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12 freebies worth up to £8,316 Universal Credit claimants can get this March before payments rise

Olivia Marshall

Published: 8:22, 25 Feb 2023
Updated: 8:22, 25 Feb 2023

MILLIONS on Universal Credit could benefit from 12 freebies in March before payments rise.

Households claiming the support will get a boost in April as monthly amounts are set to rise.

Households on Universal Credit can claim extra support before payments riseCredit: Alamy

Benefits and Universal Credit payments will rise by 10.1% in April.

For example, the Universal Credit standard allowance for those who are single and aged under 25, will rise from £265.31 a month to £292.11.

For those single and aged 25 or over, the standard allowance will rise from £334.91 a month to £368.74.

But if you're looking for some extra help before payments increase, here's 12 freebies you could be entitled to and how to claim.

Council tax

Some households on low incomes could be eligible for a discount on their council tax bill.

As one of the biggest bills for households and the worst consequences if you get behind, finding out if you can get a reduction could help you get by.

In some cases you could even get your bill reduced to zero and with the average bill for a band D home at £1,966, that could save a significant sum.

The reduction could prove to be even more essential as council tax bills are set to go up again in April.

To find out if you're eligible and apply you'll need to contact your local council - you can find yours , just enter your postcode.

Energy supplier grants - £1,500

There are plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you're struggling.

The British Gas Energy Trust pays hard-up households up to £1,500 - and it doesn't matter if they're not a British Gas customer.

Ask your supplier what's on offer and how to apply, or check here:

British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
British Gas Energy Trust
EDF Customer Support Fund
E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
Octopus Energy Assist Fund
OVO Energy
Scottish Power Hardship Fund

Household Support Fund

Hard-up households have been entitled to free cash and vouchers to help with the cost of living since October under the Household Support Fund.

Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.

And the vouchers or grants on offer vary by location and you'll have to check to see how your council will pay you.

Some councils are offering households up to £800 in free cash.

Most councils will close their applications for the scheme at the end of March but some have already shut theirs so get your applications in quickly.

It's been revealed that the fund has been extended again, so there could be even more opportunities to get support in the future.

Check with your local council to see what's on offer and when applications for the scheme close.

Free school meals

If you're claiming certain benefits including Universal Credit then your child might be entitled to free school meals.

and type in your postcode to be redirected to your local council's website and apply.

The exact amount you'll get depends on where you are, but ranges from around £2.15 to £2.60 per day, or around £400-£500 each school year.

Free £150 for school uniforms

How much you can get in England to help pay for school uniforms varies depending on where you live, but you can get up to £200 in some local authorities.

website, which will direct you to your council's website where you should search for “uniform grant” in the “Education” section to find out what help is available in your area.

Free £500 if you're pregnant

You may be able to get a one off payment worth £500 to help towards the costs of having a child through the Sure Start Maternity Grant.

You don't have to pay it back and you can find out who's eligible in our guide.

You'll qualify for the grant if you're already claiming benefits and you're expecting your first child, or expecting twins or triplets and have children already.

New parents must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby's due date or within six months after the baby is born.

To claim, you'll need to print out and fill in the

A health professional such as a doctor or midwife must also sign it before you post it to Freepost DWP SSMG.

Free milk, fruit and veg

The Healthy Start scheme offers thousands of parents on low incomes help to feed their kids.

You get a prepaid card and payments worth up to £442 a year for those claiming certain benefits.

You can start getting the cash from ten weeks pregnant up to when the child turns four.

The card can be used at major supermarkets and shops to but the following:

cow’s milk
fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
infant formula milk
fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

Check out how to apply for the Healthy Start scheme in our guide.

Free childcare

If you claim Universal Credit, you might be able to get a refund on most of your childcare costs.

You can claim back 85% of childcare costs up to £646 for one child or £1,108 for two or more up to August 31 following the child’s 16th birthday.

You will have to pay your childcare costs yourself up front and then claim the money back through Universal Credit.

The Sun has been calling on the government to change rules and pay parents up-front for childcare costs, as part of our Make Universal Credit Work campaign.

Parents may also be able to take advantage of other childcare support, whether you're claiming Universal Credit or not, including up to 30 hours free childcare.

Up to £1,200 bonus for saving

Not everyone is in a position to save, but of you are it's worth getting a specific account that offers a generous bonus.

With the Help to Save account, anyone on Universal Credit can put away between £1 and £50 every month and you get a 50% bonus on top.

If you save the maximum amount over four years you can get a sum of £1,200 from the government, topping up your own savings of £2,400.

But you can still get some of the bonus even by saving a small amount - check out how it works.

Water saving devices and bill help

Many water companies offer free water-saving devices that shave pounds off your bills - just contact your supplier.

Large families on Universal Credit or other benefits may be eligible for a cap on their bills under the WaterSure scheme.

To qualify for the scheme you need to already have a water meter installed, and prove you need to use a lot of water.

You also need to have three or more children under the age of 19 living in the house, and receive child benefit for them.

You can find out more about the scheme in our guide.

Free prescriptions and dental treatment

You could also get help with covering health costs, such as paying for your prescriptions and dental treatment.

To claim, you’ll need to show a copy of your Universal Credit award notice.

You won’t be able to claim on health costs before you were deemed eligible for the Universal Credit.

Free travel and childcare when looking for work

The Restart Scheme is designed to help those who've been on Universal Credit for more than a year and launched last year.

It can help cover the costs associated with finding a job, including travel, childcare and other expenses.

If you're on the scheme ask the provider or your work coach about how to claim.

The Flexible Support Fund is a pot of money that has been put aside by the government to help you with the costs of getting a job.

The fund is managed by local job centres and can be used to cover the following costs of job hunting:

Training for a job, up to £150
Travel to interviews
Childcare
Tools for work
Cost of medical evidence required by a disabled person
Clothing and uniforms to start work
Support for single parents in financial emergencies in the first 26 weeks of starting a job.

You can find out more about how to apply here.

The Jobcentre Plus travel card is available for free and cuts the cost of travelling on public transport, including buses and trains, by 50%.