The UK benefits most often missed are Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Council Tax Reduction, Marriage Allowance and Child Benefit for higher earners. Several are not means-tested, so you can get them whatever your income or savings, and some act as a gateway to extra help such as the Warm Home Discount or a free TV licence.
Use the checklist below to see which apply to you, then confirm with a free benefits calculator on gov.uk (from Turn2us, entitledto or Policy in Practice). All rates are for 2026/27.
Quick checklist by situation
| If you are... | Check | Means-tested? |
|---|---|---|
| Over State Pension age on a modest income | Pension Credit | Yes |
| Over State Pension age needing help with care | Attendance Allowance | No |
| Working age with a long-term health condition | PIP | No |
| Caring 35+ hours a week | Carer's Allowance | Earnings limit |
| Married, one partner earning under £12,570 | Marriage Allowance | Tax-band rules |
| A parent | Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare | Partly |
| On a low income or living alone | Council Tax Reduction, single person discount | Partly |
Pension Credit: the gateway benefit
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to £238.00 for a single person or £363.25 for a couple, if you have reached State Pension age. Even a small award matters because it unlocks other help: a free TV licence if you are 75 or over, help with housing costs and council tax, the Warm Home Discount and, in many cases, Cold Weather Payments. You can backdate a claim by up to three months if you were eligible. See our Pension Credit guide.
Disability and care benefits that ignore income
These are based on how a condition affects you, not on your income or savings, and you can work while claiming PIP.
- Attendance Allowance (State Pension age and over): £76.70 or £114.60 a week if you need help with personal care or supervision. You do not need to have a carer already. See our Attendance Allowance guide
- Personal Independence Payment (working age): daily living £76.70 or £114.60 a week, plus mobility £30.30 or £80.00
- Carer's Allowance: £86.45 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and earn no more than £204 a week after deductions. In Scotland, Carer Support Payment replaces it
Tax allowances couples and parents miss
Not every entitlement is a benefit.
- Marriage Allowance: if one spouse or civil partner earns less than £12,570 and the other is a basic-rate taxpayer, £1,260 of allowance can be transferred, cutting tax by up to £252 a year. You can backdate to 6 April 2022
- Child Benefit: £27.05 a week for the eldest child and £17.90 for each other child. The High Income Child Benefit Charge only starts at £60,000 and fully claws it back at £80,000. Even if you opt out of payments, claiming protects National Insurance credits for a parent at home
- Tax-Free Childcare: the government adds £2 for every £8 you pay into the account, up to £2,000 a year per child (£4,000 if disabled)
Council tax and household bills
Council tax help is run by each council, so it is easy to overlook.
- Single person discount: 25% off if you are the only adult in your home
- Council Tax Reduction: help for people on low incomes, whether or not you get other benefits. See our Council Tax Reduction guide
- Disregards and disability reductions for some carers, students and people with severe mental impairment, and for homes adapted for a disabled person
- Warm Home Discount: £150 off electricity for eligible households on certain means-tested benefits; the 2026/27 scheme reopens in October 2026
- Broadband and water social tariffs for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits
Help for families on low incomes
If you get Universal Credit or other means-tested support, check these too:
- Free school meals: in England, from September 2026 every child in a household on Universal Credit is eligible, regardless of earnings. You usually still need to apply through your council or school
- Healthy Start: help to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and vitamins if you are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 and get certain benefits
- Help to Save: a 50% government bonus on savings of up to £50 a month if you get Universal Credit and had take-home pay of at least £1 in your last assessment period. See our Help to Save guide
- NHS costs: free prescriptions, dental treatment and help with travel to hospital on some benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
How to check and claim
Start with a free online benefits calculator listed on gov.uk. It takes around 15 minutes and you need details of income, savings, rent and council tax. Then claim each benefit directly; some, like Attendance Allowance, have a long form, and Citizens Advice or Age UK can help you fill it in. Our guide to how Universal Credit works explains the main working-age benefit.
If extra money comes in, give it a purpose: plan it into your budget planner and put some aside for emergencies. SYM can help you save a small amount each day without connecting to your bank.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out what benefits I am entitled to?
Which benefits are not means-tested?
Can I get Pension Credit if I own my home?
Is it worth claiming Child Benefit if I earn over £80,000?
Can I backdate benefits I have missed?
- benefits
- entitlements
- Pension Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- council tax