Passported Benefits
Passported benefits are additional benefits or schemes you automatically qualify for because you already receive certain core benefits, such as Universal Credit, Income Support, or Pension Credit, acting as a "passport" to other help, such as help with health costs, free school meals, the Warm Home Discount, or help with funeral costs. These benefits provide extra support to you and your family by simplifying access to a range of essential services and discounts.
Common Passport Benefits & Schemes:
Health Costs: Help with prescriptions, dental treatments, and eye tests.
Education: Free school meals, help with school uniform costs, and other educational benefits.
Energy & Utilities: The Warm Home Discount Scheme, Cold Weather Payments, and help from energy suppliers.
Financial Support: Help to Save (a government savings scheme) and Funeral Payments.
Travel: Free local bus travel (in some areas) and help with prison visiting costs.
Other: Legal aid, low-cost phone packages, and the Healthy Start scheme for pregnant women and young children.
How it Works:
When you claim core benefits (like Universal Credit, Income Support, or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance), your eligibility for these other support schemes is often automatically established, meaning you don't always need to make separate applications for them.
Key Passporting Benefits:
Universal Credit (UC)
Income Support (IS)
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
Child Tax Credit (CTC)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (for disability-related support)
Get help
If you need advice about your situation, we can help for free.
- Email: info@youthlegal.org.uk
- Phone: 020 3195 1906 (Mon to Fri, 10am to 6pm)
- Contact form: youthlegal.org.uk/contact-us
All our advice is free and confidential.