Six ways to get the most out of your Universal Credit claim – including £1,900 in boosted cash
HOUSEHOLDS on Universal Credit could be missing out on extra free cash to cover the cost of living.
Those on the benefit qualify for extra support that can be worth hundreds of extra pounds.
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From help via the Household Support Fund (HSF) to a one-off payment for new parents, here's all the help you can get.
Household Support Fund - £1,000
The Household Support Fund is a giant pot of cash worth £742million that's been shared between councils in England.
Local authorities then have to decide how to distribute their share of the fund, whether that be through direct payments, vouchers or more.
Eligibility criteria varies from area to area too, however in lots of cases you'll receive help if you're on benefits like Universal Credit.
For example, residents in Portsmouth on Universal Credit struggling to afford essentials can apply for payments worth up to £1,000.
Households in Calderdale can also get two awards worth £85 each between now and March 31, 2026.
Find out what help is on offer in your area by speaking to your local council.
You can find your local council via www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Discounted transport and help with job applications - £150
Those on Universal Credit can get a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card, cutting public transport costs by 50%.
The card is free but you'll need to have been claiming Universal Credit for up to 12 months to apply.
Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence
You can apply for one of the cards at your local JobCentre which you can find via find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk.
There's also the Flexible Support Fund, which can cover costs like:
Travel to interviews
Job training (up to £150)
Uniforms, work tools, and childcare
One-off maternity payment - £500
New mums on Universal Credit can bag themselves £500 in free cash through the Sure Start Maternity Grant.
The money is designed to help you cover the costs of having a child and paid to those in England and Wales.
You usually qualify if you're pregnant with your first child or are expecting a multiple birth (such as twins) and have children already.
Find out more about the grant here - www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant.
Council tax support - £190
You might be able to get a council tax reduction if you're on benefits including Universal Credit.
In some cases, your monthly bill might be slashed by 100%. Each council runs its own scheme so there's no set rule across England.
You can find out more via www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction and enter your postcode to find your local council.
The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England for 2025/26 is £2,280 a year.
Divided by 12 months of the year, that means you could save £190 a month based on a 100% discount.
Help to Start - £25
Help to Save is a special savings account for those on Universal Credit who earned £1 or more in their last assessment period.
The Government gives you a tax-free 50% bonus on whatever you save.
You can save between £1 and £50 into a Help to Save account each month and keep one open for up to four years.
Bonuses are paid at the end of the second and fourth year and are worth up to £1,200 in total. Per month that's £25.
Healthy Start - £36
The Healthy Start scheme provides prepaid cards to buy essentials like milk, fruit, and vegetables.
It's for families expecting a baby or that already have children under four and on certain benefits like Universal Credit.
You could get up to £442 a year, depending on your circumstances, equating to around £36 a month.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
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