Free Benefits Calculators: Are You Missing Out on Money?

Quick summary: A benefits calculator is a free, independent, anonymous tool that tells you what benefits you could be entitled to and roughly how much you'd get. It takes about ten minutes, doesn't affect your credit score, and doesn't submit any kind of claim, it's just an estimate for you to act on if you choose to. Millions of pounds in benefits go unclaimed each year simply because people don't realise they qualify.

What a benefits calculator actually does

You answer questions about your income, savings, housing costs and circumstances, and the calculator works out:

Which benefits you could be entitled to
Roughly how much you could get
How your benefits would change if you started work, increased your hours, or your circumstances changed, for example having a child or moving in with a partner

It's completely free to use, and none of the main ones share your details with anyone or start a claim on your behalf. Checking costs you nothing and commits you to nothing.

Where to find one

GOV.UK doesn't run its own full calculator, but it points people to three independent, trusted ones:

You can find all three, along with more detail on how they work, on GOV.UK's own page:

Benefits calculators, GOV.UK

If you'd rather have a real person check for you, you can also find a local, independent benefits adviser who can go through it with you face to face or over the phone.

What you'll need to hand

Having accurate figures ready makes the estimate far more useful:

Your savings
Your income, and your partner's if you have one, payslips are ideal
Any benefits or pensions you already get, including anyone living with you
Your outgoings, such as rent, mortgage or childcare costs
Your Council Tax bill

Who the standard calculators don't work well for

The three calculators above are built for most people, but they won't give an accurate result if you're:

Under 18
A prisoner
A student
Not a British or Irish citizen
Living outside the UK
Living permanently in residential care or a nursing home

If any of those apply to you, it's worth speaking to an adviser directly rather than relying on the calculator's estimate.

The benefit that's easy to miss: Pension Credit

If you're over State Pension age, it's worth checking Pension Credit specifically, since it's one of the most underclaimed benefits in the country and unlocks a run of other help on top of the cash itself, from a free TV licence to help with energy bills. We've written a full guide: Pension Credit: The Benefit a Million Pensioners Are Missing.

After you've checked

If the calculator shows you're likely entitled to something you're not currently claiming, the next step is simply to make the claim, most benefits aren't backdated far, so it's worth acting on the result reasonably quickly. And if a new Universal Credit claim means a wait until your first payment, see our guide on getting an advance payment while you wait.

If you need food help today

A benefits check can take ten minutes but any resulting payment can take longer to arrive. If you need food right now, search for a food bank near you by postcode or town.

Frequently asked questions

Is a benefits calculator really free?

Yes. The ones listed by GOV.UK are free, independent and anonymous. You don't need to give your name or contact details to get a result.

Will checking affect my credit score?

No. A benefits calculator has nothing to do with credit checks, it's simply a calculation based on the information you give it.

Does using a calculator start a claim automatically?

No. It only gives you an estimate. You still need to make any claim yourself, separately, through the relevant benefit's own application process.

How accurate is the estimate?

It's generally a close estimate, based on current rules and the figures you enter. The exact amount you're awarded can differ slightly once a real application is assessed, but it gives you a reliable idea of whether it's worth applying.

I've used a calculator before, is it worth checking again?

Yes, definitely, if anything about your circumstances, income, savings, health or household has changed since you last checked, since your entitlement can change too.

What if the calculator says I'm not entitled to anything?

It's still worth double-checking Pension Credit if you're over State Pension age, and asking your council about the Crisis and Resilience Fund for one-off help, since not everything is included in the standard calculators. See our guide: Struggling With Bills or Food? Here's How to Get Council Crisis Help.