Benefits you may be able to claim

Additional support for parents

Child Benefit 

Child Benefit is a regular payment that you can normally get if you bring up any children. 

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim on the gov.uk Child Benefit page 

Widowed Parent’s Allowance 

Widowed Parent's Allowance is a regular payment you may be able to get on top of Child Benefit if you are bringing up any children and your husband, wife or civil partner has died. 

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim on the gov.uk Widowed Parent’s Allowance page 

Guardian’s Allowance 

Guardian's Allowance is a regular payment you may be able to get on top of Child Benefit if you are bringing up any children whose parent(s) have died. 

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim on the gov.uk Guardian’s Allowance page

16-19 bursaries 

If your son or daughter is aged between 16 and 19 and think they might struggle with the costs for full-time education or training they may be able to get a bursary. 

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim on the gov.uk 16-19 Bursary page

Care to Learn 

Care to Learn is a scheme that could help you with the cost of child care if you are learning and are aged under 20. 

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim on the gov.uk Care to Learn page 

Parents' Learning Allowance 

If you’re a full-time student with children, you may be eligible for help with learning costs. This is called Parents’ Learning Allowance.  

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim  on the gov.uk Parents’ Learning Allowance page

Free school meals 

Free school meals are available for all children who go to a primary school in Newham. If you have children under 16 at secondary school, they may be able to get free school meals if you get certain benefits. 

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim on our free school meals page 

Health costs  

Children can get free dental care, sight tests and prescriptions as well as help with the cost of glasses. 

Find out more, including eligibility and how to claim on the NHS help with health costs page 

There is more useful information on money matters in the Money Advice Service’s guide to having a baby.