What benefits can I claim as a single parent?

If you are responsible for a child and you do not have a partner in the household, Universal Credit and Child Benefit are the usual starting points. Universal Credit can include a child element and help with childcare costs if you work. Child Benefit is separate and is often still worth claiming for National Insurance credits.

Council Tax Reduction is a local claim. In Scotland, Scottish Child Payment is extra if you get a qualifying benefit. Healthy Start or Best Start Foods can help with food in pregnancy and for young children.

Benefits this usually points to

Universal Credit
A monthly payment to help with living costs if you are on a low income, out of work, or cannot work. It can include amounts for housing, children, disability, and caring.
Child Benefit
A regular payment to help with the cost of bringing up a child. It is usually paid if you are responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
Council Tax Reduction
Help from your local council if you are on a low income and need to pay council tax. Each council runs its own scheme, so the rules and amounts vary.
Scottish Child Payment
A weekly payment from Social Security Scotland for families looking after a child under 16, if they already get certain qualifying benefits.
Healthy Start
Help to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and vitamins if you are pregnant or have a child under 4 and you get certain benefits. Scotland has Best Start Foods instead.
Free school meals
A school-age meal at no cost if you get certain benefits, with extra automatic provision for some infant year groups. Each UK nation sets its own rules and how you apply.
Tax-Free Childcare
An HMRC scheme where you pay into an online account for registered childcare and the government adds a contribution, up to a yearly cap. It is not a DWP benefit and usually cannot be combined with Universal Credit childcare costs for the same costs.
Funded childcare hours
Government-funded hours with an approved childcare provider. In England this includes age-based offers sometimes described as 15 or 30 hours. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own funded-hours schemes.

Check what may apply in your circumstances

It usually takes about 5 minutes. You do not need to create an account. This is guidance, not a government decision.

Child Tax Credit has ended

New Child Tax Credit claims are closed. Help with children on a low income sits in Universal Credit. If you still have a tax credit award, follow HMRC’s letters about moving.

Other circumstances

This is independent guidance. Only the relevant government department can confirm eligibility. How we source and verify.

Start the free eligibility check