16 freebies and discounts you can get on Universal Credit and benefits in January worth up to £12,218

JANUARY is tough for many, especially if you’re on a low income or getting benefits like Universal Credit.

There’s extra help for anyone struggling, from rent support to free supermarket vouchers.

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What you can get depends on your circumstances, but it’s always worth checking in case you’re eligible.

For instance, in some areas you can get a discount on your council tax bill, or get it reduced to nothing at all in other cases.

While customers of certain energy suppliers are being handed extra cash to cover bills.

Here, we explain what else you can get when claiming benefits or Universal Credit and how to claim.

Warm Home Discount – £150

British Gas, Scottish Power and Octopus are among the major energy suppliers handing out £150 bill discounts to customers.

It’s part of the Warm Home Discount scheme and is designed to help those on certain benefits with high energy costs over winter.

Benefits that qualify include pension credit and Universal Credit.

If you qualify, you’ll usually get the payment as a one-off deduction on your bill between October and April.

See the full list of suppliers offering the cash, and the benefits which qualify in our guide.

Free or cheap broadband – £200

Many people on benefits can get their broadband for free or cheap, but don’t realise.

Little-known social tariffs are offered by several suppliers.

Benefits eligible for these cheaper tariffs usually include Universal Credit, pension credit and income support.

But the exact qualifying criteria can vary, so check first.

You can use The Sun’s handy tool, created with Nous, to find out whether you qualify for cheaper broadband in just two minutes, at nous.co/thesun.

It’s always worth checking to see if you can get a better deal on the open market.

Price comparison sites like MoneySupermarket and Uswitch will help you compare the best broadband deals based on your needs.

The exact saving depends on how much you pay now, and how much you can save by switching, but experts estimate the average saving is around £200 a year.

Council tax – up to £2,065

Discounts on council tax are often available for those on a low income, on benefits or with other circumstances.

Exactly what you can get depends on where you live, as it’s up to each council what it offers and who gets it.

But in some cases, you could get the major household bill reduced to zero.

With the average band D council tax bill standing at £2,065 a year, that’s a serious saving if you qualify.

You can find out what’s available where you are using the government’s online tool at gov.uk/apply-for-council-tax-discount.

You’ll usually need to provide some details like your household income, the number of children you have and the number of adults and children you live with.

Plus, you’ll have to state what benefits you’re receiving and for how long you’ve lived in the UK.

Cold weather payments – up to £50

When the weather turns cold, there’s an extra helping hand for many who may struggle with heating their home – including those on benefits.

Cold weather payments of £25 are made when the weather falls below zero, or is expected to, for any seven day period between November 1 and March 31.

Although temperatures have been on the milder side so far this year, meaning you won’t have to reach for the thermostat as much, there are some areas where up to two payments have been made worth £50.

These payments are made automatically, so you won’t need to claim the cash.

You’ll usually qualify if you’re getting benefits like Universal Credit, pension credit and income support – you can see the full list here.

When you get a payment, it will appear on your bank account or statement as DWP CWP in England Wales, or “SSA CWP” in Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, a new scheme has replaced cold weather payments.

You can see if the cold weather payments have been triggered in your area using the government’s postcode checker tool at coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk.

Energy bill help – up to £1,500

Several suppliers offer energy bill help through hardship funds and give out grants worth as much as £1,500 – plus you don’t have to repay the cash.

The British Gas Energy Trust has just reopened its fund for families and individuals, and you don’t need to be a customer to get the help.

You’ll need to contact your supplier directly to see what they offer and eligibility and how much you get can vary between them.

There are around 8,000 charities and organisations in the UK that offer cash to help struggling families.

Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.

The Household Support Fund, which helps families with the rising cost of living, has been extended.

This could include cash grants to pay bills or cover food costs – the help will depend on where you live.

To find out what support is available in your area, contact your local council.

Pregnancy grant – £500

You may be able to get a one-off payment worth £500 to help towards the costs of having a child through the Sure Start Maternity Grant.

You don’t have to pay it back and you can find out who’s eligible in our guide.

You’ll qualify for the grant if you’re already claiming benefits and you’re expecting your first child, or expecting twins or triplets and have children already.

New parents must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months after the baby is born.

To claim, you’ll need to print out and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.

A health professional such as a doctor or midwife must also sign it before you post it to Freepost DWP SSMG.

Free childcare – £1,630

If you claim Universal Credit, you might be able to get a refund on most of your childcare costs.

You can claim back 85% of childcare costs up to £951 for one child or £1,630 for two or more up to August 31 following the child’s 16th birthday.

You used to have to pay your childcare costs yourself up front and then claim the money back through Universal Credit.

But now you can get it covered without having to fork out first after a change to rules that was a huge win for The Sun’s Make Universal Credit Work campaign.

Parents may also be able to take advantage of other childcare support, whether you’re claiming Universal Credit or not, including up to 30 hours of free childcare

Plus parents will soon be able to apply for 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds.

Rent help – £2,578

If your Universal Credit payment is not enough to cover your rent, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

This will give you extra money if your council decides you need help to meet your housing costs and it doesn’t need to be repaid.

You can use it to cover a rent shortfall, rent deposit, or rent in advance if you need to move house.

Each local authority hands out the money on a case-by-case basis though, so it’s best to check in with yours to see if you’re eligible.

The highest average amount that was dished out following freedom of information (FoI) requests by The Sun was found to be £2,578 in Newham, London.

But the amounts can range from as little as 54p to £32,000 depending on need and circumstances as well as where you are.

Learn more about the discretionary housing payment in our guide.

Water bill help – £1,043

Many water companies offer free water-saving devices that shave pounds off your bills.

Contact your supplier. Freebies include shower timers and buffalo bags, which save water with every flush. Check out savewatersavemoney.co.uk.

Large families on Universal Credit or other benefits may be eligible for a cap on their bills under the WaterSure scheme.

To qualify for the scheme you need to already have a water meter installed, and prove you need to use a lot of water.

You also need to have three or more children under the age of 19 living in the house, and receive child benefit for them.

One saver revealed how they got a £1,053 refund on their water bill after applying for the scheme, but the exact amounts can vary depending on your circumstances.

Money for health costs 

You could be in line for free prescriptions if you meet certain criteria.

This includes if you or your partner receive certain benefits or you’re under 20 and dependent on someone claiming certain benefits including Income Support and Universal Credit.

You can easily see if you can get free prescriptions using the government’s eligibility checker.

You can also get help if you’re on a low income through the NHS low income scheme.

How much you’ll be entitled to depends on financial factors including outgoings and the amount of savings you have in the bank.

You can also get free wigs and fabric support through the scheme and travel to health appointments.

NHS prescriptions currently cost £9.35 in the UK.

You could also get help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses and money for travel costs for treatment.

The NHS has outlined more information on how to go about claiming on its website.

You could be in line for free dental care if you’re on Universal Credit or other benefits.

If you’re on Universal Credit, you can claim support by showing your dental surgery a copy of your Universal Credit award.

However, you won’t be able to claim on health costs before you start receiving the benefit.

If you’re on a low income you can also get help with dental treatment, again through the NHS low income scheme.

Cheap travel – £150

Universal Credit claimants can also get 50% off their bus and train fares with the Jobcentre Plus travel card.

However, it’s only available if you’re unemployed but looking for work and are on Jobseeker’s Allowance.

You’ll also need to have claimed Universal Credit for three to nine months if you’re aged between 18 and 24 years old.

For those aged 25 or older, you must have claimed the benefit for three to 12 months to be eligible for a discount.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get the discount though – it’s up to your local JobCentre Plus branch to decide.

The Restart Scheme is designed to help those who’ve been on Universal Credit for more than a year and launched last year.

It can help cover the costs associated with finding a job, including travel, childcare and other expenses.

If you’re on the scheme ask the provider or your work coach about how to claim.

The Flexible Support Fund is a pot of money that has been put aside by the government to help you with the costs of getting a job.

The fund is managed by local job centres and can be used to cover the following costs of job hunting:

• Training for a job, up to £150
• Travel to interviews
• Childcare
• Tools for work
• Cost of medical evidence required by a disabled person
• Clothing and uniforms to start work
• Support for single parents in financial emergencies in the first 26 weeks of starting a job.

You can find out more about how to apply in our guide.

Free cash for school uniforms  – up to £200

Parents struggling with rising prices could claim cash worth up to £200 to cover school uniform costs.

Grants to help mums and dads pay for school uniforms at the start of the new school year are up for grabs in many places.

Local councils across the UK offer school clothing grants to households struggling to afford new uniforms.

But parents face a postcode lottery when it comes to getting the cash as the amount can vary depending on where you live – and in some places there’s nothing at all.

When and how to apply, as well as who is eligible for the payment will also depend on your location.

School uniform grants are typically available for people on benefits such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s allowance and child tax credits.

We’ve outlined all you need to know about applying for the discount here.

Free or discounted gym membership

Some councils offer discounted gym memberships to people on benefits, although discounts vary depending on where you live.

To apply, you’ll need to go through your local leisure centre, but first you should check whether they offer a discount.

Some chains like YMCA, Nuffield and GLL offer concessionary memberships.

The exact application process varies depending on where you live but generally, you’ll be asked to fill out a form as well as provide proof you’re on benefits.

Free fruit, veg and milk – up to £442

Parents can get help with food costs worth up to £442 a year, through the Healthy Start Scheme.

Those eligible can get a free pre-paid card, that’s topped up each week with money to spend at supermarkets on fresh fruit and veg or milk.

You could be eligible if you are on Universal Credit or Tax Credits and have a child under the age of four, or are over 10 weeks pregnant.

You can apply via the NHS website at www.healthystart.nhs.uk.

Free school meals – up to £500

In England, if you have children at a state school in reception, year 1 or year 2 they are entitled to free school meals regardless of your household income.

However, if you’re claiming certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Child Tax Credits, you can get free school meals for older children too.

How you apply will depend on your personal circumstances – some may be able to via their local council and others might have to speak to their children’s school directly.

You can type your postcode into the government’s website to see who to contact and how to apply at gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals.

The exact amount you’ll get depends on where you are, but ranges from around £2.15 to £2.50 per day, or around £400-£500 each school year.

If you’re eligible for free school meals, you may also get similar help during school holidays like Christmas and Easter, as well as half terms.

In some areas, there are supermarket vouchers worth up to £60 per child available.

Saving bonus – up to £1,200

Not everyone is in a position to save, but if you are it’s worth getting a specific account that offers a generous bonus.

With the Help to Save account, anyone on Universal Credit can put away between £1 and £50 every month and you get a 50% bonus on top.

If you save the maximum amount over four years you can get a sum of £1,200 from the government, topping up your own savings of £2,400.

But you can still get some of the bonus even by saving a small amount – check out how it works.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk