UK benefits and financial support for single parents in 2024

Making ends meet can be difficult these days, especially for single parents. Find out what financial support you could get as a single mum or dad.

If you're managing your family's budget as a single parent, you may be able to get help paying for your rent and other housing costs, childcare, food and some medical care.

Benefits rates are updated every year. All figures in this article are correct until March 2024. In April 2024 many will increase by 6.7%, in line with inflation.

Universal Credit is the most common type of benefit available in the UK. Other financial support for single parents includes the NHS Low Income Scheme, Council Tax reduction and Child Benefit payments.

Below we detail what benefits you may be entitled to as a single parent.

If you have any questions about exactly what your benefits are, how they could be affected over time and whether you're entitled to more than you're getting, see the resources at the end of the article.

Help for Households

In response to the ongoing Cost of Living crisis, the UK government announced its Help for Households campaign, detailing the measures available that can help you pay your bills. These include:

• Three £300 Cost of Living Payments for people on means-tested benefits – the last payment will be in February 2024
• Household Support Fund payments for families struggling to pay for food, utilities and essentials – this will end in March 2024
• Energy Price Guarantee, limiting the average household energy bill to £1,834 until the end of 2023, and to £1,928 from January to March 2024.

What you need to know about Universal Credit and benefits as a single parent

If you're out of work or on a low income, you'll probably get your benefits through Universal Credit. This is a single monthly payment that replaces several legacy benefits, including Housing Benefits, Tax Credits and income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance.

You can make a claim for Universal Credit on the government's website. 

It could end up making a huge difference to your family's monthly budget.

Faye Goldman from Gingerbread, a charity working with single-parent families, says: ‘We know that single-parent families’ finances can often be tight, so it’s important you claim what you’re entitled to. 

‘It can be difficult to work out what benefits you are entitled to and exactly how much you'll receive – depending on your income, this may even change from month to month if you’re in work. 

‘It’s going to take some time but do your research to find out how the system works and what is expected of you as a single parent – for example, the number of hours you work.

'Stick with it and get some advice by visiting Gingerbread’s website or calling our helpline.’

To help make things clearer, we’ve separated the advice in this article into two sections: 

• Benefits for single parents if you’ve not claimed before (or have a change in circumstances)
• Benefits for single parents if you were claiming before the change to Universal Credit

What benefits can I claim as a single parent?

Depending on your circumstances, as a single parent, the welfare payments you may be eligible for include:

1. Universal Credit
2. Child Benefit
3. Healthy Start vouchers
4. NHS Low Income Scheme
5. Free school meals
6. Council Tax Reduction
7. Bereavement Support Payment
8. 15-30 hours of free childcare#-
9. Tax-Free Childcare
10. Budgeting Advance
11. Universal Credit Advance
12. Cold weather payment

The first step is to enter your details into a benefits calculator – you can find one on the Gingerbread website, or use the calculator on the UK government's website – to see what you might be entitled to.

The benefits you may be able to claim as a single parent include:

1. Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) is now the catch-all hub for benefits and replaced six different income-based benefits, including Income Support.

New applicants apply for UC rather than individual benefits like Housing Benefits, Tax Credits or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The eligibility criteria include:

• you’re on a low income, currently out of work or unable to work
• you’re aged 18 or over (or, in some cases, aged 16-17* – see box below), but under state pension age
• you have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments
• you live in the UK

How much Universal Credit will I get as a single parent?

Universal Credit provides a basic standard allowance:

• If you’re single and aged under 25 – £292.11 a month
• If you’re single and aged 25 or over – £368.74 a month

You may then receive extra amounts, depending on your circumstances: for example, you can claim money depending on the number of children you have, as follows:

• Extra monthly payment for your first child – £315.00 (born before 6 April 2017) or £269.58 (born on or after 6 April 2017).
• Extra monthly payment for your second child (and other eligible children) – £269.58
• Extra monthly payment if your child is disabled – £146.31
• Extra monthly payment if your child is severely disabled – £456.89

Will Universal Credit help with my childcare costs?

If you're working and need help with childcare costs, you may be able to claim up to 85% of your costs (up to £950.92 for 1 child and £1,630.15 for 2 or more children). You'll need to pay for the childcare yourself, then claim the money back on UC.

How many children can I claim on Universal Credit?

Note that there's a 2-child limit on Universal Credit. So if you have a third child born after 6 April 2017, you won't receive any extra for them, unless certain exceptions apply. You can see the exceptions here.

This doesn't apply to the extra disability payments, which can be paid for each child, no matter how many disabled children you have.

How does work affect my Universal Credit?

On UC you have a Monthly Work Allowance – an amount you can earn before your Universal Credit payments start to reduce.

You can earn up to £379 a month if you get support with housing costs, or £631 a month if you don't get help with housing costs. If you earn more than that, your payments will start to decrease.

The amount you'll get paid each month reduces as you earn more money working. For every £1 you earn over your allowance, you'll lose 55p from your payment.

Extra amounts you can get on Universal Credit

There are extra amounts you might be eligible for if you are a carer or have a limited capability for work. See those amounts on the government website.

How to apply for Universal Credit

You can apply for Universal Credit online, although you might also have to attend an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus. If you're unemployed and able to work, you may be asked to look for work to keep receiving UC.

For more information, and for help with your application, head over to Citizens Advice.

2. Child Benefit

Every parent with responsibility for a child under 16 (or under 20 and in full-time approved education or training) can claim Child Benefit.

The current Child Benefit rates are:

• For your eldest child, or if you only have one child: £24.00 per week
• For additional children: £15.90 per child, per week

This is usually paid every 4 weeks, though as a single parent, you can ask for it to be paid weekly if you prefer.

You may be taxed on the benefit if you earn more than £50,000.

Only one parent can get Child Benefit for a child, so if you're sharing custody, you'll need to discuss this with your child's other parent.

Learn more about Child Benefit on the government website.

3. Healthy Start vouchers

The Healthy Start scheme is to help pregnant women and those with children under the age of 4 to buy basic foods, promoting healthy eating.

To qualify, you'll need to be claiming certain benefits, and be on a low income (unless you're pregnant and under 18).

You'll be sent a card that can be used for milk, fruit, veg and infant formula, with your allowance added to the card every 4 weeks. These are worth:

• £4.25 every week of your pregnancy from the 10th week
• £8.50 a week for children under 1 year old
• £4.25 a week for children aged between 1 and 4 years old

You can also claim free vitamin supplements.

The Healthy Start scheme does not run in Scotland. If you live in Scotland, use the similar Best Start Foods scheme instead.

Learn more about the Healthy Start scheme on the government website.

4. NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)

If you're on a low income, you may be eligible for help with healthcare costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). This includes prescriptions, dental and eye care.

Depending on your circumstances, you might be entitled to an HC2 certificate (full help) or an HC3 certificate (partial help).

If you're claiming certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Income Support and JSA, you don't need to apply for a certificate. You'll automatically qualify for full help with health costs if your earnings during your last complete assessment period were £935 or less.

You can also apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme if you’re already receiving legacy benefits.

Don't forget that you're also entitled to free dental care and prescriptions if you have a baby under the age of one – just show your Maternity Exemption Certificate.

Learn about the NHS Low Income Scheme on the NHS website.

5. Free school meals

All children can automatically get free school meals if they're in reception, year 1 or year 2 of a state school.

Older children might also be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit, if your household income is less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Check if you're eligible for free school meals on the government website.

6. Council Tax Reduction

As a single parent, you may be able to get a discount on your Council Tax.

Local councils decide their own qualifying criteria, so you'll need to ask your local housing authority for more information.

Find contact details for your local council on the government website.

7. Bereavement Support Payment

You can apply for the Bereavement Support Payment if your partner passed away in the last 21 months. This applies if you were married, in a civil partnership, or living together as if you were married.

How much you get will depend on your relationship to the person who died, when you make your claim, and when you reach state pension age.

The most you could get is:

• a one-off payment of £3,500
• 18 monthly payments of £350.

You can apply up to 21 months after your partner's death, but you should aim to apply within the first three months to get the full amount available.

Apply by phone by calling the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012, or apply online here.

8. Free childcare

The free childcare system is changing as of the Spring Budget in March 2023.

From April 2024, the government will start to roll out free childcare in stages. By September 2025 all children from 9 months to four years old, in households where both parents are working, will be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week.

The stages are:

• From April 2024: eligible two year olds will get 15 hours of free childcare per week
• From September 2024: qualifying children aged between nine months and four years get 15 hours
• From September 2025: eligible children aged between nine months and four years get 30 hours

Learn more about the chances to childcare on the government website.

Until the changes come in, here's how free childcare currently works:

Free childcare for 2 year olds

You can get free childcare for your two year old if you are receiving certain benefits, and on a low income.

Learn more about free childcare for 2-year-olds on the government website.

15 hours of free childcare for 3 to 4 year olds

All parents are entitled to 15 hours a week of free childcare for children aged three to four. You can get a total of 570 hours per year, which you can use flexibly with one or more childcare providers.

Learn more about 15 hours free childcare for 3-4 year olds on the government website.

30 hours of free childcare for 3 to 4 year-olds

You may be entitled to 30 hours a week of free childcare for your three to four year old if you work (even if you're on leave) . You'll usually need to expect to earn at least the 16 hours a week worth of the National Living Wage over the next three months (for example, £2,167 if you are 23 years old or over).

Exceptions apply if you're self-employed or on maternity or paternity leave.

You can apply on the government website as soon as your child is two years and 36 weeks old.

Use this tool on the government's website to find out what free early education and childcare options are available in your area.

9. Tax-Free Childcare Scheme

If you're working (earning an average of at least 16 hours a week's worth of minimum wage), you may be eligible for up to £2,000 a year to help with childcare costs for children 11 or under.

You won't be eligible for tax-free childcare if you're already claiming childcare help through Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or childcare vouchers.

You'll need to create an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into the account, the government will pay in £2.

Learn more about tax-free childcare on the government website.

10. Budgeting Advance

If you have emergency household costs such as replacing a broken cooker, you need money to stay in or try to find work, or to pay for funeral expenses, you may be able to request a Budgeting Advance via Universal Credit of up to £812. If you have savings over £1,000, you'll lose £1 for every £1 you have in savings.

You'll need to pay it back, usually as deductions from your future UC payments.

You can apply via your Universal Credit page if all of the following apply:

• you’ve been getting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for 6 months or more (unless you need the money to help you start a new job or stay in work)
• you’ve earned less than £2,600 in the past 6 months
• you’ve paid off any previous Budgeting Advance loans

You'll have to repay the Budgeting Advance within 12 months.

Learn more about Budgeting Advances on the government website.

11. Universal Credit Advance

When you apply for Universal Credit (UC), it can take up to five weeks for the first payment to come through. If you're struggling to pay for essentials or your rent, you might be able to apply for an advance on your first payment, up to the full estimated amount that you would be paid that month.

In some circumstances, you may also be able to get an advance on your next payment if you're already receiving UC.

You'll be able to get a UC advance if:

• you're waiting for your first payment
• you're already getting UC and have a change in your circumstances that means you will be paid more, but have not yet been paid the increased amount

You'll have to pay back the advance through later payments. Deductions will be taken from your monthly Universal Credit payments, and the first deduction will come out of your next payment.

Learn more about UC Advances on the government website.

12. Cold Weather Payment

If you're getting certain benefits and have a child under five, or a disabled child, at home, you may be eligible for extra money in cold weather.

If the weather drops to 0°C ore below for 7 days in a row between 1 November 2023 and 31 March 2024, you'll be entitled to £25.00 for each 7-day period.

You should automatically receive this if you have a child under five or a disabled child, and are receiving any of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

If you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment, but you haven't, contact your local Jobcentre Plus, sign into your Universal Credit account, or call the Universal Credit helpline.

Learn more about Cold Weather Payments on the government website.

Single parent benefits for 2024 if you are on legacy benefits

For those of you who are already receiving benefits, we’ve got more information on:

1. Income Support
2. Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
3. Child Tax Credit
4. Working Tax Credit
5. Housing Benefit

You may also be eligible for the benefits covered above, including Child Benefit, Healthy Start vouchers, NHS Low Income Scheme, Free school meals, Free childcare, Council Tax Reduction, Budgeting advance, Cold Weather Payments and Widowed Parent's Allowance.

1. Income support

Income support has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people. If you already receive Income Support, you will continue to do so if you fulfil all five of the following criteria:

• you're between the ages of 16 and pension qualifying age
• you have a low income or no income, and no more than £16,000 in savings
• you work less than 16 hours a week
• you live in England, Scotland or Wales
• you're pregnant, or a carer, or a parent aged between 16 and 20 and in full-time education, or a lone parent to a child under five (or in some cases, unable to work due to illness or disability), or on maternity, paternity or parental leave

Income Support - how much will I get?

If you're eligible for Income Support, you will receive a personal allowance:

• If you're a single parent aged 16-17 – £67.20 per week
• If you're a single parent aged 18 or over – £84.80 per week

Learn more about Income Support on the government website.

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2. Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

Once your child is five, you'll transfer from Income Support to JSA, assuming that you aren't already claiming Universal Credit. To be eligible to claim you need to be:

• Unemployed, or currently working less than 16 hours a week on average, and actively looking for work
• Aged 18 or over.

There are three types of JSA:

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
According to gov.uk, to be eligible you’ll need to have worked as an employee and paid enough Class 1 National Insurance contributions within the last two to three years.

Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
You cannot apply for this benefit anymore. If you are already receiving contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you will keep receiving your payments until your eligibility ends.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Again, you cannot apply for this benefit anymore. If you are already receiving income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you will keep receiving your payments until your eligibility ends.

Other conditions apply, so check the gov.uk website for more details on the New Style Jobseeker's Allowance.

Jobseeker's Allowance - how much will I get?

The amount you'll receive depends on your age.

• If you're under 25 – up to £67.20 per week
• If you're 25 or over – up to £84.80 per week

You apply for JSA through your local Jobcentre Plus, and will be given a work coach who can help you with things like filling in application forms and interview techniques.

Learn more about JSA on the government website.

3. Child Tax Credit

For most people, Child Tax Credit has now been replaced with Universal Credit. The only way you can start claiming it is if you're already getting Working Tax Credit.

In other words, unless you've already made a Tax Credit claim for one of the options, you can't make a new one.

If you're already claiming Child Tax Credit, how much you receive depends on how many children you have and when you started claiming the benefit.

If your claim started before 6 April 2017, you'll get:

• the basic amount of Child Tax Credit (known as the ‘family element’)
• the ‘child element’ for children born before 6 April 2017.

If your claim started on or after 6 April 2017, you'll only get the 'child element' for up to two children. The amounts you could receive are as follows ...

• Basic amount (family element) – up to £545 per year
• For each child (child element) – up to £3,235 per year

You could receive more if your child is disabled.

Learn more about Child Tax Credit on the government website.

4. Working Tax Credit

For most people, Working Tax Credit has now been replaced with Universal Credit. The only way you can claim it is if you're already claiming Child Tax Credit.

In other words, as above, unless you've already made a Tax Credit claim for one of the options, you can't make a new one.

If you're a single parent, you might be able to claim Working Tax Credit if you work at least 16 hours a week. How much you're allowed to earn depends on your circumstances. For instance, it'll be more if you pay for childcare.

The government benefits calculator will help you work out if you can claim, and what you'll receive. The basic amount for single parents is up to £2,340 per year.

Learn more about Working Tax Credit on the government website.

5. Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit can pay for some or all of your rent if you're on a low income or on certain benefits and have less than £16,000 in savings.

For most people, this benefit has been replaced by Universal Credit. You can only make a new claim if you are over the State Pension age or living in supported, sheltered or temporary housing.

How much you can get depends on a variety of factors, such as your rent, income and circumstances. Contact your local council for more information.

Learn more about Housing Benefit on the government website.

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Need more help planning your family's finances? Read our money guides below, or get advice from other parents in the Forum.

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