PART 2 OF OUR STRUGGLING HOUSEHOLDS ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT COULD SOON GET THESE FREEBIES BEFORE PAYMENTS RISE

Here is part two of our piece on the rising cost and the freebies you can access via the government. We hope this information is helpful in saving those pennies. So lets lick things off.

Free £500 if you're pregnant

You may be able to get a one off payment worth £500 to help towards the costs of having a child through the Sure Start Maternity Grant.

You don't have to pay it back and you can find out who's eligible here.

You'll qualify for the grant if you're already claiming benefits and you're expecting your first child, or expecting twins or triplets and have children already.

New parents must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby's due date or within six months after the baby is born.

To claim, you'll need to print out and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.

A health professional such as a doctor or midwife must also sign it before you post it to Freepost DWP SSMG.

FREE MILK, FRUIT AND VEG

The Healthy Start scheme offers thousands of parents on low incomes help to feed their kids.

You get a prepaid card and payments worth up to £442 a year for those claiming certain benefits.

You can start getting the cash from ten weeks pregnant up to when the child turns four.

The card can be used at major supermarkets and shops to but the following:

• Cow’s milk

• Fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables

• Infant formula milk

• Fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

FREE CHILDCARE

If you claim Universal Credit, you might be able to get a refund on most of your childcare costs.

You can claim back 85% of childcare costs up to £646 for one child or £1,108 for two or more up to August 31 following the child’s 16th birthday.

You will have to pay your childcare costs yourself up front and then claim the money back through Universal Credit.

Organisations have been calling on the government to change rules and pay parents up-front for childcare costs.

Parents may also be able to take advantage of other childcare support, whether you're claiming Universal Credit or not, including up to 30 hours free childcare.

UP TO £1,200 BONUS FOR SAVING

Not everyone is in a position to save, but of you are it's worth getting a specific account that offers a generous bonus.

With the Help to Save account, anyone on Universal Credit can put away between £1 and £50 every month and you get a 50% bonus on top.

If you save the maximum amount over four years you can get a sum of £1,200 from the government, topping up your own savings of £2,400.

But you can still get some of the bonus even by saving a small amount.

Water Saving Devices And Bill Help

Many water companies offer free water-saving devices that shave pounds off your bills - just contact your supplier.

Freebies include shower timers and buffalo bags, which save water with every flush. Check out savewatersavemoney. co.uk.

Large families on Universal Credit or other benefits may be eligible for a cap on their bills under the WaterSure scheme.

To qualify for the scheme you need to already have a water meter installed, and prove you need to use a lot of water.

You also need to have three or more children under the age of 19 living in the house, and receive child benefit for them.

Free Prescriptions And Dental Treatment

You could also get help with covering health costs, such as paying for your prescriptions and dental treatment.

To claim, you’ll need to show a copy of your Universal Credit award notice.

You won’t be able to claim on health costs before you were deemed eligible for the Universal Credit.

You could also get help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses and money for travel costs for treatment.

The NHS has outlined more information on how to go about claiming here.