Struggling to provide everything your child needs? Financial support you may be entitled to

If you’re struggling with the cost of living, you’re not alone.

More than one in four children in the UK live in poverty, according to statistics from the Health Foundation.

Children from larger families, those with three or more children, are also more likely to experience poverty, as are children from ethnic minority families.

In Scotland, the situation is particularly concerning. Scotland is on course to miss legally binding targets to reduce child poverty “by a wide margin”, according to a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The charity says “radical change” is needed to get the Scottish government’s pledges back on track.

If you’re a parent and you’re struggling to provide everything your children need, it’s important to know that help is available. You may be entitled to financial support, help with childcare and food costs, or assistance if you’re facing an emergency.

Government benefits and payments

There are several benefits and payments that could help you with the costs of raising a family.

Child benefit

Child benefit is a regular payment to help with the cost of raising children.

You can receive:

• £27.05 a week for your eldest or only child
• £17.90 a week for each additional child

Universal credit

Universal credit is a monthly payment for people on a low income or who are out of work. It can help towards your everyday living costs, as well as your housing costs.

How much you receive depends on your circumstances, including your income, savings, housing and family situation.

Disability living allowance for children

If you have a child under 16 with a disability or health condition, you may be able to claim disability living allowance (DLA) for children.

Your child may qualify if they:

• have difficulties walking; or
• need substantially more care or supervision than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

The amount you can receive depends on the level of care and mobility support your child needs.

Support if you’re studying

If you’re a parent in full-time education, you may be entitled to additional financial help on top of your student finance.

Parents’ learning allowance can help with the costs of studying. For the 2026/27 academic year, it can range from £50 to £2,024, depending on your household income.

You may also be able to receive a childcare grant to help pay for childcare. For 2026/27, this can cover up to:

• £199.62 a week for one child
• £342.24 a week for two or more children

These payments generally do not need to be repaid unless you have been overpaid, and eligibility depends on your circumstances, including your household income.

Help with food and school costs

If you’re struggling with the cost of feeding your family, there are schemes that can help.

Free school meals

Free school meals are available universally to children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England. Older children may also qualify if you receive certain benefits, including universal credit.

Eligibility rules vary across the UK, so check what support is available where you live.

Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme if you receive certain benefits.

Healthy Start can help you buy healthy food, milk and vitamins for your family.

Help with childcare costs

Childcare can be one of the biggest expenses for working parents, but you may be entitled to government support.

Tax-free childcare

Tax-free childcare can help working parents with the cost of registered childcare. For every £8 you pay in, the government can add £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child each year, or £4,000 if your child is disabled.

Free childcare hours

Depending on your circumstances and your child’s age, you may also qualify for 15 or 30 hours of funded childcare a week.

If you’re paying for childcare, it’s worth checking whether you qualify before assuming you have to cover the full cost yourself.

If you need emergency financial help

If your financial situation is desperate, you may be tempted to take out a payday loan or borrow from a loan shark.

We would strongly urge you to avoid this wherever possible. High-cost or illegal borrowing can make an already difficult financial situation much worse.

Instead, look at safer sources of support, including credit unions, government schemes, your local council and charitable organisations.

Credit unions

A credit union is a financial co-operative owned and controlled by its members.

Credit unions can offer affordable loans, savings accounts and financial guidance. You’ll usually need to become a member before you can use their services.

If you need to borrow money, a credit union may be a safer and more affordable option than a payday lender.

Local and charitable emergency help

Your local council may be able to provide emergency support if you’re struggling to afford essentials.

Crisis and resilience fund

On1 April 2026, the crisis and resilience fund (CRF) replaced the household support fund and discretionary housing payments. The CRF will be available until 31 March 2029. 

It provides low-income households with crisis payments and housing payments.

Help is offered on a cash-first basis, meaning the default option is to give people cash rather than things like vouchers or goods.

Councils have also been allocated money to spend on improving local support for low-income households.

What’s available varies depending on where you live, so check with your local council to see what help you can apply for.

Charitable grants

You may also be eligible for financial help from a charity.

Organisations such as Turn2us can help you find charitable grants and funds that you may be eligible to apply for. These grants generally do not need to be repaid.

Budgeting loans

If you receive certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a budgeting loan to help pay for essential costs, including:

• furniture
• household appliances
• essential travel within the UK
• maternity costs
• moving costs
• funeral expenses

Hardship payments

If your benefits have been reduced or stopped, you may be able to apply for a hardship payment.

Hardship payments are normally repayable, so make sure you understand the terms before applying.

Contact your local Jobcentre Plus to apply. 

Benefit advances

If you’re waiting for a benefit payment and struggling financially, you may be able to get an advance.

Speak to someone at your local Jobcentre Plus to find out more. 

Make sure you’re getting everything you’re entitled to

When money is tight, it can be difficult to know where to turn, and you may be entitled to more support than you realise.

You could be missing out on benefits, grants or other financial help because you don’t know they’re available or aren’t sure whether you qualify.

We can help you check whether you’re receiving all the support you’re entitled to. You can get in touch with us or use our benefits calculator to find out what financial support you could be eligible for.