Check Your Benefits Eligibility: What Benefits Could I Get?

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has put a strain on many households in the UK.
Between February and March 2026, 56% of UK households reported an increase in their living costs, and with the price of essentials rising, many are struggling to keep up with the expense of basic needs, such as housing, bills, and groceries.
With this in mind, checking your eligibility for any other support that could be available to you is more important than ever.

If you’re finding it difficult to make ends meet each month, you might have wondered:

• Am I eligible for any benefits?
• What benefits could I get?
• How can I check my benefits eligibility?
• What are the different types of benefits in the UK?

Check your eligibility for benefits using a free benefits calculator

You can check your eligibility for financial support using the free Turn2Us Benefits Calculator.
Even if you don’t think you qualify for benefits, it’s still worth checking your eligibility; in 2025, it was reported that seven million UK households are missing out on support.

List of benefits in England

In the section below, Little Loans lists some of the benefits that could be available to you in England.
For a full list of benefits in the UK, please visit the Turn2Us website.

1. Universal Credit

If you’re on a low income or out of work, you could be eligible for Universal Credit to help with living costs.

Who is eligible for Universal Credit?

To claim Universal Credit, you must:

• Be over the age of 18, although please note that in some circumstances, you could be eligible if you’re 16 or 17.
• Be under State Pension age.
• Live in the UK.
• Have less than £16,000 in savings and investments.

What do you get from Universal Credit?

How much money you could get from Universal Credit will depend on your circumstances.

Standard Allowance

Circumstances	Monthly standard allowance per household
You’re single and under the age of 25	£316.98
You’re single and aged 25 or over	£400.14
You live with a partner and you’re both under the age of 25	£497.55 – please note that this is a combined allowance for you both
You live with your partner and either of you are aged 25 or over	£628.10 - please note that this is a combined allowance for you both

There could be situations where you’re entitled to more money on top of the Universal Credit standard allowance - for example, if you have a disability or health condition, or you have children.

How often is Universal Credit paid?

Universal Credit is paid monthly into your bank, building society, or credit union account.

How to claim Universal Credit

You can find out how to make a claim for Universal Credit on the Gov.uk website.

2. Pension Credit

If you’re of State Pension age and on a low income, you could get tax-free payments.

Who could get Pension Credit?

To be eligible for Pension Credit, you must live in either England, Scotland, or Wales and be of State Pension age.
Your current income will be taken into account and includes sources such as State Pension; any other pensions; wages from a full or part -time job; and certain benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance.

How much money could I get with Pension Credit?

The amount of Pension Credit you could get depends on your income and household circumstances.
You can use this free Pension Credit calculator to give you an idea of how much money you could get.
For further information on different Pension Credit payment amounts, please visit the Gov.uk website.

How to claim Pension Credit

You can start your application for Pension Credit on the Gov.uk website.

3. New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

If you’re not working but are actively looking for employment, you could claim New Style JSA. You could get New Style JSA at the same time as, or instead of, Universal Credit.

New Style JSA eligibility

To claim New Style JSA, you must:

• Be over the age of 18, but below State Pension age.
• Be a UK resident.
• Work less than 16 hours per week.
• Have made Class 1 National Insurance contributions for the last 2 tax years.

For full eligibility, please visit the Gov.uk website.

How much money could I get with New Style JSA?

How much money you could receive from New Style JSA will depend on your age.
New Style JSA is typically paid every 2 weeks, and is available for a maximum of 182 days, which works out at around 6 months. If, after this time, you’re still searching for a job, you can discuss your ongoing options with your work coach.

How to claim New Style JSA

You can make a claim for New Style JSA on the Gov.uk website.
You can typically expect to hear back from the Department for Work and Pensions within 14 days. If your first claim for New Style JSA is approved, you will then be invited to attend an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus. If your claim has not been accepted, you will receive a letter explaining why.
If you do not agree with the outcome of your claim, you can appeal the decision.

4. Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP is designed to offer financial support to those who have been diagnosed with a long-term health condition which affects their ability to get around or carry out everyday tasks, such as managing medicine, and washing and bathing.

What conditions qualify for PIP?

People with certain mental and/or physical health conditions could be eligible for PIP.
It’s important to note that there isn’t a specific list of conditions; each case is reviewed on an individual basis and focuses on how your condition affects you, rather than the condition itself.
For example, someone with Autism may face significant struggles when carrying out daily tasks such as preparing food and managing their money, while another person with the same condition might be able to manage this without help.

How does PIP work?

There are two parts to PIP: a daily living element and a mobility element. Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible for one or both elements of PIP. The amount of money you could get will again depend on your situation.

PIP is usually paid every 4 weeks. The details of your payments, including your first payment date, can be found in your decision letter.

How to apply for PIP

You can apply for PIP by either phone or post. You may be able to apply online in some areas and you’ll need certain information on hand when applying for PIP.

5. New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you have a health condition or disability that changes your ability to work, you may be able to claim New Style ESA.

New Style ESA eligibility criteria

You could get New Style ESA if you:

• Are under State Pension age.
• Have a health condition or disability that affects if you can work or what work you can do.
• Have previously worked as an employee or have been self-employed.
• Have paid enough National Insurance contributions. This could include National Insurance Credits.

You will not be able to claim New Style ESA if you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or are receiving Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). However, you could get New Style ESA alongside certain other benefits, including Universal Credit and PIP.

How much money could I get with New Style ESA?

How much you could get with New Style ESA will depend on your age, whether you work, and the stage of your application.
Your claim will typically take around 13 weeks to assess, and during this time, you could get an assessment rate of up to £72.90 a week if you’re under the age of 25, or up to £92.05 a week if you’re 25 or over.

Once your assessment has been completed, you will be placed into one of two groups: the work-related activity group if you could work again in the future, or the support group for all other circumstances.
If your ESA claim is approved, you will get up to £92.05 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group, and up to £140.55 a week if you’re in the support group.

How often is New Style ESA paid?

New Style ESA is paid every 2 weeks.

Apply for New Style ESA

Find out more about the process of claiming New Style ESA.

6. Child Benefit

You could get Child Benefit if you’re raising one or more children under the age of 16, or 20 if they’re in approved education or training. You must either live with the child or contribute at least the same amount of money as a Child Benefit payment to the child’s care, including food and pocket money. If you and your partner if you have one, both earn over £60,000 a year, you may have to pay some of your child benefit back.

How does Child Benefit work?

Child Benefit is paid every 4 weeks, usually on a Monday or a Tuesday. You can claim for any number of children that you’re responsible for. If you’re a single parent or are in receipt of certain other benefits, you can ask for your Child Benefit payments to be paid to you weekly instead.

How much is Child Benefit?

You’ll get £26.05 per week for your eldest or only child, and £17.25 a week for each other child.

How to claim Child Benefit

You can start a Child Benefit claim online.

7. Carer’s Allowance

Do you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more? Does the person you care for get certain benefits? If so, you could be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

Can I claim Carer’s Allowance?

Whether you’re eligible for Carer’s Allowance will depend on how much you earn, the type of care you provide, and the benefit(s) the person you care for receives. You can find a full list of the qualifying benefits here.

For further information on Carer’s Allowance, please visit the Gov.uk website.

How does Carer’s Allowance work?

If you’re approved for Carer’s Allowance, the money will be paid into your bank or building society account either weekly or every 4 weeks.
You could claim other benefits alongside Carer’s Allowance, including Universal Credit, although it’s crucial to note that receiving Carer’s Allowance could affect other benefits claimed by both you and the person you care for.

How much money will I get with Carer’s Allowance?

If you are entitled to Carer’s Allowance, you could get £83.30 a week.

Apply for Carer’s Allowance

If you’re eligible, you can apply for Carer’s Allowance via the Gov.uk website.

What to do if you can’t afford to pay for your essential outgoings

If you’re struggling to afford necessities, such as food, please visit StepChange for help.

Get free, financial advice in the UK

If you’re worried about money and/or debt, please know that you can get free, confidential advice from the following charities and organisations: StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.

Need a helping hand with budgeting?

Budgeting could make a real difference to your finances, and while the idea of budgeting can feel daunting, there are lots of resources and help available.
Charity MoneyHelper have put together a free Budget Planner tool to help you get started.

Could I get a loan if I’m on benefits?

Some lenders, including a number of those on the Little Loans panel, could be willing to consider applications from people on certain types of benefit(s), although you may find that your options are limited.

Little Loans is a credit broker, working with a panel of over 30 UK direct lenders who offer short-term personal loans between £100 and £10,000, with a choice of repayment terms from 3 to 60 months, depending on the amount of money you apply to borrow.

You can search for a loan with Little Loans if you:

• Are over the age of 18;
• Are a UK resident;
• Have a UK bank account and valid debit card; and
• Have a regular source of income paid into your bank account.

Could you be eligible for a Budgeting Advance or Loan instead?

You should never apply to borrow money that you cannot afford to pay back, or if making your loan repayments will mean you cannot afford to pay your rent or mortgage and utility bills or buy food. Please think very carefully before applying for any form of credit.