What Benefits Can I Claim in England and Wales?

Who this guide is for

People in England or Wales who want to know which benefits they may be able to claim, and who can claim each one.

What this guide does not cover

• People in Scotland or Northern Ireland: see the Scotland guide or the Northern Ireland guide.
• How much you would get: this guide gives no benefit amounts. Use a benefits calculator (see Where to go for help).
• Losing your job, New Style JSA and Universal Credit amounts: use the unemployment checker.
• Challenging a Universal Credit decision: use the Universal Credit appeals checker.
• Complaints about how a benefits office treated you: use the benefits complaints checker.
• Tax on foster care payments: use the foster carers checker.
• State Pension amounts, students, people from abroad and people in prison or a care home. Ask a free adviser.

The questions that decide the answer

1. Where do you live? England or Wales: this guide. Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits. Northern Ireland has its own guide.
2. How old are you? Under State Pension age: Universal Credit, PIP and Carer's Allowance may apply. State Pension age or over: Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance may apply.
3. Do you have a health condition or disability? PIP (16 to State Pension age), Attendance Allowance (State Pension age or over), or Disability Living Allowance for a child under 16.
4. Do you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more? Carer's Allowance may apply, if the person you care for gets a qualifying disability benefit.
5. What are your household's income and savings? They matter for Universal Credit and Pension Credit. They do not matter for PIP or Attendance Allowance.

"I'm on a low income or out of work"

Universal Credit covers people on a low income or out of work. If you live with a partner you claim as a couple, and your partner's income and savings are counted. Money, savings and investments under £6,000 do not affect Universal Credit, and you usually cannot get it with more than £16,000. You can get Universal Credit while working.

If an illness or disability limits your work, New Style Employment and Support Allowance may also apply. For losing your job, use the unemployment checker.

"I have a health condition or disability"

PIP: you can get it if you are 16 or over, you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, you have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around, and you expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started. You usually need to be under State Pension age to make a new claim. PIP is not affected by your earnings or savings, and you can get it while working. There are different rules if you are nearing the end of life.

Attendance Allowance: if you have reached State Pension age, have a physical or mental disability or a health condition severe enough that you need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, and have needed that help for at least 6 months. You must also have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years, with some exceptions.

A child under 16: Disability Living Allowance for children, if the child needs extra looking after or has walking difficulties.

"I look after someone"

Carer's Allowance: if you are 16 or over, you look after someone for at least 35 hours a week, you are not in full-time education, and your earnings are under the limit. The person you care for must get a qualifying benefit, such as the daily living part of PIP, the middle or higher care rate of Disability Living Allowance, or Attendance Allowance. You do not have to be related to them or live with them.

"I've reached State Pension age"

Pension Credit gives extra money to help with living costs if you are over State Pension age and on a low income. You can get it even if you have other income, savings or own your home. You might get extra help if you are a carer, severely disabled or responsible for a child.

Attendance Allowance: see above. You cannot usually make a new claim for PIP after State Pension age.

"I have children"

Child Benefit is for people responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. Only one person can get it for a child, and there is no limit to how many children you can claim for. Claiming also gives you National Insurance credits.

Universal Credit can also include help for children and childcare.

Deadlines you must meet

• This guide sets out no deadline for claiming. If you think you qualify, claim.
• If a DWP decision on your claim is wrong, you usually need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter. For Universal Credit, use the Universal Credit appeals checker.

Money figures

• Universal Credit: savings under £6,000 do not count; above £16,000 you usually cannot get it. This guide gives no benefit amounts.

Traps

• PIP and Attendance Allowance are not means-tested. Your savings do not stop them.
• You cannot usually start a new PIP claim after State Pension age. Attendance Allowance is the benefit for that age.
• Carer's Allowance depends on the person you care for getting a qualifying benefit.
• Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits: use the Scotland guide there.
• In Northern Ireland, benefits are run by the Department for Communities: use the Northern Ireland guide.