15 freebies and discounts you can get on Universal Credit worth up to £13k

HOUSEHOLDS across the UK who are on Universal Credit or benefits could get up to 15 freebies and discounts this March.

A whole range of help is available from discounts on broadband and free childcare, to help with rent.

There are up to 15 freebies and discounts you can get if your on Universal Credit

In total, they could add up to £13,000 a year, though of course exactly what you can get will depend on your individual circumstances.

It’s worth checking in case you qualify for any of these., which are on top of your regular benefit payments.

Free or cheap broadband – £200

If you are on Universal Credit you might be eligible to get a cheaper social tariff and potentially save up to £200.

The exact qualifying criteria varies depending on which provider you go with, so it’s worth checking before enquiring.

Money for health costs

People on certain benefits may be eligible for free NHS prescriptions.

The government has an eligibility checker toll on its website which will tell you what you might be eligible for.

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NHS prescriptions currently cost £9.35 in the UK so it could make for a decent saving not just in March, but across the year.

It’s also worth checking out the NHS Low Income scheme.

You might also get help covering prescription, dental and eye care costs through the NHS Low Income scheme.

How much you’ll be entitled to depends on financial factors including outgoings and the amount of savings you have in the bank.

The NHS has outlined more information on how to go about claiming on its website.

Warm Home Discount £150

Around three million people will qualify for the Warm Home Discount this winter.

The discount is a one-off discount paid directly to Energy companies so they issue the discount to those struggling with bills.

British Gas, Scottish Power and Octopus Energy are among the energy companies giving out this discount.

You will only qualify for the discount if you’re on specific benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support or Universal Credit.

For most people the discount is automatic, but if you don’t receive it and think you should have you will need to apply.

The discount will be applied to your bill between October and March but no later than March 30.

Cold Weather Payments up to £75

Thousands of households across the UK could be in line for free extra money during particularly chilly weather.

The government pays out cold weather payments to those on benefits or those on low income and the minimum amount paid is £25 but it can be more.

Eligible households are paid £25 for every seven-day period where temperatures are, or forecast to be, below zero degrees Celsius on average.

Payments will only be given up to March 31, though it may take up to 14 working days to receive a payment.

You don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically to those who are eligible.

You can see if payments have been triggered in your area using the postcode checker at coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk.

Plus we explain which benefits qualify.

Energy bill help – up to £2,000

The British Gas’ Individual and Family Fund has been extended till March 8.

It gives grants worth £2,000 to help anyone struggling with energy bills – you don’t have to be a customer.

Find out how to apply in our guide, including who is eligible.

If you’re not eligible for this grant it’s still worth reaching out to your energy provider if you are struggling with energy bills.

Some energy bill providers like Octopus Energy have been handing out freebies and energy-saving gadgets like electric blankets to help customers.

Ovo Energy has launched a £40million Customer Support Package for its customers this winter.

Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.

Plus, the Household Support Fund, which helps families with the rising cost of living is open until March 31 .

The support is issued by local councils so you should contact yours to see what’s available.

Water bill help – £1,043

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

To qualify 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.

The amounts you can get off vary, but one saver revealed how they got a more than £1,000 refund through the scheme.

You can also use this SaveWaterSaveMoney to see if your water supplier offers any other help.

Plenty of water companies offer free water-saving devices to households that can slash your bills.

What water bill support is available?

IT’S always worth checking if you qualify for a discount or extra support to help pay your water bill.

Over two million households who qualify to be on discounted social water tariffs aren’t claiming the savings provided, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).

Only 1.3million households are currently issued with a social water tariff – up 19% from the previous year.

And the average household qualifying for the discounted water rates can slash their bills by £160 a year.

Every water company has a social tariff scheme which can help reduce your bills if you’re on a low income and the CCW is calling on customers to take advantage before bills rise in April.

Who’s eligible for help and the level of support offered varies depending on your water company.

Most suppliers also have a pot of money to dish out to thousands of customers who are under pressure from rising costs – and you don’t have to pay it back.

These grants can be worth hundreds of pounds offering a vital lifeline when faced with daunting water bills.

The exact amount you can get depends on where you live and your supplier, as well as your individual circumstances.

Many billpayers across the country could also get help paying off water debts through a little-known scheme and even get the balance written off.

Companies match the payments eligible customers make against the debt on their account to help clear it sooner.

If you’re on a water meter but find it hard to save water as you have a large family or water-dependent medical condition, you may be able to cap your bills through the WaterSure scheme.

Bills are capped at the average amount for your supplier, so the amount you could save will vary.

The Consumer Council for Water estimates that bills are reduced by £307 on average through the scheme.

Rent help – £2,578

Households on Universal Credit can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if their entitlement is not enough to cover rent.

The money can be used to cover a rent shortfall, deposit or rent in advance if you need to move hours.

Each local authority hands out the money on a case-by-case basis though, so it’s best to check in with yours to see if you’re eligible.

The Sun found that the highest amount dished out on average was £2,578 in Newham, London.

Learn more about the discretionary housing payment in our guide.

Help to Save – £1,200

If you are on Universal Credit you can get help to save £1,200 over 48 months.

The Help to Save Scheme offers a 50% bonus on any savings put in up to £50 a month.

The government will put in 50p for every £1 you put in which will boost your final balance of £2,400 to £3,600.

There are eligibility requirements for this scheme as well but it’s worth checking because it’s great motivation to save.

It means you could avoid having to borrow a big chunk of cash for something important like replacing a washing machine or even a holiday.

Cheap Travel – £150

If you’re on Universal credit you can get a JobCentre Plus travel card which could get you up to 50% off bus and train fare.

This is only for those who are unemployed and on Jobseekers Allowance and between 18 and 24 years old.

For those aged 25 or older, you must have claimed the benefit for three to 12 months to be eligible for a discount.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get the discount though as it will be up to your local JobCentre Plus branch to decide.

You might want to also consider the Restart Scheme which is designed to help those on Universal Credit for more than a year cover costs associated with finding a job, including travel, childcare and other expenses.

There’s also the Flexible Support Fund which is another pot of money put aside helping those on Universal Credit to find a job.

The Fund covers a variety of essential costs such as travel, training up to £150 and clothes or uniforms.

Check out our helpful guide on how to apply.

Council tax – average of £2,065

Those on low-income benefits may be entitled to a discount on council tax.

Exactly what you can get depends on where you live, as each council sets its own eligibility criteria.

But, in some cases, you can get the major household bill slashed to nothing.

With the average band D council tax bill standing at £2,065 a year, that’s a serious saving if you qualify.

You can find out if you might be able to get a discount using the government’s council tax discount calculator tool.

You will need to provide details such as your household income as well as the number of adults and children you live with.

Plus, you’ll have to state what benefits you’re receiving and how long you’ve lived in the UK.

Pregnancy grant – £500

If you’re expecting you could be eligible for a grant of up to £500 to help with the cost of having a child through The Sure Start Maternity grant.

You’ll qualify if you’re already claiming benefits and expecting your first child, or you have children already and are expecting twins or triplets.

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 Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.

A health professional such as a doctor or midwife must also sign it before you post it

Healthy start – £442

New and expectant parents can get free food through the Healthy Start Scheme.

The is provided through a card which you can use in different supermarkets and retailers and you can claim up to £442. a year.

But you can only use the card to buy certain products such as cow’s milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables and tinned pulses.

Anyone more than 10 weeks pregnant or with a child under four years old and on benefits can apply online or via email.

This scheme is also open to those who are not on benefits but are under 18.

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

Free childcare – £1,630

You may be able to claim money back on your childcare costs if you claim universal credit.

You can claim back as much as 85% of childcare costs up to £951 for one child or £1,630 for two or more up to August 31 following the child’s 16th birthday.

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

But now you can get it covered without having to fork out first after a change to rules that was a huge win for The Sun’s Make Universal Credit Work campaign.

Parents should also take advantage of 30 hours of free childcare every three to four-year-old child gets.

Plus parents can now apply for 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds.

Free cash for school uniforms – up to £580

Parents struggling with the cost of school uniforms may be able to get help through grants of up to £580.

Eligibility varies depending on where you live.

There is no guarantee you will be able to get anything but it’s still worth reaching out to your local council to see what support they offer.

You can use the government’s tool to find your local council at www.gov.uk/find-local-council – just enter your postcode.

Are you missing out on benefits?

YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to

Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.

Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.

MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.

You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.

Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.

Free school meals – up to £500

If you have a child in England in a state school between reception and year two, they are entitled to free school meals regardless of your income.

But if you claim certain benefits your children may be able to get school meals until they are even older as well.

The exact amount you’ll get depends on where you are but ranges from around £2.15 to £2.50 per day, or around £400-£500 each school year.

You should apply directly to your children’s school or reach out to your local council.

If you’re eligible for free school meals, you may also get similar help during school holidays like Christmas and Easter, as well as half terms.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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