Free money check · 2026/27

What might I be missing?

Tap what fits your household. The list of payments, discounts and grants you might be able to get builds as you go, each with the free official way to check or apply. It takes a couple of minutes, and nothing you enter leaves your device.

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Everything the check looks at

82 schemes, payments and rights for 2026/27, each checked against its official source (last checked 6 October 2026). Benefit rules depend on your full circumstances, so the official routes decide.

When a utility fails

Boil water and do-not-use notice payments
A long boil-water or do-not-use notice earns a payment in England and Scotland. · England, Scotland
Electricity network service standards
The network pays £40 if it misses a fuse repair, voltage, appointment or payment standard. · England, Wales, Scotland
Energy supplier service standards (including smart meters)
Your energy supplier pays £40 when it misses a service standard, including new smart-meter standards. · England, Wales, Scotland
Four or more power cuts in a year
Four separate cuts of 3 hours or more in one year earn a £100 payment, but only if you claim. · England, Wales, Scotland
Gas network standards (supply cuts and repairs)
If your gas is cut off by a network fault for over 24 hours, you are paid automatically. · England, Wales, Scotland
Low water pressure payments
Repeated low water pressure earns a payment from your water company. · England, Wales
Northern Ireland power cut payments (NIE Networks)
NIE Networks pays £50 if your power is not back within 24 hours, if you claim within a month. · Northern Ireland
Planned power cut without proper notice
A planned cut with under 2 days' notice, or on a different day, pays £40. · England, Wales, Scotland
Power cut compensation (normal fault)
If your power is off for 12 hours or more, the network operator owes you a fixed payment. · England, Wales, Scotland
Sewer flooding payments
Flooding from the public sewer into or around your home earns a refund linked to your sewerage bill. · England, Wales, Scotland
Storm power cut compensation (Category 1 and 2)
Long power cuts in a severe storm pay £90 and then more for each extra 6 hours. · England, Wales, Scotland
Water company service standards
Water companies in England pay set amounts for missed appointments, slow complaints, meter and debt-process failures. · England, Wales
Water supply cut payments
If your water is off longer than the rules allow, your water company owes you a payment. · England, Wales, Scotland

Children and families

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods (Scotland)
Payments in Scotland for pregnancy, babies, nursery and school starts, plus a card for healthy food. · Scotland
Child Benefit
A weekly payment for each child; registering also protects the parent's State Pension while a child is under 12. · UK-wide
Free school meals (England)
Every household on Universal Credit in England now qualifies for free school meals, but you must apply. · England
Free school meals (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
Free school meals are universal for younger pupils in Scotland and Wales and means-tested for others. · Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Healthy Start
A card for milk, fruit and vegetables in pregnancy and for children under 4, on a low income. · England, Wales, Northern Ireland
School clothing grant (Scotland)
At least £120 (primary) or £150 (secondary) a child towards school clothes on a low income. · Scotland
School Essentials Grant (Wales)
£125 a child (£200 starting Year 7) towards uniform and school kit on a low income. · Wales
School uniform grant (Northern Ireland)
The Education Authority pays towards school uniform and PE kit on criteria similar to free school meals. · Northern Ireland
Scottish Child Payment
£28.20 a week for each child under 16 in Scotland if you get Universal Credit or certain other benefits. · Scotland
Sure Start Maternity Grant
A £500 one-off payment for your first baby if you get certain benefits. · England, Wales, Northern Ireland
Tax-Free Childcare
The government adds £2 for every £8 working parents pay for childcare, up to £2,000 a year per child. · UK-wide

Council tax

Council tax band challenge
New to your home? You have 6 months to challenge your council tax band, but it can go up as well as down. · England, Wales
Council tax Disabled Band Reduction (NI: Disabled Persons Allowance)
A home adapted for a disabled person can be charged at a lower council tax band. · UK-wide
Council Tax Reduction
Your council can cut your council tax bill, up to the whole bill, if you are on a low income or benefits. · England, Wales, Scotland
Council tax single person and disregard discounts
If you are the only adult who counts for council tax, you can get 25% off. · England, Wales, Scotland
Lone Pensioner Allowance (Northern Ireland rates)
20% off your rates in Northern Ireland if you are 70 or over and live alone; not means-tested. · Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland rates help on a low income
Housing Benefit and Rate Relief (pension age) and Rate Rebate (Universal Credit) pay all or part of your rates in Northern Ireland. · Northern Ireland

Home upgrades and insulation

Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
Up to £7,500 for energy-efficiency improvements in Northern Ireland on a household income under £23,000. · Northern Ireland
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
£7,500 off a heat pump when you replace fossil-fuel heating in England or Wales. · England, Wales
ECO4 energy-efficiency help (ends 31 Dec 2026)
Free or cheaper insulation and heating upgrades through energy suppliers, for installs by 31 December 2026. · England, Wales, Scotland
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
Grants and interest-free loans in Scotland for heat pumps and insulation. · Scotland
Nest home energy improvements (Wales)
Free home energy-efficiency improvements in Wales for low-income households in poorly rated homes. · Wales
Warm Homes: Local Grant (England)
Free insulation, heat pumps or solar arranged by your council for lower-income homes with a poor EPC. · England

Household bills

Broadband and mobile social tariffs
Cheaper broadband and mobile deals for people on certain benefits; switching to your own provider's social tariff is free. · UK-wide
Free TV licence at 75 (with Pension Credit)
A free TV licence if you are 75 or over and you or your partner get Pension Credit. · UK-wide
Half-price TV licence if you are blind
A TV licence costs half price if you are registered blind (severely sight impaired), or live with someone who is. · UK-wide
Household Electricity Discount (Northern Ireland)
£63 off every Northern Ireland home's electricity bill this year, applied automatically. · Northern Ireland
Water Charges Reduction (Scotland)
In Scotland, Council Tax Reduction also cuts your water and waste water charges by up to 35%, automatically, so apply for Council Tax Reduction. · Scotland
Water social tariff and WaterSure
Your water company may cut your bill if you are on a low income or benefits. · England, Wales

Crisis help

Crisis and Resilience Fund (England)
Your council can help with an essential cost in a crisis, or a rent shortfall, through its Crisis and Resilience Fund. · England
Discretionary Assistance Fund (Wales)
Emergency payments in Wales for food, energy, heating oil and essential household items. · Wales
Discretionary Housing Payment (Scotland and Wales)
If your benefit does not cover your rent, your council may pay the shortfall. · Scotland, Wales
Discretionary Support (Northern Ireland)
Grants or interest-free loans in Northern Ireland for a crisis or exceptional situation. · Northern Ireland
Scottish Welfare Fund
Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants from your council in an emergency. · Scotland

Winter payments

Child Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)
£265.50 a year, paid automatically in Scotland for disabled children and young people. · Scotland
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)
Between £105.55 and £316.70 towards winter heating for people of State Pension age in Scotland. · Scotland
Warm Home Discount
£150 off your electricity bill in winter if you get certain benefits. · England, Wales, Scotland
Winter Fuel Payment
£200 or £300 towards winter heating if you were born on or before 27 June 1960. · England, Wales, Northern Ireland
Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)
£62 paid automatically in Scotland to people on certain benefits; it replaced the Cold Weather Payment. · Scotland

Disability

Attendance Allowance (Scotland: Pension Age Disability Payment)
A weekly payment, not means-tested, for people over State Pension age who need help because of a health condition. · UK-wide
Blue Badge
Disabled parking concessions from your council. · UK-wide
Disabled Facilities Grant
A council grant towards adapting a home for a disabled person, such as a stairlift or level-access shower. · England, Wales, Northern Ireland
Personal Independence Payment (Scotland: Adult Disability Payment)
A weekly payment, not means-tested, for working-age people whose condition makes daily life or getting around hard. · UK-wide

Tax and pensions

Blind Person's Allowance
Extra tax-free allowance if you are registered blind or severely sight impaired. · UK-wide
Filling State Pension gaps (voluntary National Insurance)
Gaps in your National Insurance record can sometimes be filled; each April the oldest year closes. · UK-wide
Marriage Allowance
A couple where one earns under £12,570 can cut the other's tax by up to £252 a year, and backdate it. · UK-wide
Tax relief for work expenses
Employees who pay for uniform, tools or work mileage can claim tax back for up to 4 earlier years. · UK-wide

After a flood

Flood council tax discount (England)
After a major flood, flooded homes can get council tax cut to nothing for at least 3 months. · England
Flood recovery grant (England)
After a major flood, councils can pay about £500 to households whose homes flooded inside. · England
Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant (England)
When Defra opens it after a named flood, flooded homes can get up to £5,000 for flood-proofing. · England

Benefits

Housing Benefit (State Pension age)
Help with rent for renters over State Pension age on a low income. · England, Wales, Scotland
Pension Credit
Tops up a low pension income and unlocks other help, including Cold Weather Payments and the Warm Home Discount. · UK-wide
Universal Credit
The main benefit for working-age households on a low income, in or out of work. · UK-wide

Bereavement

Bereavement Support Payment
A lump sum and monthly payments if your husband, wife or civil partner has died. · UK-wide
Funeral Expenses Payment
Help with funeral costs if you are arranging a funeral and get certain benefits. · England, Wales, Northern Ireland

Heating help

Heating oil and LPG support (Scotland)
£300 paid to your heating oil or LPG supplier in Scotland if you get a means-tested benefit, or are in hardship with an extra vulnerability. · Scotland
Home Heating Oil Support card (Northern Ireland)
A £100 card towards heating oil for oil-heated homes on certain benefits or under £30,000 net income. · Northern Ireland

Help that isn't cash

Free battery back-up for your landline
If you rely on your landline for 999 calls, your provider must give you a free back-up for power cuts. · UK-wide
Priority Services Register
A free register with your energy supplier, network and water company that gives extra help in a cut. · England, Wales, Scotland

Benefit-linked payments

Cold Weather Payment
£25 for each very cold week at your weather station, paid automatically to people on certain benefits. · England, Wales, Northern Ireland

Billing protection

Energy back-billing protection (12-month rule)
You do not have to pay for energy used more than 12 months ago if your supplier failed to bill you properly. · England, Wales, Scotland

Caring

Carer's Allowance and Carer's Credit (Scotland: Carer Support Payment)
A weekly payment if you care for someone 35 hours a week; National Insurance credits from 20 hours. · UK-wide

Energy debt

British Gas Energy Trust grant
A charity grant of up to £1,700 to clear energy debt, open to customers of any supplier. · England, Wales, Scotland

Faulty or recalled goods

Product recall remedy
If something you own is recalled, the seller or maker must put it right, usually a refund, repair or replacement. · UK-wide

Health costs

NHS help with health costs and prescription prepayment
Help with prescriptions, dental and other NHS costs on a low income, and a cheaper way to pay for many prescriptions. · UK-wide

Savings bonus

Help to Save
Working households on Universal Credit get a 50% government bonus on what they save. · UK-wide

Travel delays

Train delay compensation (Delay Repay)
Late trains pay back part or all of the fare if you claim within 28 days. · England, Wales, Scotland

Unclaimed money

Unclaimed Child Trust Fund
Anyone born between September 2002 and January 2011 may have a Child Trust Fund waiting. · UK-wide

When broadband or a landline fails

Broadband and landline compensation (Ofcom scheme)
If a reported broadband or landline fault isn't fixed in 2 working days, your provider owes you money each day. · UK-wide

Questions

Is the money check free?

Yes. It costs nothing, needs no account and doesn't ask for your name or contact details. The official routes it links to are free too.

What happens to my answers?

Nothing leaves your device. The check runs in your browser, so your answers are never sent to us or stored, and they're gone when you close the page.

Does it work in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Yes. Pick where you live first: many schemes differ by nation, and the check shows each nation's own version and official route.

Can you make a claim for me?

No. We show what you might be able to get and link to the official, free way to apply or check. We don't make claims for anyone, take a cut or pass your details to claims firms.

How accurate is it?

It's a guide. It sorts schemes into likely and worth checking from a few answers, but the official calculators and routes decide. Figures are for the current year and checked against official sources.