month, who qualifies, the 35-hour rule, Carer's Allowance and the health amount. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Universal Credit claimant commitment?What the Universal Credit claimant commitment is, how to accept it, the hours you may be asked to do, earnings thresholds and sanctions. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Universal Credit journal?What the Universal Credit journal is, what to use it for, how long replies take, the to-do list, and how to stay safe from scams. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Universal Credit minimum income floor?What the Universal Credit minimum income floor is, how it is worked out for 2026/27, who it affects and the 12 month start-up period. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Warm Home Discount?The Warm Home Discount gives £150 off electricity bills and reopens October 2026. How it works and who gets it. From GOV.UK.
• What is the Winter Heating Payment?Winter Heating Payment in Scotland for 2026/27: £62.00, qualifying benefits, the 2 to 8 November qualifying week and when it is paid. From mygov.scot.
• What is Universal Credit?Universal Credit explained simply: what it is, who it is for, what it replaced, how it is worked out and paid, and 2026/27 amounts. From GOV.UK.
• What is Widowed Parent's Allowance?Widowed Parent's Allowance pays up to £156.65 a week in 2026/27 if your partner died before 6 April 2017. Who can claim and how. From GOV.UK.
• What should I do about a Carer's Allowance overpayment?How to challenge a Carer's Allowance overpayment, the DWP reassessment of 2015 to 2025 cases, and what to do if you cannot afford repayments. From GOV.UK.
• When will I get my Universal Credit payment?When Universal Credit is paid: the 5-week first payment, monthly dates, bank holidays and Scotland's option. From GOV.UK.
• Who can get a free NHS eye test?Who gets a free NHS eye test in England, optical voucher values for glasses, home visits, and the rules in Scotland and Wales. From NHS sources.
• Who can get free NHS dental treatment?Who gets free NHS dental treatment in England, the Universal Credit earnings limits, 2026/27 charges, and rules in Wales and Scotland. From NHS sources.
• Who can get free prescriptions?Who gets free NHS prescriptions in England, the £9.90 charge, prepayment certificate prices and savings, and the rules in Scotland, Wales and NI. From the NHS.
• Who can get PIP?PIP eligibility: who can get PIP, age limits, the 12 month rule, residence, State Pension age, end of life rules and who cannot claim. From GOV.UK.
• Who can use the Motability Scheme?Who can lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme, the qualifying benefits and applying as a passenger. From GOV.UK.