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  1. 1. Overview
  2. 2. Benefits that are public funds
  3. 3. Public funds - exceptions
  4. 4. Mixed households
  5. 5. EEA nationals and family members
  6. 6. Returning to the UK, benefit delays and sanctions
  7. 7. Benefits that are not public funds
  8. 8. Access to work
  9. 9. Cost of living support

Benefits that are public funds

Certain benefits are classed as ‘public funds’ for immigration purposes and cannot be claimed by a person who has no recourse to public funds, unless an exception applies. These benefits are listed at paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules and in the Home Office guidance on public funds

The following benefits are classed as ‘public funds’ for immigration purposes: 

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Child Benefit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Council Tax Reduction (also called Council Tax Support)
  • Discretionary payment made by a council in England under section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 (some types of local welfare assistance), not including any payment made under the Energy Rebate Scheme 2022
  • Discretionary support payment made in accordance with any regulations made under article 135 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 
  • Disability living allowance
  • Domestic Rate Relief (Northern Ireland)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Payment made from a welfare fund under the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act 2015 
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Social fund payments: 
    • Budgeting loan
    • Sure start maternity grant
    • Funeral payment
    • Cold weather payment
    • Winter fuel payment
  • State Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Working Tax Credit

More information about each of these benefits is available on gov.uk.

The following benefits administered by Social Security Scotland are also classed as ‘public funds’ for immigration purposes: 

  • Adult Disability Payment 
  • Carer’s Allowance Supplement 
  • Child Disability Payment
  • Child Winter Heating Assistance
  • Funeral Support Payment 
  • Job Start Payment 
  • Scottish Child Payment 
  • Winter Heating Payment 

The following organisations provide information and advice about claiming benefits: