Guidance

Public funds

Updated 9 April 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-funds--2/public-funds

If you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, it may include a no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition. Those who do not have permission to be in the UK and require it will also have no recourse to public funds. The NRPF condition means you will not be able to claim most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance that are paid by the state.

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, HM Revenue & Customs, Social Security Scotland or Department for Communities (NI).

Public funds for immigration purposes include the following:

Benefits open to new claims

  • Universal Credit
  • State Pension Credit
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Health in Pregnancy Grant

Social Fund payments made in England and Wales under section 138(1)(a) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992

  • Maternity Expenses Payment
  • Funeral Expenses Payment
  • Cold Weather Payment
  • Winter Fuel Payment
  • Budgeting Loan Payment

Social Fund payments made in Northern Ireland under section 134(1)(a) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

  • Sure Start Maternity Grant Payment
  • Funeral Expenses Payment
  • Cold Weather Payment
  • Winter Fuel Payment
  • Budgeting Loan Payment

Benefits closed to new claims

  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Income Based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

Other benefits

  • Child Benefit
  • Social Housing & Homelessness Assistance
  • Council Tax Reduction Schemes
  • A Discretionary Support Payment made in accordance with any regulations made under article 135 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015
  • A Discretionary Payment made by a local authority under section 1 of the Localism Act 2011

Social Security Scotland Benefits

  • Child Disability Payment
  • Adult Disability Payment
  • Carer’s Allowance Supplement
  • Scottish Child Payment
  • Funeral Support Payment
  • Job Start Payment
  • Child Winter Heating Assistance
  • Winter Heating Payment
  • A Payment made from a Welfare Fund under the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act 2015
  • Carer’s Support Payment
  • Pension Age Disability Payment
  • Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
  • Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

Contributory benefits and statutory payments

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. People with no recourse to public funds who have paid the necessary National Insurance contributions or have relevant periods of employment or self-employment can claim contributory benefits and statutory payments.

The following benefits and statutory payments are not considered public funds for immigration purposes:

  • New-Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Guardian’s Allowance (if in receipt of Child Benefit)
  • New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Maternity Allowance
  • State Pension
  • Statutory Sick Pay
  • Bereavement Support Payment
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Statutory parental payments (Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay)

More detailed information on public funds can be found in the Public funds guidance document.

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