If you’re struggling with the cost of living, you should check if you can claim benefits or increase your current benefits. 

You might be able to claim certain benefits even if you work, have savings or own a home.

To check what benefits you can get, you can:

• use a benefits calculator – for a detailed check based on your personal situation

• read our general benefits advice – to quickly check if you could get Universal Credit and other benefits

Use a benefits calculator

Benefits calculators can tell you what benefits you might get and how much money you could get in benefits. 

To get a more accurate answer, you’ll need information about your savings, income, pension, childcare payments and any existing benefits for you and your partner, if you have one.

Check if you can use a calculator

None of the calculators can give you an accurate answer if you’re:

• a student

• on strike

• living outside the UK

• living permanently in residential care or a nursing home

• in prison

This is because it’s more complex to work out what benefits you can get if you’re in one of these situations. If you want to check if you can get benefits, you can contact us

If you want a detailed benefits check

You can use the Entitledto benefits calculator for a detailed overview of what you might get. Entitledto’s calculator is particularly useful if:

• you’re already claiming benefits

• you’re sick or disabled

• you’re over State Pension age – you can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK

If you want a quick overview of what help you can get 

You can use the Turn2us benefits calculator for a quick idea of what benefits and other financial help you might be eligible for.

Use the Turn2us benefits calculator.

Check if you can get Universal Credit

Universal Credit is the main benefit for most people of working age. You should check if you can get Universal Credit if:

• you’re over 18 and under State Pension age – you can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK

• you have less than £16,000 in savings or other investments

It’s worth checking if you can get Universal Credit, even if you work full-time. There’s no set amount of income where you stop being eligible for Universal Credit – it depends on your situation. 

If you’re already claiming benefits, talk to an adviser first to check if you’re better off on Universal Credit.

Check if you can get Universal Credit.

Getting Universal Credit if you’re sick or disabled

If you find it difficult to work because you’re sick or disabled, you might get more Universal Credit or not have to look for work. 

Check how Universal Credit works for people who are sick or disabled.

Check what other benefits you might get 

You might be entitled to other benefits depending on your situation – like your age, if you’re disabled or if you have a child. 

You might be able to get more than one benefit – for example, disability benefits and Universal Credit. 

If you pay council tax, you should check if you can pay less council tax. 

Check what other financial help you can get

If you don’t have enough money to live on, you might be able to get extra money from the government, your local council or a charity.