The UK has a welfare system which is designed to help those who face financial hardship, or who have specific needs.
This welfare system allows someone to claim regular monetary payments, called 'benefits or allowances'.
Your local Job Centre Plus will be able to help you find out which of these you may be able to claim. You can find your local Job Centre Plus by visiting the GOV.UK Contact Job Centre Plus webpage. The benefits or allowances include:
- Universal Credit - a payment for those of working age, to help with your living costs if you're on a low income. You could be working (including self-employed or part time) or be out of work.
- Pension credit - extra money to help with your living costs if you are over the age of 66 and on a low income. Applications for Pensions is online or via phone.
- Disability benefits - extra money to help with additional costs if you have a long term physical or mental health condition or disability.
- Child benefit - a universal benefit for parents or guardians who are responsible for bringing up a child under the age of 16 or 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
Check what benefits you may be eligible to receive
Applying for Universal Credit
There is a Help to Claim service provided by Citizens Advice which is confidential. They will not share your personal information unless you agree. You can find a link to its service on the Citizens Advice Contact us about applying for Universal Credit webpage.
If you are unable to claim online or to get help with your claim, you can call the Universal Credit helpline by calling 0800 328 5644. Calls to the Universal Credit helpline are free.
National Insurance number
You only need to apply for a National Insurance number if you're planning to work but you can start work without a National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.
Free rail travel for Ukrainian refugees
Rail operators are providing Ukrainian refugees with a single onward journey via national rail free of charge on arrival in Great Britain to their final destination. Ukrainian arrivals have 48 hours to make their onward journey.
To access the free rail travel, Ukrainians only need to show their Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket showing arrival into the country within the last 48 hours.
Read the translated information on National Rail Enquiries website
Free bus travel for Ukrainian refugees settling in Surrey
Bus operators in Surrey are offering Ukrainian nationals a bus pass to give them free travel on their most used bus route. The temporary bus passes are valid for three months from issue to help Ukrainians newly arrived in Surrey on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, to get around. Each person aged five years old or older intending to travel by bus will need to show their individual bus pass. Children under five years old don't need their own bus pass.