Benefits, childcare support and other cost-of-living help

If you’re worried about how you’re going to get through the next couple of months, especially with the energy price cap increase, fret not. You can access help through benefits and other government support available to households.

Benefits

You can still expect to get the benefits listed below this February if you have been claiming either of them.

Universal Credit
State Pension
PIP- Personal Independence Payment
Disability Living Allowance
Carer’s allowance
Attendance Allowance
Income support
Employment Support Allowance
Jobseeker’s Allowance

If you’re not claiming any of the above but believe you should be receiving benefits, please use the government benefits calculator or speak to your local Jobcentre Plus office to find out more.

Cost-of-living payments

The MoneySavingExpert benefits calculator can take you through a step by step guide to check what benefits you are entitled to.

The Government’s cost of living support payments for low-income households will continue. So far, households have received payments of £326 in July 2022 and £324 in November 2022. A further £301 is expected to be paid in April, £300 in the autumn and the final £299 will be paid in 2024.

For more information about cost-of-living payments in 2023, please visit www.gov.uk

Childcare costs

If you have children and fall under any of the following categories, you should check if you can claim help towards childcare costs.

Families with children aged three or four years old can get up to 15hrs of free childcare a week. Speak to your local nursey or children’s centre to see if they have any free spaces.
Families with two-year olds can also get help towards childcare. Ask for space availability at your local nursery and claim your free education and childcare for your two-year old.

If you’re unsure of what childcare help to claim, please visit the government website and follow the steps to find out more about who can claim.