If you are not a British or Irish national, or you are but you aren't living the UK, you may not be able to claim benefits in the United Kingdom, or access other services including rented accommodation.

The entitledto calculator does not work out whether you meet the conditions for claiming benefits, but you can use the links below to find out more about who is and is not eligible. 

Important! Please read Your documents from the Home Office should tell you which status you have. You need to know this before applying for benefits. If you are not sure what your immigration status is seek specialist advice before using this calculator and/or making a claim for benefits. Claiming benefits could affect your right to stay in the UK.

Definitions of immigration status

British or Irish

Select this status if you are a British or Irish citizen living in the UK. You should also select this option if you are living in the UK and are from the Common Travel Area.

If you (and your partner, if you have one) have this status you will be able to claim any benefits you are entitled to.

If you are not living in the UK you should seek advice about your entitlements. If you have returned to the UK after a lengthy absence you may have to pass the Habitual Residence test.

You do not automatically get British citizenship if you were born in the UK, your citizenship depends on when you were born and your parents’ circumstances. The Gov.uk has information on how to check if you're a British citizen.

EU Settled Status

Select this status if you were living in the UK on 31 December 2020 as an EEA national, or as the family member of an EEA national, and have been awarded settled status after applying for leave to remain in the UK under the EU settled status scheme.

If you (and your partner, if you have one) have this status you will be eligible to claim any benefits you are entitled to, though you may have to pass the Habitual Residence test.

The following help pages provide more information:
EEA nationals and their family members until 2020
EEA nationals and their family members after 2021

EU Pre-settled Status

Select this status if you were living in the UK on 31 December 2020 as an EEA national, or as the family member of an EEA national and have been awarded pre-settled status after applying for leave to remain in the UK under the EU settled status scheme.

If you (and your partner, if you have one) have this status your entitlement to benefits will depend on whether you also have a right to reside.

If you do have a right to reside you will be eligible to claim any benefits you are entitled to, although depending which right to reside you have, you may also have to pass the Habitual Residence test.

If you do not have a right to reside you may be eligible for a limited amount of benefits. These include Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance if you can pass the Habitual Residence test. You could also claim contributory benefits if you have the required national insurance contributions, such as new-style Jobseeker's Allowance and new-style Employment and Support Allowance. You won’t be able to claim any other benefits until your right to reside status changes.

The following help pages provide more information:
EEA nationals and their family members until 2020
EEA nationals and their family members after 2021

Indefinite Leave to Remain/Enter

Select this status if there are no time limits on your ability to stay in the UK and you are settled here.

If you (and your partner, if you have one) have this status you will be able to claim any benefits you are entitled to. You may also have to pass the Habitual Residence test.

See the Immigration status and benefits help page for more information.

Limited Leave to Remain/Enter

Select this status if you do have time limits on your ability to stay in the UK and your Home Office documents say you do not have recourse to public funds.

In most cases, if you (and your partner if you have one) have this status, you can’t make a claim for most of the benefits this calculator identifies. If you try to claim something you are not entitled to this may affect your next visa application.

You may however be eligible for contributory benefits, such as new-style Jobseeker's Allowance and new-style Employment and Support Allowance, if you have the required national insurance contributions.

If your Home Office documents say you do have the right to claim public funds you may be eligible for means-tested benefits as well but this is not common.

See the Immigration status and benefits help page for more information.

Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection

Select this status if you have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection status after an asylum application or through one of the government programmes to resettle refugees in the UK. This includes recent arrivals from Syria, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Ukraine (if not applying to be in the UK through family connections) and Sudan.

If you (and your partner, if you have one) have this status you will be able to claim any benefits you are entitled to. 

Asylum Seeker

Select this status if you are currently making a claim for asylum and are still waiting for a decision.

If you (and your partner if you have one) have this status, you can’t make a claim for most of the benefits this calculator identifies but you may be able to get asylum support from the UK Home Office Border Agency.

See the Immigration status and benefits help page for more information.

Other groups

If your immigration status isn’t listed above you should seek specialist advice before using this calculator and/or making a claim for benefits. See the Immigration status and benefits help page for more information.

Couples/families with different statuses

Claiming a benefit, or having someone else's benefit claim increased to cover you, if you don't have a right to do so, could affect your status in the UK.

If you are in a couple or family where you aren't all eligible to claim benefits you should see the Benefit rules for mixed citizenship couples help page and seek specialist advice. 

Further help

See the Support organisations that can assist non British or Irish nationals help page.