Help with household income
Benefits and financial support
Benefits can help when money is tight, you are caring for someone or your family’s circumstances change. Start with the question you need to answer.
Caring for someone and working
Check which pay counts towards the £204 Carer’s Allowance limit. Includes a free earnings checker and a simple checklist.
Check Carer’s Allowance earnings →
Your pay or payday has changed
See how extra shifts, bonuses, pensions and payday dates can change Universal Credit. Learn what to check on your statement.
Understand Universal Credit and pay →
Claiming Child Benefit
Check payments, the higher-income tax charge and whose name should be on the claim to help protect their State Pension.
Understand Child Benefit →
Not sure what you could claim?
A free benefits calculator can check possible support for your household, including income from work and your partner’s circumstances. It gives an estimate and explains what to check next.
Have your income, savings, existing benefits, rent and Council Tax details ready. GOV.UK lists independent calculators from Turn2us, entitledto and Policy in Practice, and explains when a calculator may not suit your circumstances.
Find a free benefits calculatorLooking for other support?
These official starting points cover other common questions. Choose the service for where you live: some benefits and local schemes have different rules across the UK.
- Help with illness, disability and caring — find the relevant benefit and claim route.
- Pension Credit — check help with income in retirement.
- Council Tax Reduction — find your council’s scheme. Northern Ireland uses a rates system.
- Scottish benefits and Northern Ireland benefits — check nation-specific support.
Sources checked 8 November 2026. You can also browse all pay and money guides or use the maternity, paternity and sick-pay calculator for employer-paid statutory pay.