GOV.UK Chat

What Is It, In Plain Words?

GOV.UK Chat is the UK government's own AI chat tool. It answers questions using only official GOV.UK guidance, about things like benefits, pensions and tax.

It launched in May 2026 inside the official GOV.UK app. Because it only uses GOV.UK pages, it's a safer place to start than a general chatbot for government questions.

What You Can Use It For

• Pensions. "When can I get my State Pension?"
• Benefits. "Can I get Pension Credit if I own my home?"
• Tax. "Do I need to fill in a tax return if I rent out a room?"

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Phone Or Tablet

1. Open the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android).
2. Search for GOV.UK and check it's made by Government Digital Service (GDS). Copycat apps exist.
3. Tap Get or Install, then open it.
4. Open the app and look for Chat.

Asking A Question

1. Type your question in plain words.
2. Read the answer, and tap the links to the GOV.UK pages it used.
3. Follow those pages for forms and official next steps.

Things To Try Typing

Copy any of these, or change the details to suit you.

What It Costs

It's free. There's no paid version to buy.

If anyone asks you to pay to use it, or to "unlock" it, that's a scam.

Privacy And Safety

• Don't share personal details such as your National Insurance number, address or bank details in the chat. It doesn't need them to answer.
• GOV.UK Chat will never ask you to pay. Scam websites copy government branding, so only use the official GOV.UK app.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).
• Check important answers about health, money or the law with your doctor, pharmacist, bank or a qualified adviser.

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Answers come only from official GOV.UK guidance.
• Links take you to the right official page.
• The GOV.UK app follows your phone's text size settings.

Watch-Outs

• It can still make mistakes. Check the linked GOV.UK page before acting.
• It can't see your own records or tell you about your own claim.
• It's UK only.

Similar Tools

• ChatGPT: the best-known chatbot, with a simple app and voice mode.
• Perplexity: an AI search engine that shows where each answer came from.
• Google AI Mode: longer questions answered inside Google Search.

Common Questions

Is GOV.UK Chat free?

Yes. It's free in the official GOV.UK app.

Can GOV.UK Chat see my benefits or tax records?

No. It gives general answers from GOV.UK guidance and can't see your personal records.

Is there a US version?

No. For US government help use USA.gov and SSA.gov, which are official sites but not AI chat tools.