In this section:
If you are claiming tax credits because you're on a low income, or have children, you may be entitled to other support from the government.
On this page:
Most National Health Service (NHS) treatment is free - including Health Service (HS) treatment in Northern Ireland. But there can be charges for some things. This sometimes depends on where you live. For example, NHS/HS prescriptions are free in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If there is a charge for your treatment, and you get tax credits because you're on a low income, you could get help. This help includes:
If you qualify, you will automatically get a Tax Credit Exemption Certificate sent to you in the post. You can find out more about Tax Credit Exemption Certificates from the Tax Credit Exemption Office on Tel 0845 609 9299. If you use a textphone, dial 18001 before this number to use the Text Relay service.
Help with health costs for England, Scotland and Wales on Directgov (Opens new window)
Help with health costs in Northern Ireland on nidirect (Opens new window)
With Healthy Start you can get:
If you get Child Tax Credit and are on a low income you could qualify. You'll need to be at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have a child under four.
If you are pregnant and under the age of 18, you will automatically qualify whether or not you get Child Tax Credit or other benefits.
You won't qualify if you get Working Tax Credit, unless it's just the four week extension of your payments - often called a 'run-on'. You may get a run-on after you stopped qualifying for Working Tax Credit - for example if you've stopped work or reduced your hours.
If you qualify for Healthy Start through Child Tax Credit, you'll automatically get an application form in the post. But you don't need to wait, you can get one yourself - follow the link below.
Healthy Start website (Opens new window)
If you're on a low income and getting tax credits, you could get a Sure Start Maternity Grant. This is a one-off payment to help towards the cost of maternity and baby items. The grant is tax-free and you don't have to repay it.
The grant is £500 paid as a lump sum. If you've had twins or triplets for example, you can get £500 for each baby. You can't normally get the grant if you've already got other children under 16, but there are exceptions to this.
You'll qualify, if you're getting either of the following:
To find out which tax credit elements or payments you get, check Part 2 of your award notice - How we work out your tax credits.
You may still qualify even if you're not the mother or expectant mother of the baby - for example if you're adopting a baby.
It's important to know that there are time limits for claiming the grant.
Sure Start Maternity Grant for England, Scotland and Wales on Directgov (Opens new window)
Sure Start Maternity Grant for Northern Ireland on nidirect (Opens new window)
Child Benefit is a tax-free payment available to anyone bringing up a child or young person. Your income or savings do not affect it, and you do not have to be receiving tax credits to get it.
You get £20.30 per week for the eldest child and £13.40 per week for each additional child.
Your children could get free school meals if you get Child Tax Credit only - sometimes if you get Working Tax Credit as well. But it depends on the income your tax credits have been worked out on, and where you live in the UK.
If you get tax credits, you might be able to get help towards the cost of school uniforms or activities such as school trips.
Your child could also get free school transport, for example if you're on a low income. But it's important to know that the rules are different depending on where you live in the UK.
It's worth checking the rules for your area with your local authority, or Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland.
Help with school costs for England, Scotland and Wales on Directgov (Opens new window)
Help with school costs for Northern Ireland on nidirect (Opens new window)
Find your local council in England, Scotland or Wales on Directgov (Opens new window)
Northern Ireland Education and Library Boards contact details on nidirect (Opens new window)
The Child Trust Fund is a long-term tax-free savings account, for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.
If your child was born between these dates, they may be entitled to at least £50 to open a Child Trust Fund account. You'll need to get Child Benefit for them.
Children born on or after 3 January 2011 don't get any payments.
To qualify you don't have to be getting tax credits. But you usually need to have been paid Child Benefit for at least one day before 4 January 2011. There are exceptions to this, for example, if you get a European family benefit or if your child is looked after by a local authority.
Child Trust Fund information on Directgov (Opens new window)
If you get tax credits, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund. You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died.
To qualify, you need to be getting either of the following:
To find out which tax credit elements or payments you get,
check Part 2 of your award notice - How we work out your tax
credits.
A Funeral Payment includes necessary burial or cremation fees,
certain other specified expenses and up to £700 for any other
funeral expenses. This could be for things such as the funeral
director's fees, the coffin or flowers. If you have any other
means of paying for the funeral, other than personal savings,
you may not be entitled to the payment.
Funeral Payments for England, Scotland and Wales on Directgov (Opens new window)
Funeral Payments for Northern Ireland on nidirect (Opens new window)
If you qualify for tax credits, you may be able to get help with other payments such as:
Download leaflet on other types of help you could get (PDF 382K)
Benefits and financial support information on Directgov (Opens new window)
Citizens Advice website (Opens new window)
Getting proof of tax credits payments if you claim other benefits
