ARE YOU MISSING ANY SUPPORT?
Are you missing any support?
Every year a lot of benefits and support in the UK go unclaimed — often by people who assume they wouldn't qualify. Here are the free, official ways to check what you might be entitled to. Blooom doesn't work anything out or save anything, and earns nothing from these links.
Blooom doesn't work out benefits — these free calculators do
Benefits like Universal Credit are worked out from your full situation, and only the official calculators can do that accurately. Blooom points you to the free, independent ones the government recommends — nothing you enter there is shared with us.
The free benefits calculators
These are the free, independent calculators the government recommends. They can check what you might be able to claim, based on your real situation:
GOV.UK benefits calculators
FreeThe government's own hub lists the free, independent benefits calculators it recommends — a single starting point that checks what you might be entitled to.
Open the GOV.UK hubentitledto
FreeA free independent calculator that estimates the benefits and tax credits you might be able to claim, based on your household and income.
Check on entitledtoTurn2Us
FreeA free charity-run benefits calculator and grants search that checks what support you might be able to get, with no sign-up needed.
Check on Turn2UsA few worth checking
You may be eligible for these even if you've never claimed before — each link lets the official service check your situation. Nothing here is a promise of an amount:
Council Tax Reduction
FreeIf you're on a low income or claiming certain benefits, your council may reduce your Council Tax bill. Each council runs its own scheme — GOV.UK points you to yours.
Check on GOV.UKPension Credit
FreeExtra money to help with living costs if you're over State Pension age and on a low income. Many people who could get it never claim it — GOV.UK can check your situation.
Check on GOV.UKChild Benefit
FreeA regular payment for people responsible for a child — worth checking whether it applies to you. Blooom's tax picture already covers this alongside the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Create a free account to see yoursMarriage Allowance
FreeIf one partner earns below the Personal Allowance, a couple may be able to transfer part of it and lower their tax. Blooom's tax picture already checks whether it may apply to you.
Create a free account to see yoursHealthy Start & free prescriptions
FreeIf you're pregnant or have a young child and on certain benefits, Healthy Start can help with the cost of food and milk — and you may qualify for free NHS prescriptions.
Check on GOV.UKFree help if you'd rather talk it through
If money feels tight or the forms feel like a lot, these free and independent services can help you check and claim what you're entitled to — with no charge:
MoneyHelper
FreeThe government-backed free service offering impartial money and benefits guidance, including a benefits calculator and help working out what you're entitled to.
Visit MoneyHelperCitizens Advice
FreeFree, confidential and independent advice on benefits, debt and money — in person, by phone or online. They can help you check and claim what you're entitled to.
Visit Citizens AdviceSTATE PENSION
Your State Pension forecast
The State Pension is money the government pays you once you reach State Pension age — and how much you get depends on your National Insurance record. The one number worth trusting is your own forecast.
Check your State Pension forecast
FreeThe government's free service shows your personal forecast — how much State Pension you're on track for, and the date you can claim it. This is the number to trust for you.
Check on GOV.UKVoluntary National Insurance
FreeIf your forecast shows gaps in your National Insurance record, GOV.UK explains whether you can fill them with voluntary contributions — and whether it's worth it for you.
Read about it on GOV.UKHow the new State Pension builds up
- It's based on your National Insurance record — the years you paid or were credited NI.
- You generally need around 35 qualifying years to get the FULL new State Pension.
- You usually need at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension at all.
- If you have gaps, you can often fill them with voluntary National Insurance — GOV.UK shows whether that's worthwhile for you.
The full new State Pension is currently around £241 a week — but that's illustrative, and not everyone gets the full amount. Your own forecast shows what you're actually on track for, so always check that rather than relying on a headline figure.
The State Pension is a foundation, not the whole picture — a workplace or personal pension usually sits on top. Blooom's pension tools can help you see your employer match and how your own contributions add up.
RETIREMENT PICTURE
What could retirement look like?
An illustrative picture that grows your pension pot to the age you pick and adds the full new State Pension on top — so you can see, roughly, the shape of it. It's a picture to explore, not a forecast of your actual outcome, and not advice.
Tell us your pension pot, what you add each month, your age and when you'd like to retire. We'll grow the pot at an illustrative return and show a rough retirement income a year, with the full new State Pension added as a placeholder.
Every link here goes to a free, official or independent service — GOV.UK, entitledto, Turn2Us, MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice. Blooom earns nothing from them, and there's never any charge to check what you're entitled to.