Public funds
Updated 5 October 2023
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
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.