Universal Credit, PIP, the DWP and pensions: what you can claim and how

• DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) — Universal Credit, PIP, ESA, JSA, State Pension, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, DLA for children.
• HMRC — Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare, Guardian's Allowance, Statutory Sick/Maternity Pay (paid through your employer).
• Your local council — Housing Benefit (for some legacy claimants and supported housing), Council Tax Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments, the Household Support Fund.
• NHS Business Services Authority — free prescriptions, dental, eye tests and the NHS Low Income Scheme (HC2/HC3).

If you're not sure what you can claim, run a free benefits calculator at Turn2us or entitledto. Both are free, anonymous and used by Citizens Advice.^[17]Turn2us

Universal Credit replaces six older benefits — Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. You can claim if you're on a low income or out of work, are 18 or over (some exceptions from 16), under State Pension age and have less than £16,000 in savings.^{[1]GOV.UK UC}

How much: a standard allowance (single under 25, single 25+, joint under 25, joint 25+) plus extra amounts for children, disability (LCWRA), housing costs and childcare (up to 85% of costs). Current rates are on GOV.UK and uprated every April.

How it's paid: monthly in arrears in England, Scotland and Wales (twice-monthly in Scotland if you choose; fortnightly in Northern Ireland). Your first payment takes about 5 weeks — you can ask for an advance which you repay from future UC.

Apply: online at gov.uk/apply-universal-credit, or phone the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644 (textphone 0800 328 1344; Relay UK 18001 then 0800 328 5644).

Managed migration: if you still get Tax Credits, Housing Benefit or income-based ESA, DWP is moving everyone to UC by March 2026. You must claim within 3 months of your Migration Notice or your old benefits stop.

PIP helps with the extra costs of a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. It's not means-tested and not taxed; you can get it whether you work or not. You must usually have had difficulties for 3 months and expect them to last at least 9 more.^{[2]GOV.UK PIP}

PIP has two parts, each paid at a standard or enhanced rate:

• Daily living — preparing food, washing, dressing, managing medicines, communicating, managing money, mixing with people.
• Mobility — planning a journey or moving around.

You score points against 12 descriptors. The enhanced mobility rate also unlocks a Motability car or scooter and a Blue Badge in most councils.

Apply: start by calling DWP on 0800 917 2222. You'll be sent the "How your disability affects you" form (PIP2). Get help from Citizens Advice, Scope or a local welfare-rights service before sending it back — the form drives the decision.^{[20]Scope helpline}

Scotland & Northern Ireland: PIP is being replaced by Adult Disability Payment in Scotland (Social Security Scotland, 0800 182 2222). Northern Ireland has its own PIP through the Department for Communities.

The new State Pension is paid when you reach State Pension age — currently 66, rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028 and to 68 by the late 2030s. You usually need 10 qualifying years of National Insurance to get anything and 35 years for the full new State Pension.^{[3]GOV.UK State Pension}

Check your forecast and NI record online at gov.uk/check-state-pension. You can sometimes fill gaps by paying voluntary Class 3 NI contributions — get advice first; it isn't always worth it.^{[14]GOV.UK forecast}

You have to claim the State Pension — it isn't paid automatically. DWP writes to you about 4 months before you reach State Pension age. Call the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898.

Pension Credit tops up weekly income for people over State Pension age. Guarantee Credit tops you up to a minimum income (about £218.15/week single, £332.95 couple in 2024/25). Savings Credit rewards modest retirement savings for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.^{[4]GOV.UK Pension Credit}

Even £1/week of Pension Credit is a passport to free NHS dental, free TV licence at 75+, Cold Weather Payments, Warm Home Discount and Housing Benefit. Around 800,000 eligible pensioner households don't claim it. Call 0800 99 1234.

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) — for people with limited capability for work who aren't eligible for UC (mostly "new style" contributory ESA based on NI record). Helpline 0800 055 6688.^{[5]GOV.UK ESA}
• Attendance Allowance — over State Pension age and need help because of illness or disability. Not means-tested. £72.65 or £108.55/week (2024/25). Call 0800 731 0122.^{[6]GOV.UK AA}
• DLA for children — under-16s with extra care or mobility needs. 0800 121 4600.^{[11]GOV.UK DLA}
• Carer's Allowance — £81.90/week (2024/25) if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week who gets a qualifying disability benefit, and you earn under £151/week after tax. 0800 731 0297.^{[7]GOV.UK Carer's}
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit — for illness or disability caused by work.

• Housing costs in UC — most working-age renters get help with rent through UC, not Housing Benefit. Private rent is capped by the Local Housing Allowance for your area and household size.
• Housing Benefit — still exists for pension-age claimants and people in supported, sheltered or temporary accommodation.^{[8]GOV.UK HB}
• Council Tax Reduction — each council runs its own scheme. Apply through your council, not GOV.UK directly.^{[9]GOV.UK CTR}
• Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) — short-term top-up from your council if Housing Benefit/UC housing element doesn't cover your rent.
• Household Support Fund — council-run hardship grants for food, energy and essentials.

• Child Benefit — £25.60/week eldest child, £16.95 each other child (2024/25). Claim even if your income is over £60,000 (you may pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge) to protect your NI record. HMRC 0300 200 3100.^{[10]GOV.UK Child Benefit}
• Sure Start Maternity Grant — one-off £500 for your first child if on a qualifying benefit.
• Healthy Start — prepaid card for milk, fruit, veg and vitamins if you're pregnant or have a child under 4 and on UC/qualifying benefits.
• Tax-Free Childcare — government tops up £2 for every £8 you pay, up to £2,000/year per child (HMRC, separate from UC childcare element).
• Free school meals — apply through your council; criteria vary across the four UK nations.

• Winter Fuel Payment — £200–£300 for pensioner households on Pension Credit (eligibility tightened from winter 2024/25).^{[15]GOV.UK Winter Fuel}
• Cold Weather Payment — £25 a week when local temperatures drop below 0°C for 7 days in a row, for people on certain benefits.
• Warm Home Discount — £150 off your electricity bill, paid through your energy supplier.
• Priority Services Register — free extra help from your energy and water company if you're disabled, pensioner age or have a serious health condition.

If you disagree with a DWP decision (refused PIP, wrong UC amount, sanction, ESA group), you must first ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision letter. Ask in writing or by phone; explain which points you disagree with and send any new evidence.^{[12]GOV.UK MR}

If the reconsideration still goes against you, you can appeal to the independent Social Security and Child Support Tribunal (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) — form SSCS1, free, no lawyer needed. Around two-thirds of PIP and UC appeals heard at tribunal are decided in the claimant's favour.^{[13]GOV.UK appeals}

Get free help from:

• Citizens Advice — Adviceline England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020, Scotland 0800 028 1456.^{[16]Citizens Advice}
• Help to Claim (UC only) — also via Citizens Advice, free.
• Scope — disability helpline 0808 800 3333.
• Age UK Advice Line 0800 678 1602 (8am–7pm, every day).^{[19]Age UK}
• Your local Law Centre or council welfare-rights team.

Most employees are auto-enrolled into a workplace pension from age 22 if they earn over £10,000. Minimum contributions are 8% of qualifying earnings (3% employer, 5% you including tax relief). You can opt out but you lose the employer's money.^{[18]MoneyHelper}

From age 55 (57 from 2028) you can normally access defined-contribution pensions: take 25% tax-free, buy an annuity, draw down flexibly, or cash in. Free, impartial guidance:

• Pension Wise (50+, DC pensions) — book at moneyhelper.org.uk or call 0800 138 3944.
• MoneyHelper (all ages) — 0800 011 3797.
• Pension Tracing Service (lost pensions) — 0800 731 0193.
• The Pensions Ombudsman — complaints, 0800 917 4487.

• Report changes within 1 month — address, job, income, savings, household, hospital stays. Late reporting can mean an overpayment you have to repay, or a civil penalty.
• Sanctions — UC can be cut if you miss a Jobcentre appointment without "good reason". Always tell your work coach in advance through your journal.
• Benefit cap — total household benefits are capped (£22,020 outside London / £25,323 in London for couples and lone parents in 2024/25). Not everyone is affected — disability and carer benefits exempt you.
• Scams — DWP and HMRC never ask for bank details by text. Forward suspicious messages to 7726.