2. How to use this chapter

• Which benefits and tax credits can a client claim

The table below lists common circumstances and the benefits and tax credits that it may be possible to claim in those circumstances. A client may be eligible for several benefits, so you should check all the headings that could be relevant.

The A–Z of the most common benefits (see here) outlines the main eligibility criteria for each benefit. This chapter cannot describe fully the entitlement conditions for every benefit. It is a guide to which benefits you should consider that may be appropriate for a client.

Other sources of financial help that may be available to clients are listed on here–here.

For more detailed information, see CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

Which benefits and tax credits can a client claim

The table below gives a non-exhaustive overview of the possible benefits and tax credits to which a client may be entitled depending on their circumstances. More than one circumstance may apply to a particular client (eg, they may have a child, a disability, a mortgage and work part time), in which case you should refer to all relevant headings.

Circumstance	Potential benefits and tax credits
Bereaved	Bereavement support payment
	Social fund funeral expenses payment
	Statutory parental bereavement pay
Carer	Carer’s allowance
	Carer support payment (Scotland)
	Universal credit with a carer element
	Income support (existing awards only)
	Young carer grant (Scotland)
Responsible for a child	Child tax credit
	Universal credit with a child element(s)
	Child benefit
	Scottish child payment (Scotland)
	Guardian’s allowance
	Statutory maternity pay
	Statutory paternity pay
	Statutory shared parental pay
	Statutory adoption pay
	Maternity allowance
	Health benefits
	Healthy Start food and vitamins (England and Wales)
	Best Start grant (Scotland)
	Best Start foods (Scotland)
Disabled	Personal independence payment
	Adult disability payment (Scotland)
	Disability living allowance
	Child disability payment (Scotland)
	Attendance allowance
	Industrial injuries benefits
Pensioner	Retirement pension
	Pension credit
	Universal credit (in some cases where your partner is not yet pension age)
	Winter fuel payment
Pregnant	Statutory maternity pay
	Maternity allowance
	Sure Start maternity grant
	Health benefits
	Healthy Start food and vitamins
	Best Start grant (Scotland) Best Start foods (Scotland)
Paying rent	Universal credit
	Housing benefit (existing awards and certain types of housing only)
Sick and unable to work	Contributory employment and support allowance
	Income-related employment and support allowance (existing awards only)
	Statutory sick pay
	Universal credit
Unemployed and seeking work	Contributory jobseeker’s allowance
	Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (existing claims only)
	Universal credit
Unemployed and not seeking work	Universal credit
	Income support (existing claims only)
Working, but on a low income	Universal credit
	Working tax credit