Government support payments exist for far more situations than most people assume, and plenty of eligible people never claim them simply because nobody told them a payment applies to their circumstances. Some are means-tested, some depend on caring responsibilities, and some are available regardless of income once you meet the basic criteria. The five below are among the ones people most often miss, and each is worth checking even if your first instinct is that you probably won't qualify.
1. Carer’s Allowance
If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability or long-term illness, you may be entitled to a weekly payment whether or not you're related to them or live together. Plenty of people caring for a parent, partner or friend assume it's simply something family does, without realising it can come with a small income attached. Eligibility and rates for Carer's Allowance depend on the hours of care provided and any earnings from paid work alongside it.
2. Payments for Caring for Someone Else’s Child
Not every child who needs care is raised by a birth parent, and the payments available reflect that. In the UK, this support takes the shape of foster carer payments, which cover the day-to-day cost of raising a child who isn't your own and are often more substantial than people expect before they look into it properly. Kinship carers looking after a relative's child through informal arrangements can access separate support too, though the process tends to be less well publicised.
3. Council Tax Reduction
Local councils in England, Scotland and Wales run their own reduction schemes for people on a low income, with the amount depending on individual circumstances rather than a fixed rate. Single occupants already get a 25 per cent discount, but a separate reduction exists for households struggling with the bill for other reasons, including unemployment or a sudden drop in income. Many never apply because they assume the scheme only covers pensioners, when the criteria are broader than that.
4. Pension Credit
Pension Credit tops up a low income for people over state pension age, and it remains one of the most underclaimed benefits in the country. Getting even a small amount can open the door to a free TV licence for over-75s, help with NHS costs and extra council tax support, so the real value is usually higher than the weekly figure alone suggests. Some pensioner benefits go unclaimed simply because a small workplace pension makes people assume they won't qualify.
5. Healthy Start Payments
Pregnant women and families with children under four on a low income can claim a prepaid card covering the cost of milk, fruit, vegetables and basic formula, refreshed every four weeks once accepted onto the scheme. Uptake has historically lagged behind eligibility, partly because the application isn't always mentioned at midwife appointments or during a separate benefits claim. None of these five are exotic or hard to apply for once you know where to look, and a few minutes spent checking is rarely wasted.
