How much could you get?

There isn't a fixed rate. It depends on your household, your income and where you live:

• Pension age: you can get up to 100% off your bill. If you get the guarantee part of Pension Credit, you're normally entitled to the full reduction.
• Working age (England): each council sets its own scheme. Some pay up to 100%, while others expect everyone to pay something, with the maximum reduction often capped at around 80–91%. Check your council's rules.
• Scotland and Wales: both run national schemes, and up to 100% is available.
• Northern Ireland: there's no Council Tax. You pay domestic rates, and help is available through Housing Benefit and rates relief.

Discounts and exemptions that ignore your income:

• Single person discount: 25% off if you're the only adult in your home. At the average Band D bill in England, that's worth roughly £600 a year.
• Disabled band reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person, you may be charged at the band below, saving a few hundred pounds a year.
• Severe mental impairment exemption: where someone has a qualifying condition and gets certain benefits, they may not count for Council Tax.
• Carers and students: some carers and full-time students are "disregarded", which can trigger a discount or exemption for the household.
• Second adult rebate: may help if you share your home with someone on a low income.

Good things to know:

• Nothing is automatic. Getting Universal Credit or other benefits doesn't mean you'll get Council Tax Reduction. You must apply to your council.
• Savings usually matter. Pension-age and Welsh schemes commonly use £16,000 as the limit, but there's no limit if you get Guarantee Credit. English working-age schemes vary.
• Universal Credit claimants: your council will use your Universal Credit details, so be ready to tell them when your income changes.
• Reductions can be backdated, but only for a limited time, so apply as soon as you think you may qualify.
• Keep paying while you wait, or ask the council to hold off recovery. Missed payments can lead to enforcement action quickly, so contact the council early.
• You can challenge a decision. If you disagree with your reduction, ask the council to look again, and then appeal to the Valuation Tribunal (in England and Wales) if you're still not happy.
• Check your band. If you think your home is in the wrong Council Tax band, you may be able to challenge it with the Valuation Office Agency, and a successful challenge can mean a refund.
• If you're struggling with arrears, speak to Citizens Advice, StepChange or National Debtline. Council Tax debts are treated as priority debts.

Where to start: search for "Council Tax Reduction" plus your council's name, and apply online or by phone. A free benefits calculator on Turn2us or Entitledto can estimate what you might get first.

Rules, rates and bands differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and each English council has its own working-age scheme, so always check with your local council. Rates and figures change each year.

If you've found the application tricky, or you've discovered a discount you didn't know about, please share it on the forum. It could save someone hundreds of pounds. 🫶

⭐ A small exception: Benefits and Work

Benefits and Work isn't free, as full access needs a paid subscription. We've included it because it's really good and widely trusted. Its guides on disability and sickness benefits (PIP, ESA, Universal Credit and appeals) are detailed, clear and kept up to date, and many people say it helped them win their appeals. If you can afford it, or a local advice centre has a subscription, it's well worth a look. If not, don't worry, everything else on this list is free.

🏛️ Official information

• GOV.UK: the official source for rules, rates, claim forms and eligibility.
• Nidirect: the official site for Northern Ireland.
• Social Security Scotland: Scotland's own benefits.

🤝 Free, independent advice

• Citizens Advice: free, confidential advice online, by phone and in person, including help with forms and appeals.
• Turn2us: a free benefits calculator and grants search.
• Entitledto: another popular free benefits calculator.
• MoneyHelper: free, government-backed guidance on money, pensions and benefits.
• StepChange and National Debtline: free, confidential debt advice.

💛 Specialist support

• Age UK: for older people, including Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit.
• Carers UK: for carers.
• Contact: for families with disabled children.
• Scope and Disability Rights UK: for disability benefits like PIP.
• Shelter: for housing, renting and homelessness.
• Kinship: for people raising a relative's or friend's child.
• Maternity Action: for pregnancy, maternity pay and Maternity Allowance.
• Child Poverty Action Group: for detailed welfare rights guides.

💬 Where do we fit in?

Use these sites for the facts, and use us for the company. Come back and tell us how you got on, ask "has anyone else been through this?", and swap tips with people who understand. 💛

Always check you're on the official site. Look for the .gov.uk address, and be wary of sites that charge to help you claim benefits that are free to apply for. We recommend Benefits and Work as an independent guide, not as a claims service.

Why do they matter? (rates from April 2026)

• You need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension, which is £241.30 a week.
• You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any State Pension at all.
• Each qualifying year adds roughly one thirty-fifth of the full amount, which works out at around £6.89 a week for life.

Who might get credits?

• Child Benefit claimants with a child under 12. Even if you've chosen not to receive the payments because of the High Income Child Benefit Charge, it's important to register your claim.
• Carers who give 20 hours or more a week of care, via Carer's Credit (if you're not getting Carer's Allowance, which gives credits automatically).
• People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, ESA or Universal Credit when earnings are low.
• Parents getting Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay.
• Some people on jury service, approved training or certain other schemes.
• Grandparents and other family members who care for a child under 12 may be able to get the credits transferred from the parent (called "specified adult childcare credits").

Good things to know:

• Some credits are automatic, but others you have to apply for, such as Carer's Credit. Child Benefit is the big one, so please don't miss out.
• Check your NI record on GOV.UK, which is free. It shows your qualifying years and any gaps.
• If you spot gaps, you may be able to fill them with voluntary Class 3 contributions, which cost £18.40 a week (£956.80 for a full year) in 2026/27. They only help if you won't reach 35 years in other ways, so check before you pay. The Future Pension Centre can tell you whether it's worth it.
• Only some gaps can be filled, usually in the last 6 tax years, so don't leave it too long.
• If you've already got 35 years, extra credits won't add anything.
• You don't have to take it on yourself. Citizens Advice, Age UK and MoneyHelper can help you decide.

Where to start: search "check your National Insurance record" on GOV.UK. You'll need to sign in to your Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login account.

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. National Insurance and the State Pension work across the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If you've discovered gaps and sorted them, or you've got a top tip, please share it on the forum. It could save someone a lot of future worry. 🫶

How much is it? (weekly rates from April 2026)

• Employed (or recently stopped working): 90% of your average weekly earnings, or £194.32, whichever is lower.
• Self-employed: between £27 and £194.32, depending on your National Insurance contributions.
• Helping with a partner's business without pay: £27 for up to 14 weeks.

You get it for up to 39 weeks.

Who can claim?

• You've been employed or self-employed for at least 26 of the 66 weeks before your baby is due (the "test period").
• You've earned at least £30 a week in any 13 of those weeks.
• You're not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay from an employer.
• If you're self-employed, you've paid enough Class 2 National Insurance. The DWP checks this when you claim.

Good things to know:

• It's tax-free, and is paid every 2 or 4 weeks straight into your bank account.
• Claim as soon as you can. You can usually claim once you're around 26 weeks pregnant, and it's worth checking the deadline on GOV.UK so you don't miss out.
• You'll need proof of your pregnancy (a MATB1 certificate from your midwife or doctor) and evidence of your earnings, such as payslips or self-employed records.
• It counts as income for Universal Credit, so tell them if you're claiming both. A benefits check can help you work out how it all fits together.
• If you don't qualify for Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay, you may be able to get help with Universal Credit or, in some cases, Employment and Support Allowance (Maternity). Don't assume there's nothing for you.
• If you go back to work during your 39 weeks, you'll usually lose that week's Maternity Allowance, so check the rules if you're thinking of any "Keeping in Touch" days.
• If you're self-employed, paying Class 2 National Insurance regularly can really make a difference to what you get.

Where to start: claim through GOV.UK. Maternity Action is a brilliant charity with free guides, and Citizens Advice can help with forms.

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. Maternity Allowance applies across England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, check Nidirect.

If you've claimed Maternity Allowance as a freelancer or self-employed mum, please share your tips on the forum. Your experience could help someone else. 🫶

How much is it?

There isn't one rate. It depends on where you live and how many bedrooms you're allowed:

• Every area (called a Broad Rental Market Area) has its own set of weekly rates.
• Rates are set for shared accommodation, 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms (nothing higher, so a 5-bed home gets the 4-bed rate).
• Rates for 2026/27 are frozen at April 2024 levels, so they haven't gone up this year even though rents have.
• Rates are meant to cover the cheapest 30% of local rents, but because they've been frozen, many areas now fall short.

How to find your rate: search for "LHA rate finder" on GOV.UK, and enter your postcode and number of bedrooms. It only takes a minute, and it's worth checking before you agree to a tenancy.

How many bedrooms are you allowed?

• One bedroom each for a couple, a single adult aged 16 or over, or two children of the same sex under 16, or any two children under 10.
• An extra room if a carer stays overnight, and in some cases for disabled children who can't share.
• Under 35 and single with no children? You'll normally only get the shared accommodation rate, which is lower. There are exceptions, for example care leavers, people who've lived in a homeless hostel for 3 months, and some disabled people.

Good things to know:

• LHA is a cap, not a guarantee. If your rent is higher than the LHA rate, you'll have to cover the difference yourself.
• If your rent is lower than the LHA rate, you'll only get help up to your actual rent.
• It only applies to private tenants. Social housing tenants, such as those renting from a council or housing association, are covered differently.
• If there's a gap between your rent and what you're paid, ask your council about a Discretionary Housing Payment. It's not guaranteed, but it can make a big difference.
• Tell your council or the DWP if your rent or household changes, as your help may change too.
• It's worth checking the rates before signing a tenancy, so you know how big any shortfall might be.
• The government may announce changes in the Autumn Budget, so keep an eye on the news. We'll shout about it on the forum if anything changes.

Where to start: use the LHA finder on GOV.UK, then ask your council or Citizens Advice for help working out what you'd get. Shelter has a free helpline and a great benefits calculator too.

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. England, Scotland and Wales use LHA, and Northern Ireland has its own LHA rates, which you can find through the NI Housing Executive.

If the gap between your rent and your help is causing you worry, please come and chat on the forum. You're definitely not alone.

What might you be able to get? (weekly rates from April 2026)

• Child Benefit: £27.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each additional child. You don't need to be a parent or legal guardian, just the person responsible for the child.
• Guardian's Allowance: £22.95 per child on top of Child Benefit, if the child's parents have died (or in some other cases, like one parent being missing or in prison). We covered this one under G.
• Universal Credit: if you're on a low income you may get the child element for each child, and possibly extra for a disabled child, which can't be claimed alongside kinship foster care payments.
• Council Tax reductions, free school meals, Healthy Start and other help for low-income families may also apply.
• Local council support: many councils offer a discretionary allowance, especially for special guardians, but it varies a lot from area to area.

Good things to know:

• Your legal arrangement matters. Informal carers, special guardians, people with a Child Arrangements Order and kinship foster carers (where the council places the child with you) all have different rights. Foster carers receive a fostering allowance, but in that case can't claim the child element of Universal Credit, Child Benefit or Guardian's Allowance.
• Kinship Zones pilot: since April 2026, a government pilot is trying out a regular allowance, set at the same level as the foster care minimum allowance, for some kinship carers in seven English council areas: Bexley, Bolton, Newcastle, North East Lincolnshire, Medway, Thurrock and Wiltshire. If you live in one of those areas, ask your council.
• Don't assume your council has to help. It isn't required to support every kinship carer, but you can ask for an assessment, and many people find that asking makes the difference.
• Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance can be backdated by up to 3 months, so claim as soon as you can.
• If your income is over a certain level, you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge, but you can still claim.
• It's worth checking whether you can get help with legal costs, school admissions, and whether you qualify for Pupil Premium Plus funding for the child.

Where to start: the charity Kinship has a free advice line and a brilliant guide to money and benefits for kinship carers. Family Rights Group, Grandparents Plus and Citizens Advice are great too. A benefits check with Turn2us can show what else you could be getting.

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. Support is different in each UK nation. In Scotland, formal kinship carers can receive the Scottish Recommended Allowance, and Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements, so check with your local council.

If you're raising someone else's child, you're doing something amazing. Please come and share your story or ask questions on the forum.

How much is it? (weekly rates from April 2026)

• Under 25: £75.65
• 25 or over: £95.55

It's usually paid every 2 weeks, and you can get it for up to 182 days (26 weeks).

Who can claim?

• You're 18 or over and under State Pension age.
• You've paid enough National Insurance in the last 2 to 3 tax years.
• You're out of work, or working fewer than 16 hours a week.
• You're available for work, actively looking, and have agreed a Claimant Commitment with your Jobcentre.

Good things to know:

• It isn't means-tested, so your savings and your partner's income don't affect it.
• There are 7 waiting days at the start before payments begin, so claim as soon as you become eligible.
• You may get less if you have part-time earnings or a private or workplace pension over a set weekly amount.
• It's taxable, but most people won't end up paying tax on it.
• You can claim new-style JSA and Universal Credit together. The JSA counts as income, so it reduces your UC pound for pound, but it's worth getting both in place if you need help with housing or children.
• If you don't have enough National Insurance contributions, Universal Credit is the benefit to look at instead.
• If you stop being able to look for work because of illness, tell the DWP, as you may need to move to ESA or Universal Credit with health support.
• Missing appointments or job-search steps without a good reason can lead to a sanction, which cuts your payments, so if something goes wrong, tell your work coach straight away.
• Some people still get older income-based JSA, which is closed to new claims.

Where to start: you can claim online on GOV.UK or by phone. Citizens Advice and Turn2us are very helpful if you'd like to check what else you might be entitled to alongside it.

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. JSA works in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own version, so our NI friends should check Nidirect.

Job hunting can be tough, so please share your tips and moral support on the forum.

How much is it?

Housing Benefit doesn't have a fixed weekly rate. It's worked out from your rent and your income:

• The most you can get is up to 100% of your eligible rent (and some service charges).
• If your income is above a set level (your "applicable amount"), your help is reduced by 65p for every £1 extra you have coming in.
• If you get the guarantee part of Pension Credit, you can usually get the maximum Housing Benefit.
• It doesn't cover things like heating, food or water costs included in your rent.

Who can claim?

• You've reached State Pension age (or you and your partner both have), or
• You're in supported or sheltered accommodation, or
• You're in temporary accommodation arranged by your council because you're homeless.
• You rent your home (it doesn't help with mortgages) and you're on a low income.

Good things to know:

• Savings matter. Savings over £16,000 usually mean no Housing Benefit, unless you get Guarantee Pension Credit, in which case there's no limit. For pension-age claimants, savings between £10,000 and £16,000 count as a small amount of assumed weekly income.
• You can claim whether or not you work.
• It's run by your local council, not the DWP, so you claim through them.
• It can be paid to you or straight to your landlord.
• If you're under State Pension age and not in supported housing, you'll usually need Universal Credit instead. Mixed-age couples (one over, one under State Pension age) are usually in this group too, but it can be tricky, so get a benefits check.
• Pension Credit is a great gateway, so if you're pension age and on a low income, please check you're claiming it.
• If there's a gap between your rent and what you get, ask your council about a Discretionary Housing Payment.
• You must tell your council quickly about changes in your income, savings, rent or household, so you don't end up with an overpayment.
• You can't claim if you live in the home of a close relative.

Where to start: contact your local council's housing benefit team. Age UK, Shelter, Citizens Advice and Turn2us all have free benefit calculators and friendly advisers.

This is a general guide, so always double-check with your local council or GOV.UK. Housing Benefit works much the same in Scotland and Wales, but Council Tax help is separate. In Northern Ireland, homeowners on a low income can also claim Housing Benefit to help with rates.

If you've found it tricky to navigate, jump on the forum. Someone will probably have been through the same thing.