FAMILIES on Universal Credit can now cash in on a bumper haul of freebies and discounts worth up to £10,221 this June.
From food vouchers to help with bills and even cheap days out, there’s a treasure trove of support on offer.
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Here’s the full list of what you could be claiming this month.
Household Support Fund – worth £500
The Household Support Fund has been extended until March 2026 – and it’s dishing out direct payments of up to £500.
Local councils like Birmingham are offering £200 payments, while others are handing out food or fuel vouchers.
Each council sets its own rules, so check your local authority’s website to see what’s on offer and how to apply.
Find your council via gov.uk/find-local-council or visit www.bvsc.org/hsf for Birmingham-specific help.
Where is the HSF available?
Plymouth – up to £740
Plymouth City Council said eligible residents can receive a maximum of £740 in vouchers. This includes £240 in supermarket vouchers for either Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi, or Iceland, and £200 in energy vouchers. It also includes an essential item of household furniture or white goods or £300 of clothing vouchers.
Blackpool – up to £300
Households with one or two people – including children – will see £200 paid directly to their energy provider. Those with three or more will get £300 paid towards their energy costs.
Middlesbrough – up to £70
People in the area who claim benefits and do not have children can apply for a £50 voucher. Those living alone will get up to £37.50 and couples will get £50. If there are children in your household, you’ll get a voucher for £70 per child.
Leicestershire – up to £300
Households in Leicestershire can apply for £300 per household, which will be paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food. The payment can be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets.
Leeds – up to £100
Residents of Leeds who receive council tax support with dependent children can claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25. Eligible households will have received letters featuring a barcode that can then be taken to the post office along with ID to claim the cash.
Bracknell Forest – up to £315
Applicants could be eligible for a one-off £105 payment per child between now and September, if applicants meet the qualifying benefits.
Cambridgeshire County – up to £220
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household. Residents can apply twice for support between now and September 30, meaning each household could receive as much as £220. The funds can be paid in a lump sum of £110 or as vouchers.
Falkirk – up to £470
The amount residents can get under the HSF depends on the number of people in their household. A single adult will receive £110, with an additional £90 payment made for every further resident. For example, a couple with no dependent children would receive £200.
Stockport – up to £315
Stockport Council is giving out vouchers worth £105 to families struggling to pay for essentials. The fund is paid per child, so if you have three children you would be entitled to £315 worth of supermarket vouchers.
Food Vouchers – worth £150
Camden Council is dishing out £150 food vouchers in June to families with kids on free school meals.
Other Councils across the country have similar schemes over summer with North Somerset offering £100 vouchers.
No application is needed – around 5,200 children will be sent the vouchers automatically.
Healthy Start food help – worth £442 a year
New parents or expectant mums can get up to £442 annually for essentials like fruit, veg and baby formula.
The Healthy Start scheme gives you a prepaid card loaded with funds every four weeks.
Apply online if you’re on benefits like Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit.
Cheap days out – save £101
If you’re on Universal Credit, you can unlock serious savings on days out across the UK:
- London Transport Museum: Entry for just £1 – usually £21
- Yorkshire museums: Free entry, saving up to £17 per adult
- ZSL London Zoo: Entry for £3 – a £31.50 saving
- Tower of London & Hampton Court: £1 entry instead of £33.60
In total you could save up to £101 on these days out.
Help to Save – get £1,200 bonus cash
The government’s Help to Save scheme gives you a 50% top-up when you put away cash.
Save £50 a month and you could get up to £1,200 over four years.
Open to those on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit – even small savers will see rewards.
Water bill help – worth £400
You could slash your water bill by hundreds through social tariffs or the WaterSure scheme.
The support is aimed at low-income families or those who use lots of water due to disability or large households.
Contact your supplier directly and ask what help is available.
Some firms even offer free water-saving devices like shower timers and cistern bags to bring your usage down.
Free prescriptions and healthcare – up to £119
If you’re on Universal Credit, you might be eligible for free NHS prescriptions, saving you £9.90 a pop – that’s nearly £120 a year.
You could also get:
- Free dental checks
- Free eye tests
- Travel reimbursement for medical appointments
- Free wigs or glasses
Use the NHS online checker to see what you can get.
Discounted broadband and mobile contracts – worth £370
If you’re on Universal Credit, social tariffs could save you a fortune.
Some providers offer deals as low as £12.50 a month, slashing the average annual cost by £170.
Mobile contracts are also covered – total savings could hit £370 across both.
Check Ofcom’s full list of providers, or use The Sun’s free broadband checker.
Council tax support – up to £2,280
Those struggling with council tax could get a major discount – or even have the bill wiped completely.
Council Tax Support varies by area, but if you’re on a low income or receiving Universal Credit, you could save up to £2,280 a year.
Head to gov.uk/apply-for-council-tax-discount to check your eligibility.
Energy bill help – up to £2,000
Energy firms like British Gas are offering hardship grants worth up to £2,000.
Other suppliers are dishing out energy-saving gadgets and fuel vouchers.
If you don’t qualify through your supplier, charities like Turn2Us have searchable databases to help you find other grants.
The Household Support Fund also covers energy costs – reach out to your council now.
Pregnancy grant – worth £500
Mums expecting their first child could claim a one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant.
It’s available to those on Universal Credit or other qualifying benefits.
You must apply within 11 weeks of the due date or six months after the baby is born.
Print off the SF100 form online and get it signed by a midwife before posting.
Support with travel and job applications – worth £150
Claimants can get a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card, cutting public transport costs by 50% across the UK.
The card lasts for three months and is fre, you just need to be actively job hunting.
There’s also the Flexible Support Fund, which can cover costs like:
- Travel to interviews
- Job training (up to £150)
- Uniforms, work tools, and childcare
Apply at your local JobCentre.
Cheap gym memberships – worth £240
Some leisure centres offer Universal Credit claimants gym memberships from as little as £5 a month.
That’s a £20 saving every month or £240 a year.
Everyone Active and Better Leisure both offer discounted rates. Access is often off-peak and varies by location, so check with your nearest centre.
Free childcare – worth up to £1,769 a year
Working parents on Universal Credit can now get up to 85% of childcare costs covered.
The max payout is £1,031.88 a month for one child, or £1,768.94 for two or more – that’s over £21,000 a year if claimed in full.
You used to have to pay upfront, but now some parents get help before the bills are due.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify for any of these perks, it’s worth checking gov.uk or speaking to your local council. Don’t miss out – the savings could seriously stack up.
