Benefits & tax credits

Its about helping people get their entitlement! Not about benefits policy! This board is here for help and support for those on or looking to claim benefits, not for judgement. Its ONLY focus is helping people with their money. It's here to help people find out what they are entitled to under the current system, and to…

MoneySavingExpert insert: Huge thanks to Fran for compiling this list some time ago. The MSE article and forum links are up to date but links to other sites may be broken. Back to Fran's original post: ---- The following links may prove useful in looking for information about Benefits and Jobseeking. MSE Attendance…

Hey all A couple of changes for me personally (recently) In late June I ended up needing to attend the urgent care service (as directed by 101). This was due to quite severe edema that wasn't going away and other symptoms. Anyhow I was given antibiotics by the duty nurse, and told on the night to get an urgent appt with my…

Hi everyone, I'm completing the UC Check and confirm your details task and have noticed three discrepancies: Housing: Says "Change occurred on 30 September 2024", but we moved in on 15 May 2024 (UC claim started 29 August 2024). Bank account: Details are correct, but says "Effective from 25 June 2025", although the account…

just wondering if this is normal. Long story short. Was working 2 jobs self employed window cleaning morning employed cleaner afternoon. Had a bad stroke lost all right side. One year later employer stopped sick pay so I resigned as wasn’t sure I’d ever be capable to go back. Regarding my SE I got someone working it kept…

Both my husband and I have not had any change in circumstances since last winter, - both born on or before 27/06/1960 - so I was surprised to receive my letter today wrongly telling me that I will receive £200 due to not living with anyone else in my house who qualifies. Obviously I will need to contact them now, but…

It's that time of year again. The qualifying date for this year's scheme was 23 August 2026. If you were eligible on that date, and your energy supplier is part of the scheme (most are), the you will get the WHD this year. https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme EDIT 19th October - The scheme is now ‘Live’ and the…

My wife was recently awarded PIP at a tribunal hearing. She suffers from fibromyalgia and anxiety, as well as a few other things. Due to her struggles I nominated myself as her representative and I did all her forms for her, and was present on the call with the tribunal. The whole process was so (unnecessarily) stressful…

Hi All, Current circumstances Death of close family member 1 week ago Lifetime ISA > 16k JSA entitlement (6 months) literally ran out today I am in no fit state to return to any form of employment yet. I am wondering if there is any other benefit I can attempt to claim. I made a claim over the phone for PIP yesterday. I…

Does anyone have any insight into the application process that isn't available online? Reason being, I'm almost 3 months into UC now and have hit a brick wall. I seemingly can't even get the ball rolling. Having left multiple journal messages, first being at the start of August, and phoning UC. The most recent update…

It's over 6 months now since I reached State Pension Age and my UC ended. At that time I still owed £159.50 on a budgeting advance that I had taken the year before. I expected Debt Management to be quick to contact me to make arrangements to pay it off, but I haven't heard anything from them as yet. I know that generally…

I wrote to the DWP asking for a mandatory reconsideration of my pension credit award as they had failed to take permanent disregards into account when assessing the award. I thought this would be a fairly straightforward procedure. Especially as I sent therm a detailed list of such disregards with dates of payments…

I seem to have one of these UC reviews again my last one was around late 2024 is this usual to have two reviews within this period, anyways I’m not too fussed as I’m guessing it’s just regular thing they do but I’m a little concerned regarding a payment I received into my account from a friend, it was a rather large…

hello, just wondered if anyone knows how long decisions are taking regards pension credit. I phoned to see how my application made in August was doing and was told they have it (got email when submitted too saying I would know by 19 October) but it has not been looked at yet. She said they could not give any indication of…

Hello, I'm after some advice on what is becoming a somewhat complicated situation. A few days ago myself and partner received a DWP letter saying we owe £1690 and we need to pay it back, or start to, by 4th September. No other information given. Called DWP yesterday to try and find out more, they said it is related to…

Hi all, hoping for advice. I'll summarise the situation and any advice iro my business, home arrangements, job seeking or benefit advice.. id welcome it all. I've been self employed 24 years following diagnosis of a rare disease. It makes it impossible to do a 9 to 5 job outside of the home. So I sell handmade items via my…

I didn't want to bump my previous thread as this is new and separate, but there's been discussion recently about UC reviews and so I just wanted to add this into the mix. Less than a year after my previous review was concluded (needlessly dragged out for MONTHS by them being adamant I had more savings than I actually had)…

Just after a quick bit of advice for someone. DLA renewal sent 16.07.26 due to expire 29.10.26 Decision made on 20.10.26 Normal 4 week payment being made on Tuesday, 27.10.26 If the claim has been closed should they still receive the above payment? Or should the payment be a week short, as decision made on 20.10.26? DLA…

Hi all, I've had a lovely letter from HMRC saying due to my income I need to pay the child benefit income charge. I don't understand tax. I used the calculator and worked out my adjusted income after my pension and it suggested I owe £108. Log onto the GOV site to sort it out and its close to £1,000 for this year. My…

My hospital appointee today collected my wca. She said it will likely take her two weeks to fill in and send back in the freepost envelope. I said that's fine as long as they have it. Will I be able to check my statement on the 17th November and get paid on the 21st November? Has anyone been through this in a hospital…

I received the letter about legacy benefits ending and that I have to sign on to Universal Credit via managed migration a few weeks ago. I have been on Income Support and then ESA for the better part of 20 years (since 2005) because I've been on mental health medication, but in that time I have been volunteering at charity…

Hello I have been waiting for over a year for a PIP tribunal hearing does anyone have ideas on how long this could take. Ive tried checking but it just says that's waiting for a court date. Due to not having up-to-date date evidence which the accept I have been declined and now have to go to court.