BILL BOOST
Full list of freebies and discounts you can get on Universal Credit in May worth up to £10,250 – including 5 days out
Plus find out how to check what benefits you could be entitled to
FAMILIES on Universal Credit can now cash in on a bumper haul of freebies and discounts worth up to a staggering £10,250 just in time for the May half-term.
From slashing your broadband bill to securing £1 entry to top UK attractions like London Zoo, those receiving benefits can bag serious savings on day-to-day essentials and family treats alike.
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And it’s not just families who qualify, plenty of the perks are also available to anyone receiving low-income benefits or struggling to make ends meet, so it's worth checking what support you’re entitled to.
Here's what's up for grabs this May.
Cheap days out
Families can get £1 entry to UK attractions this bank holiday.
London Zoo: Families can get entry from just £3 per person for up to six people on Universal Credit and other benefits. Kids under three go free.
Read more on freebies
Eden Project: At Eden Project, adults only pay £5, and kids just £1 if you’re on Universal Credit, PIP, or Child Tax Credit.
Royal Horticultural Society Gardens: Entry is £1 per person at Harlow Carr and Rosemoor gardens and allows you to take up to five guests.
London Transport Museum: You can get unlimited entry for a whole year for just £1 if you’re on benefits, including Universal Credit and ESA.
Historic Royal Palaces: Entry to top spots like the Tower of London, Hampton Court, and Kensington Palace are just £1 per person (up to six people), as long as one person in your group is on qualifying benefits.
Most read in Money
Household Support Fund – worth £200
The Household Support Fund is still available with some councils, like Birmingham, offering £200 direct payments to those on benefits or low incomes.
Every council has its own rules, so check your local authority's website.
How does work affect Universal Credit?
Cheap gym memberships – worth £240
Those on Universal Credit could also save on fitness.
Better Leisure and Everyone Active offer discounted gym memberships starting at around £5 a month, compared to standard rates of £25.
Deals vary by location, and access may be off-peak only.
Healthy Start food help – worth £442
New or expecting parents can get up to £442 a year in free food via the Healthy Start scheme, which issues prepaid cards for essentials like milk, fruit, and tinned veg.
Apply online if you're on benefits such as Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit.
Free school meals – worth up to £655 per child
Kids in reception to year 2 get free school meals automatically – but older children could qualify if you're on Universal Credit or other benefits.
Meals are worth £460 per child per year, and some councils even offer holiday food vouchers, which could bring the total to £655.
Help to Save – get £1,200 in bonus cash
The Help to Save scheme gives a 50% bonus on savings for those on Universal Credit.
This means you could earn up to £1,200 over four years just by saving £50 a month.
Even small savers will get a proportionate bonus.
Slash your water bills – worth £316
Water companies offer free water-saving gadgets and bill caps under the WaterSure scheme for those on benefits.
Families with three or more children, or additional medical needs, can save big – one customer had over £1,000 refunded.
For example, Anglian Water now offers a fixed WaterSure tariff of £310, saving hundreds a year.
Free prescriptions and healthcare – up to £119
Claimants on certain benefits may get free NHS prescriptions worth nearly £120 a year, plus free dental checks, eye tests, and even free wigs or travel help.
Use the online to see what you're entitled to.
Travel and job support – up to £150
Universal Credit claimants can get 50% off train and bus fares with the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card, valid for up to three months.
You may also qualify for help through the Flexible Support Fund.
Cut broadband and phone bills – save up to £370 a year
Social tariffs for broadband and mobile plans are a lifeline for those on a low income.
Providers such as BT, Virgin Media, and Sky offer deals from as little as £12.50 a month – saving up to £170 a year on internet alone.
And mobile deals, like O2’s £10 Essentials plan, could save you more than £200 compared to average market prices.
Check out for a full list of providers or use The Sun’s tool with .
Get your council tax bill slashed – worth up to £2,280
If you're struggling to pay council tax, you could get a big chunk knocked off – or have the bill wiped altogether.
The average Band D household pays £2,280 a year, but those on Universal Credit or a low income may qualify for Council Tax Support.
Apply via your or use the to check what help you’re entitled to.
Energy help worth up to £2,000
Energy firms like British Gas are offering hardship grants of up to £2,000 to help households clear arrears.
Some providers offer energy-saving gadgets instead of cash, and local councils are issuing supermarket and energy vouchers through the Household Support Fund, which runs until 2026.
Visit for more help or contact your energy supplier directly.
Pregnancy grant – grab a one-off £500
Expecting your first child while on benefits? You may be able to claim a £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant.
You must apply within 11 weeks of your due date or six months after birth, and get the form signed by your midwife.
Read More on The Sun
Free childcare – worth up to £1,769 a year
Universal Credit claimants can get 85% of childcare costs covered, up to £1,031.88 for one child and £1,768.94 for two or more.
Previously, you had to pay upfront – but new rules mean some households get help before childcare bills are due.
Everything you need to know about Universal Credit
- What is Universal Credit? Everything you need to know including how to apply
- Universal Credit calculator: How much can I claim and how do I apply?
- Universal Credit login: How do I sign in to my online account?
- How much can I earn before Universal Credit is reduced and do I get a work allowance?
- What is a Universal Credit advance payment? How to apply and pay it back
- Are Universal Credit payments going up and how much more will I get?
- How to claim Universal Credit if you’re self-employed
- How many hours can I work on Universal Credit and will my payment be reduced?
- What is a Universal Credit budgeting advance and how much could I get?
- What is the Universal Credit housing element and how much of your rent does it pay?
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