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Benefits & tax credits

Archives for August 2020

Housing Benefit - Upfront Payment of Rent
As a result of complex mental health problems, and serious personal issues, I had to take out a DRO a few years ago. I am now a mature student. I need to move out of my family home, am looking at rental properties and need to pay for this via housing benefit. Obviously my credit file, and to a lesser extent, my student…
Claiming carer’s allowance, how will it affect other benefits?
Can anyone please tell me the if claiming carer’s allowance would have any impact on other benefits. 18 year old who still lives at home but is not in education and is not working is looking to claim carer’s allowance for taking care of his disabled father. His father gets enhanced pip (both), housing benefit and council…
Benefit in kind not taxed
I have a weird claim from HMRC where it says that taxes have not been paid for the benefit in kind provided from the company. How should I behave? How should I approach the company in such situation?Obviously I don't think I should pay taxes on them, that's company stuff but HMRC claims on me!
Child 16 wanting to work
Our daughter starts college full time in September but she wants to work part time to earn a little bit of money, we are not sure if it affects our benefits? We currently get income support, income based, partner gets high DLA mobility and Care and I care for him as his carer.Will what our daughter earns working parttime…
Wife quit to look after child?
We are both 28 and have a child under 3, living as private tenants, I am on the search for a new job as Covid put my last company under, she is currently working 3-4 days a week making £6-700 before tax. Due to her start times and the possible shift patterns for me that her employer cannot help us with we cannot fit our…
When can my son claim UC?
My 19 year old son left full time education in June, I am still receiving child benefit for him which ends tomorrow I believe. He is only doing very part time work in a school, despite applying for many jobs and getting no -where. Can he apply for UC in the next couple of days when I officially stop receiving child benefit…
Universal Credit & Council Tax
I work 17 hours a week and until recently was receiving Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Child Benefit and a small amount of HB. My 19 yr old son has now left college so we have both applied for UC. So, I'm trying to work out if I'll still be better off in work. I can't work more hours due to my health & I already…
Pension Credit - DWP calls to ask if savings exceed £6k - Why?
I had a phone call from a friend the other day. Aparrently someone from the DWP had called to check if her savings exceeded £6k. As I look after her finances she told them that she didn't know, and they said fine and goodbye. Firstly, I'm worried that this is some scammer on a fishing trip; secondly, if it was the DWP (who…
ESA and occupational pension payments
HI I'm looking for some advice, I'm currently receiving contribution based ESA and in a support group I have been reciept of this benefit since 1998 and was migrated from the old incapacity benefit . Also I receive health Insurance payments which totals £900 per month. I recently recieved a letter from the dreaded DWP…
Dla
I’m currently getting DLA for my daughter but she was under 3 so only getting the care part. Now she has had her 3rd birthday I want to claim the mobility side of DLA. Does this mean a new application or change of circumstances and will it affect the money we get for her till application is dealt with.
Confusing situation but can't get hold of anyone to seek advice.
Hello, To get up to speed, my husband was involved in a motorcycle accident August 2019. He is still waiting on full reconstructive surgery on his knee. (Unfortunately it was an injury missed by hospital, he had a broken pelvis which took priority). At the time, he was in full time employment working in a production…
Council Tax Figure Changes
Does anyone understand CT much? My mum had her bill earlier in the year and because it wasn’t a high contribution, paid the whole bill in full. Her account previously said £0 once paid. Now it’s showing a minus figure of something like £130ish. What does this mean?
ESA Appeal
I was in receipt of ESA (support group) until Jan 2019 when I was moved into the WRAG. I did an MR, followed by an appeal. March 2020 I had another medical, no response etc from DWP so presumed it was due to the corona lockdown. I had my tribunal last week, was put back into the support group, backdated to Jan 2019, with a…
On Universal Credit, and moved back in with parents, do I have to pay rent?
Parents are pensioners and on low income. They get full housing benefits and council tax benefits which means they pay next to nothing.I may be staying here for 1 year to pick myself back up.Do I need to tell the council? How to tell the council? How would this affect their benefits?Do I need to pay anything? If so how…
Self employed and minimum income floor
I am self employed. Due to the lockdown I had to stop working. Whilst I had no earnings I received the single person with no dependants amount of just over £409. I do not qualify to claim housing benefit or any other additional payments. As soon as it was allowed I started working again but I have lost clients due to their…
Do I have to declare tax rebate on housing benefit
Hi all, I’ve just been paid over £900 by HMRC in a tax rebate and I’m wondering whether this is something I have to declare as I receive housing benefit and council tax benefit (I’m guessing yes but wanted to make sure). complicating it is that I’m about to end both claims as I’m moving at end of October so I could simply…
Pip tribunal win
I have just won my PIP tribunal with a telephone interview with the tribunal judges. It means i have been awarded standard rate for daily living to be dated back to 17th september 2019. Any idea when i will be paid this back payment from DWP? I phoned and the guy wasnt best at explaining saying with coronavirus everything…
Can Attachment of Earnings (DWP) be holted
Hi, I've become alerted that DWP intend to do attachment of earnings. They finally wrote middle of this month demanding payment I didn't have it in full to give immediately at the time of demand and being stupid just didn't appreciate they would go for Attachment of Earnings in literally day's. My question is if I were to…
Who pays childcare?!
I've just started working full time, my ex Partner has 2 full time jobs too. He says I should claim 85%nursety fees from government, as all he has to give me is what child maintenance say. He's calculated this at £270. The fees are £1150 and I've been told by job Center I COULD claim up to £650. That's still £500 short.…
Is there any way to chase up PIP appeals?
I'm at the stage where I'm awaiting a date for tribunal for PIP appeal, but I've heard nothing since February and even then it was unclear what was happening. This is my second time applying after last time they completely lost my claim (no record of my applying, let alone medical assessments), so I'm really paranoid that…

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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.

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Benefits & tax credits

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