Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods in Scotland
Scotland
Scottish family payments can support pregnancy, early years and healthy food purchases.
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Explore support guides by theme
Browse 79 published guides by life situation. Some guides appear in more than one theme because their advice covers several needs. Always check the original provider for current rules.
Family & children (14)
View all guides in this themeChildcare, pregnancy and support for parents and children.
Child Benefit: applying and reporting changes
UK
Child Benefit may help with the cost of raising a child.
Child Maintenance: arrangements and support
UK
Child maintenance supports the cost of raising children when parents live separately.
Childcare support: compare your options
UK
Help with registered childcare costs can depend on employment, benefits, the child's age and your nation.
Free Childcare for Working Parents in England — practical guide
England
Some eligible working parents can obtain funded childcare hours for children from nine months to school age.
Free school meals: how to check locally
UK - rules vary by nation
Children may qualify for free school meals depending on their circumstances and local rules.
Housing & energy (17)
View all guides in this themeRent, Council Tax, home energy and household bills.
Cold Weather Payment: when support applies
England and Wales
Cold Weather Payments can apply during qualifying periods of very cold weather for certain benefit recipients.
Council Tax discounts and exemptions
England
Some households may qualify for Council Tax discounts or exemptions.
Council Tax Reduction: apply through your council — practical guide
England
Residents on a low income or receiving certain benefits may be able to reduce their Council Tax bill.
Council Tax Reduction: where to apply
England, Scotland and Wales
Low-income households may be able to reduce Council Tax through their local council.
Disabled Facilities Grant: help adapting your home — practical guide
England
Councils can help fund eligible adaptations needed to make a property safer or more accessible.
Disabled Facilities Grants: adapting your home
England and Wales
A Disabled Facilities Grant may help with essential adaptations to a home.
Income & living costs (19)
View all guides in this themeBenefits, budgeting, essentials and emergency help.
Breathing Space: debt respite in England and Wales
England and Wales
Breathing Space may provide temporary protection from some creditor actions for qualifying people.
Crisis and Resilience Fund: local emergency help in England — practical guide
England
Councils in England offer local support with essentials, including food, energy and some housing costs.
Debt advice: free support and repayment options
UK
Free impartial advice can help you assess debt and prioritise essential bills.
Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Discretionary Support may offer a grant or an interest-free loan for exceptional short-term needs.
Emergency assistance in Wales
Wales
The Welsh Discretionary Assistance Fund can help some people in emergencies or when setting up a home after serious hardship.
Family Fund: grants for families with disabled children
UK - programmes vary
Family Fund provides grant programmes for families raising disabled or seriously ill children.
Work & skills (6)
View all guides in this themeEmployment, training and practical steps back into work.
Access to Work: financial help with work adjustments — practical guide
England
Access to Work may fund eligible practical support to start or stay in employment or self-employment.
Access to Work: support in employment
England, Scotland and Wales
Access to Work may help eligible disabled people with practical work-related support.
Getting employment and training support when circumstances change
england
Depending on your situation, government Access to Work assistance and charity programmes such as The King’s Trust may provide different types of support.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance
Great Britain
New Style ESA may help certain people whose health condition affects their ability to work.
New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
Great Britain
New Style JSA may provide support to people seeking work with suitable National Insurance contribution records.
Teaching Staff Trust: hardship grants explained
uk
Teaching Staff Trust offers hardship support to eligible members of the education community.
Health, disability & care (14)
View all guides in this themeDisability, carers, NHS costs and independent living.
Access to Work: support in employment
England, Scotland and Wales
Access to Work may help eligible disabled people with practical work-related support.
Adult Disability Payment: support in Scotland
Scotland
Adult Disability Payment supports eligible adults with disability-related daily living or mobility needs.
Attendance Allowance: help with personal care
England and Wales
Attendance Allowance may support older people who need personal care or supervision.
Carer Support Payment in Scotland
Scotland
Carer Support Payment is the Scottish benefit for many eligible unpaid carers.
Carer’s Allowance: caring and earnings
England and Wales
Carer’s Allowance may help eligible people providing regular care.
Carer’s Credit: protecting National Insurance record — practical guide
England
Carer’s Credit can protect a carer’s State Pension record even when they are not receiving Carer’s Allowance.
Education & young people (23)
View all guides in this themeStudy costs, school support and opportunities for young people.
Access to Work: financial help with work adjustments — practical guide
England
Access to Work may fund eligible practical support to start or stay in employment or self-employment.
Access to Work: support in employment
England, Scotland and Wales
Access to Work may help eligible disabled people with practical work-related support.
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods in Scotland
Scotland
Scottish family payments can support pregnancy, early years and healthy food purchases.
Child Benefit: applying and reporting changes
UK
Child Benefit may help with the cost of raising a child.
Child Maintenance: arrangements and support
UK
Child maintenance supports the cost of raising children when parents live separately.
Childcare support: compare your options
UK
Help with registered childcare costs can depend on employment, benefits, the child's age and your nation.
Travel & mobility (13)
View all guides in this themeAccessible transport and practical help with mobility.
Access to Work: support in employment
England, Scotland and Wales
Access to Work may help eligible disabled people with practical work-related support.
Adult Disability Payment: support in Scotland
Scotland
Adult Disability Payment supports eligible adults with disability-related daily living or mobility needs.
Applying for concessionary bus travel in England
england
Older residents and qualifying disabled people can use separate concessionary bus pass application routes. Local authorities administer applications.
Attendance Allowance: help with personal care
England and Wales
Attendance Allowance may support older people who need personal care or supervision.
Carer Support Payment in Scotland
Scotland
Carer Support Payment is the Scottish benefit for many eligible unpaid carers.
Carer’s Allowance: caring and earnings
England and Wales
Carer’s Allowance may help eligible people providing regular care.
Older people & pensions (12)
View all guides in this themeLater-life support, pensions, care and bereavement.
Attendance Allowance: personal-care needs after pension age — practical guide
England
Attendance Allowance may help people of State Pension age and older who need support with personal care or supervision.
Bereavement Support Payment
England, Scotland and Wales
Bereavement Support Payment may support eligible people following the death of a spouse or civil partner.
Carer Support Payment in Scotland
Scotland
Carer Support Payment is the Scottish benefit for many eligible unpaid carers.
Carer’s Allowance: caring and earnings
England and Wales
Carer’s Allowance may help eligible people providing regular care.
Carer’s Credit: protecting National Insurance record — practical guide
England
Carer’s Credit can protect a carer’s State Pension record even when they are not receiving Carer’s Allowance.
Checking Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance
england
Pension Credit supports eligible people over State Pension age on a low income; Attendance Allowance addresses certain personal care or supervision needs.