12 DWP and Universal Credit freebies coming in May worth £9,800

James Rodger
·7-min read

12 freebies and discounts you can get on Universal Credit and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits worth up to £9,800 in May have been revealed. Millions of DWP benefit claimants can claim 12 freebies or discounts this month worth up to £9,800.

Households on benefits could be in line for freebies and discounts worth thousands as the Cost of Living crisis continues. If you qualify for all the available help, you could be in line for payments worth up to £9,871 in total this year.

Websites like Turn2us have tools that can help you see if you can get Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Anyone can use the Government website here to run a test to see what benefits they may be eligible for.

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Free or cheap broadband - save £300

Social tariffs are available from a number of broadband providers, helping those on benefits get access to an internet connection at a much lower monthly price. With the cost of living crisis and broadband price hikes driving up everyone's bills, Citizens Advice recently reported that up to one million people cancelled their broadband between May 2022-23.

Uswitch recently found that two-thirds of financially vulnerable households are unaware that low-income broadband tariffs exist. That's a rough total of ten million homes that could save up to £234 a year, or nearly £20 per month, on a cheaper broadband contract.

Council tax - £2,171

You could be eligible if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%. You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

What you get depends on where you live - each council runs its own scheme and your circumstances (for example income, number of children, benefits, residency status) as well as your household income - this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income and if your children live with you and if other adults live with you.

Energy bill help - up to £750

If your supplier knows your situation then it can put things in place to help you - under Ofgem rules, all suppliers have to do this. Your supplier can offer you a range of options which could help, which include:

  • A full payment plan review

  • Affordable debt repayment plans

  • Payment breaks (though this won't be right for everyone)

  • Payment reductions

  • More time to pay

Another way energy companies are helping customers is by providing cash through a Hardship payment.

Pregnancy grant - £500

You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This is known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant. You usually qualify for the grant if both of the following apply:

  • you’re expecting your first child, or you’re expecting a multiple birth (such as twins) and have children already

  • you or your partner already get certain benefits

You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within 6 months after the baby’s birth. You do not have to pay the grant back and it will not affect your other benefits or tax credits.

Free childcare - £1,739

You can get help with the cost of childcare through Tax Free Childcare in the UK or free childcare if you’re working in England. Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare if you’re working can help you to pay for childcare if it’s provided by a registered childminder, nanny, playscheme, nursery or club.

It can also help if it is provided by a childminder or nanny with a registered childminder agency or childcare agency, a registered school or a home care worker working for a registered home care agency. This is known as ‘approved childcare’.

Water bill help - £1,000

WaterSure is a scheme which helps some people with their water bills. To apply for the scheme, you must be on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons or because your household has a certain number of school-age children. You also need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed.

If you get help through the WaterSure scheme, your water bill will be capped. This means you will not pay any more than the average metered bill for the area your water company deals with.

Money for health costs - £119

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

Cheap travel - £150

The Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card is provided to those unemployed claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for 3-9 months (18-24 year olds) or 3-12 months (over 25s). Other benefit recipients may receive a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card from 3 months of their claim and if they are actively engaged with a Jobcentre Plus adviser. Cardholders are entitled to a 50% discount on selected rail tickets.

The flexible support fund may be used at the discretion of Jobcentre Plus staff to help with the cost of travelling to an interview, training or for the first months of travelling to work.

Free school meals - up to £500

our child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • Income Support

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)

  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Help to Save - £1,200

You can earn 2 tax-free bonuses over 4 years. You’ll get any bonuses you’ve earned even if you withdraw money. After your first 2 years, you’ll get a first bonus if you’ve been using your account to save. This bonus will be 50% of the highest balance you’ve saved.

After 4 years, you’ll get a final bonus if you continue to save. This bonus will be 50% of the difference between 2 amounts:

  • the highest balance saved in the first 2 years (years 1 and 2)

  • the highest balance saved in the last 2 years (years 3 and 4)

If your highest balance does not increase, you will not earn a final bonus. The most you can pay into your account each calendar month is £50, which is £2,400 over 4 years. The most you can earn from your savings in 4 years is £1,200 in bonus money.

Your bonus is paid into your bank account, not your Help to Save account.

Healthy start - £442

The DWP says: "If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks."

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.

Help paying for funerals - £1,000

You could get a Funeral Expenses Payment (also called a Funeral Payment) if you get certain benefits and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging. Your Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the deceased’s estate.

The estate includes any money or property they had but not a house or personal things left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner. You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin.

The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral. How much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money that’s available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the deceased person’s estate.

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