What state benefits could I claim?
The state benefits you may be able to claim depend on things like your age, income, savings, health, work situation and household circumstances.
Support may be available for people on lower incomes, people with disabilities or health conditions, carers, families with children, people who have reached State Pension age and those who have recently been bereaved.
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Some benefits are means-tested. This means your income and savings may affect whether you can claim them. Means-tested benefits include Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.
Some of the main state benefits include:
- Universal Credit for people on lower incomes
- Pension Credit for people who have reached State Pension age and who are on a lower income
- Housing Benefit to help with housing costs
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Child Benefit
Depending on your circumstances, these benefits may help with living costs, housing costs, caring responsibilities, extra costs if you have a disability or health condition, and retirement income.
If you're not sure what benefits you can claim, a number of charities and organisations have free-to-use and confidential benefits calculators on their websites. These can help you check if there are state benefits you can claim.
We've included a free benefits calculator, from our charity partner, Turn2us, at the end of this guide to help you check which state benefits you may be able to claim.
Who can claim state benefits?
Whether you can claim state benefits depends on things like your age, income, savings, health, work and household situation. If your situation changes, you may be able to claim benefits that weren’t available to you before.
What state benefits and support could I receive?
State benefits are designed to support people in a range of circumstances, including being on a low income, being disabled, having caring responsibilities, being retired and experiencing a bereavement. Different benefits may be available, depending on your situation.
The table below shows some of the main state benefits and the circumstances they’re designed to help with.
| Benefit | Who it might help | Do income and savings affect it?* | What it’s designed to help with |
| Attendance Allowance |
People who have reached State Pension age and have a disability or long-term health condition |
No | Additional costs resulting from being disabled or ill |
| Bereavement Support Payment | People whose husband, wife or civil partner has died | No | Financial support after a bereavement |
| Carer’s Allowance | People who regularly care for someone with substantial care needs | Depends on your circumstances | Financial support for carers |
| Child Benefit | Parents and guardians responsible for children | No. However, there’s a tax charge for people with higher incomes. Read our Child Benefit guide to find out more. | Costs associated with raising children |
| Council Tax support | People on lower incomes who need help paying Council Tax | Usually, yes | Council Tax bills |
| Housing Benefit | People who need help with housing costs | Usually, yes | Rent and housing-related costs |
| Pension Credit | People who have reached State Pension age and need help with living costs | Usually, yes | Boosting retirement income |
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) | People with a disability or long-term health condition who are under State Pension age | No, not usually | Help with the extra costs you may face if you have a disability or long-term health condition |
| State Pension | People who have reached State Pension age and meet the rules for claiming it | No | Provides an income in retirement |
| Universal Credit | People on a lower income, people who are unemployed, and some people who are unable to work | Usually, yes | Day-to-day living costs and housing costs |
*The rules on who can claim benefits can be complex and may depend on more than how much income and savings you have.
As well as state benefits, there are schemes and grants available if you’re on a lower income. Many charitable organisations provide support towards things like gas and electricity costs, water bills and energy efficiency measures. You can also speak to your local authority for help with Council Tax costs.
How do workplace and personal pensions affect state benefits?
You can retire and start taking money from a workplace or personal pension before you reach State Pension age. The money in your pension, and any money you take from it, could affect whether you can claim means-tested benefits and how much you receive.
Means-tested benefits include:
- Housing Benefit
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
If you’re below State Pension age
Taking money from your pension could affect your benefits. Money you take out may count as income or savings, while money left in your pension usually won't. This could mean you receive less in means-tested benefits or can't claim them at all.
If you’ve reached State Pension age
The rules are more complex once you've reached State Pension age.
The government assumes you’ll use the money in your pension to support yourself. This means that even if you leave your pension untouched, it could still be considered when deciding whether you can claim means-tested benefits.
For example, if you take money from your pension and spend it, the government may still treat it as money you have when deciding whether you can claim benefits.
Taking less money from your pension may not help you claim benefits. The government may look at how much income you could have taken, rather than how much you actually take, when deciding whether you can claim.
If you've reached State Pension age, it's worth understanding how the State Pension works alongside your other retirement income. Read our guide to State Pension: What it is and how it works to learn more.
Citizens Advice also provides information about how taking money from your pension may affect the benefits you can claim.
Frequently asked questions
Can you receive state benefits as well as the State Pension?
Yes. Receiving the State Pension doesn't automatically stop you claiming other benefits. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Attendance Allowance or other support.
Are all state benefits means-tested?
No. For means-tested benefits, your income and savings affect whether you can claim and how much you receive. Other benefits are based on things like your age, health, disability or caring responsibilities.
Can pension withdrawals affect my benefits?
Yes. Money taken from your pension may be treated as income or savings when working out whether you can claim some means-tested benefits.
Can I claim benefits if I have savings?
It depends on the type of benefit and how much you have in savings. Some benefits are means-tested and take your savings into account.
Can pensioners claim benefits?
Yes. Depending on their situation, pensioners may be able to claim support such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Attendance Allowance.
How do I find out what state benefits I can claim?
A benefits calculator is one of the quickest ways to check. You'll be asked questions about your income, savings and household circumstances. Based on your answers, you'll be shown the benefits you may be able to claim and how to make a claim.
Check what state benefits you could claim
Our charity partner, Turn2us, has developed this free, confidential and independent benefits calculator.
You can use it to check which state benefits you may be able to claim, based on your household situation.
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