Public funds

This page explains what public funds are and whether you are able to receive help from them while you are living in the UK.

If you have been given permission to live in the UK, this permission may include the condition that you have 'no recourse to public funds'. If so, you will not be able to claim most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance that are paid by the state.

However, there are exceptions for some benefits. If you are in any doubt, you should contact the department or agency that issues the benefit. This will often be the Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue & Customs.

Public funds include a range of benefits that are given to people on a low income, as well as housing support. These are:

• income-based jobseeker's allowance;
• income support;
• child tax credit;
• working tax credit;
• a social fund payment;
• child benefit;
• housing benefit;
• council tax benefit;
• state pension credit;
• attendance allowance;
• severe disablement allowance;
• carer's allowance;
• disability living allowance;
• an allocation of local authority housing;
• local authority homelessness assistance;
• health in pregnancy grant; and
• income-related employment and support allowance.

Public funds do not include benefits that are based on National Insurance contributions. National Insurance is paid in the same way as income tax and is based on earnings. Benefits to which a person is entitled as a result of National Insurance contributions include:

• contribution-based jobseeker's allowance;
• incapacity benefit;
• retirement pension;
• widow's benefit and bereavement benefit;
• guardian's allowance;
• statutory maternity pay;
• maternity allowance; and
• contribution-related employment and support allowance.