Financial support for people with arthritis

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What financial support is available?

You may be entitled to financial support if your condition is making it difficult to do everyday tasks such as getting about or caring for yourself, and this is causing you extra living expenses.

These benefits and schemes are available across the UK but may be managed differently within each of the four nations. The help you can get may differ, depending on whether you live in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or England.

Help with NHS costs

Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not in England.

If you live in England, most prescriptions are not free. You may be able to get help paying for prescriptions, depending on the type of benefit you receive or your health condition. You may also be able to get help towards paying some other NHS costs, such as for dental care, hospital travel fares, and eyecare, through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

If you have several items prescribed and have to pay for them, a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) may save you money. You can buy PPCs from the NHS. These are available for three or twelve months. You can only get a PPC if you live in England.

For further information on PPCs and how to purchase them, visit this Government website.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit combines some of the main benefit payments into a single payment, to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly or twice a month for some people living in Scotland.

You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work due to your health condition. Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit. Payments will depend on your personal circumstances, income and savings.

It is currently being rolled out across the UK to replace:

  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseekers allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You may be able to get help with health costs if you’re receiving Universal Credit.

For further information on Universal Credit and how to claim, visit this Government website.

If you live in Northern Ireland you can find more information about Universal Credit on the nidirect website.

The following organisations offer advice about Universal Credit:

Pension Credits

The national State Pension age is the age you can start claiming pension payments from the government. The state pension age is 66 for both men and women, but will start gradually increasing again from 2026.

Your pension award will depend on how much National Insurance you’ve paid during your working life. You can check your current pension status on the gov.uk website.

If you’ve reached State Pension age and you’re living on a low income, have a severe disability, or care for another person, you may be able to claim more financial assistance through Pension Credits.

Pension Credits can entitle you to reduced costs for things such as Council Tax, heating and NHS services.

For further information on Pension Credits and how to claim, visit this government website.

If you live in Northern Ireland you can find more information about how the State Pension and Pension Credits work on the nidirect website.

The following organisations offer information and advice on Pension Credits:

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and have a health condition, who need extra help to stay independent. Attendance Allowance is paid every four weeks at two different rates – the one you get depends on the level of help you need.

Attendance Allowance is not means-tested - what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.

For further information on Attendance Allowance and how to claim, visit this Government website.

In Scotland, Attendance Allowance is being replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment. For further information on Pension Age Disability Payment and how to apply, visit the mygov.scot website.

If you live in Northern Ireland you can find more information on the nidirect website about Attendance Allowance.

Personal Independence Payment

If your condition has made daily life and your ability to get around difficult for at least three months and is expected to continue causing difficulty for a further nine months or more, you may qualify for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

There are two elements to PIP - daily living and mobility costs. You may be able to claim one, or both payments, depending on how your condition affects you.

PIP funding for daily living can help pay for the additional aids that make everyday tasks easier, adaptations to your home, or assistance from a support worker.

The mobility element can help if your condition limits your ability to get out and about. For example, you might use it to help lease an adapted vehicle from the Motability Scheme.

PIP replaced the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged between 16 and 64. You can find information on PIP for those living in England and Wales on this Government website.

You can find more information about how PIP works in Northern Ireland on the nidirect website. 

In Scotland PIP is being replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP). You can find more information about ADP information on the Social Security Scotland website.

The following organisations offer information and advice on PIP:

If you live in Northern Ireland you can find more information on PIP here.

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

  • is under 16
  • has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

For further information on DLA for children and how to claim, visit this Government website.

If your child lives in Scotland, you need to apply for Child Disability Payment instead of DLA for children. For further information for Child Disability Payment and how to apply, visit this mygov.scot website.

If your child lives in Northern Ireland, you can find more information on DLA for children and how to apply on the nidirect website.

New Style Employment and Support Allowance

If you are ill or have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work you may be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The New Style ESA has replaced the old ESA for new claimants. Existing claimants can continue to claim the old ESA.

For further information on New Style ESA and how to apply, please visit this Government website.

If you live in Northern Ireland you can find more information about New Style ESA and how to apply on the nidirect website.

You can find more information on the New Style ESA in the following sites:

Related information

Carer's Allowance

Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit available to a person aged over 16, who spends 35 hours a week or more, caring for someone.

People who claim Carer’s Allowance receive National Insurance credits and may be eligible for other benefits and grants because of their caring responsibilities. However, it can affect some benefits received by either the carer or the person they care for.

If you are not eligible to receive this benefit you may still claim Carer’s Credit, which helps with gaps in your National Insurance record.

Carer’s Allowance is available in Northern Ireland, England and Wales. 

A new benefit called Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

This is happening as part of Scottish devolution.

Your benefit will move from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Social Security Scotland if you:

  • get Carer's Allowance
  • live in Scotland

For more information on Carer’s Allowance changes in Scotland visit, this mygov.scot website.

Access to work

Access to Work is a government grant that can help people start or stay in work if they have a long-term health condition.

If you’re eligible it could help pay for things such as:

  • special aids, adaptations or equipment that help you do your work.
  • travel to and from work if you can’t use public transport.
  • access to support workers, such as a job coach to help you in your work.
  • mental health support.

For more information visit About Access to Work in England, Scotland or Wales.

If you live in Northern Ireland, the nidirect website has information about the Access to Work scheme.

For further information to help you make informed decisions about work, visit our Work and Arthritis pages.

Government loans

You may be able to get a loan to pay for things such as furniture, household items, bills, loan repayments, rent, or costs linked to a new job.

There are a number of loans available through your Universal Credit account, which may allow you to borrow against future payments.

If you’re not on Universal Credit or you’re receiving Pension Credit, you may be able to claim a Budgeting Loan.

If you live in Northern Ireland the nidirect website has information about advance payments if you’re receiving Universal Credit and Budgeting loans.

Additional support to help with living costs

If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits you may be able to get help with bills, daily living and travel expenses, such as:

Cold Weather Payments 

If you live in England or Wales you may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments. You will get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. For further information, visit this Government website.

If you live in Northern Ireland and the temperature in your area drops to zero degrees or below, for seven days in a row between November and March, you may be entitled to Cold Weather Payments. For further information, visit the nidirect website.

If you live in Scotland you cannot get Cold Weather Payments, however, you may be able to receive a Winter Heating Payment.

Independent living

If your condition makes it difficult to carry out daily activities or to get around your home, your local authority adaptation service may be able to help.

They can often provide aids, such as electric can openers or mattress toppers. They can make adaptations to your home, which may include fitting handrails and ramps. This service may be provided for free, depending on your level of need.

In England and Wales you can find your local authority’s home adaptations service by entering your postcode on the gov.uk website.

For information on the support available for aids and adaptations in Scotland and Northern Ireland visit the following websites:

You can find more information about gadgets and equipment on our Gadgets and equipment for your home page.

Disabled Facilities Grants

If you need to make changes to your home because of your condition or disability you may be able to claim a Disabled Facilities Grant. How much you get will depend on your income and savings. For further information, visit this Government website.

If you live in Northern Ireland, visit this website for more advice on how to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grants.

If you live in Scotland you can find information on adaptations and support on the mygov.scot website.

Help with additional housing costs

Discretionary Housing Payments provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs. Discretionary Housing Payments are available in England and Wales. You can check out the availability of discretionary housing payments within your council.

If you live in Scotland, visit the mygov.scot website for further information and advice on applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

For information on support with housing costs in Northern Ireland, visit the nidirect website.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Affordable Warmth from your energy provider to help reduce heating costs and repairs to your boiler.

Lower council tax bills with a Council Tax Reduction in Great Britain, or Rate Relief or a Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland.

Lower water bills through WaterSure in England and Wales.