We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More » This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Benefits & tax credits

Archives for February 2015

ESA up for renewal, In a right state :(
Hello guys I was awarded ESA (support group) in Aug 2013, up until now for some reason I thought I was awarded it for 3 years, but last week I get the renewal questionnaire and Im so worried, I called the social as I thought it was 3 years but she told me it was 2, she also stated that '99% of the time people who are in…
ESA saying sick note expired when it hasn't
My daughter applied for ESA on 30th January and got a sick note from the doctor on which he put 30th March as the expiry date. Yesterday we get a letter from esa saying Her sicknote expires on 5th March. I phoned the doctor about getting another one and he said he won't write one until 30th March as as far as he's…
Income Disregard ??? Please help
Hi, Could someone please explain the Income Disregard to me ??? I have spoken to the Tax Credit Helpline but the explanations they give me conflict with previous advice they have given me. The estimate for this years earning for my partner and I will be very close as we both work part time and share looking after our young…
Idiot ESA question.
Sorry this is probably a stupid question but I can't call the job centre to clarify so I thought I'd ask here as I'm sure there's many people not as seemingly dim as I am. I'm in receipt of ESA. I received a letter today stating changes to the amount. It gives a break down of payment like this. Your living expenses -…
How will a change in Circumstances affect Income Based ESA
Hi All. My Daughter currently lives on her own but will need to come and live with us for a while whilst she gets her own place sorted out. She is currently receiving Income Based ESA Support Group and gets the Enhanced Disability Premium and Severe Disability Premium. She also receives the Enhanced rate for Care in PIP.…
Working Tax Assistance Please
Ok bare with me this is my first post. On paper im working 24hours a week. Am I currently entitled to working tax? From what I can find out the minimum is 30hours per week. I have asked my employer and can get my hours upped to 30per week if it means im entitled to working tax help. Ive worked for over 2years with 24hours…
Tax credits
Hi, I'm trying to check some figures on my tax credit award and the helpline isn't being particularly helpful. I'm self employed with a tax year end of May 31st. My self assessment runs a year behind ie - what I make to April 2014 makes up my april 2015 as I wouldn't know until the May. For tax credits do I put in what i…
Jo_H's thread disappeared?
Is it just me or did a thread on IB ESA just disappear? There was nothing abusive on it? In case Jo still needs help, can you tell us how much your partner receives? It may be that he just receives the CB element and the letter is a mistake. Edit: it has reappeared and been locked. No idea why!
Work focused interviews for partners
Hi - My husband suffers from MS and is virtually housebound. He receives Income Related ESA (Support Group) and has recently been awarded the standard rate PIP for both day to day living and mobility. Today I received a letter saying I have to go to a work focused interview with a personal partner - the thing is, I'm in…
Converting from ESA to JSA
How does this work? I have been signed off for 10 months and unlikely to be signed off any further (dont feel ready, but never mind). I will have to start looking for a job and thus become a "job seeker". Do I just call DWP and tell them and they transfer me to the Jobcentreplus? Anyone have any experience?
HB/CTB HMRC tax return & self employment expenses
Hi, I am self employed doing cleaning work, I walk to one of the jobs where I go twice a week but the other one I drive to once a week which is a 15 mile round trip from home to work. I have recently increased my hours so I informed HB / CTB, I sent a new self employed form to them and they have written back asking me to…
If i stop JSA what else will i lose?
Im a part time working single mum of two school age kids. Long story short, Im also setting u m own business which is going well. Im no getting any finanical hep with this incase it counts. Basically with hubby having passed away, i went back to work as soon as youngest in school a few years ago now. when youngest was a…
Hospitalisation and benefits
I wonder if anyone an help me with information about how a hospital stay affects benefits please? I have been in hospital 3 weeks and I seem to vaguely remember that benefits are affected after 4weeks - is this true? Is this true in all circumstances? There is my husband, me & 2 school aged children. We get income related…
Overpayment in council tax and housing benefit?? not my error....
Ill try to keep this as short and easy as possible... 2009-2010 i was a single parent, employed part time and paying £80 a week in childcare, receiving working tax, child tax and full HB and CTB. end of 2010 i started on income support as had to leave work due to a family bereavement, my child started the free nursery…
Can I go back on ESA?
Hi, I really need some accurate advice I have looked on web but cant seem to get a straight answer. in early August 2014 I attended an atos medical, by sept 2014 I received a letter stating I failed medical and no longer entitiled to esa, I did not appeal this decision and went on to JSA by end of Sept 2014. I have tried…
Tax credits - confused
Really (probably easily) confused at the moment. Went onto the tax credits website to see if the 1st March would = last payment. I was forward thinking for the new tax year on the 6th April. Anyway sheer panic has now set in re my husbands change of job back in July. We're completely new to tax credits due to having a baby…
weekly signing
Do you now get paid weekly or fortnightly when signing weekly?
Prove you live alone.
I've just had my weekly email from Paul Lewis saying what's on his show this week. And this is one of the subjects he's talking about ....... Prove you live alone Thousands of single parents are being written to by an American outsourcing company demanding proof that they are not cohabiting. Concentrix is writing the…
Does a DEA from the DWP appear in a credit search ?
Does a direct earnings attachment from the DWP appear in a credit search please ? I have looked everywhere without finding an answer ! Thank you
homelessness due to hb...
Ok, I think this is the best place to put this, but it's a long one... The weekend before xmas I lost my job. I wanted to put in my claim for housing benefit straight away but found out that the previous tennant was still claiming hb, even though he had not been in the property for the prior year (And was actually living…

★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

View All

Benefits & tax credits

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free

Benefits & tax credits

Discussion List

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free