-
BIG ISSUE WHEN STATE PENSION IS ABOVE TAX THRESHOLD
I have just received this answer from my local council benefit office - We will not be adjusting income for the past year when your HMRC tax bill is received My state pension this financial year is more than my tax allowance so is being used as a test case by my local councillor That means from April 2027 under the current…
-
Millions of Warm Home Discount letters being sent – how to tell if yours is genuine
Millions of households in England, Scotland and Wales will soon receive a letter from the Government confirming their eligibility for the £150 Warm Home Discount. But sadly this inevitably means scammers will be taking advantage of it. Here's what you need to know to make sure your letter is genuine... Read the full story:…
-
Students & Universal Credit
Hello, Are there any circumstances in which students are eligible for universal credit? Single, full-time postgraduate student, receiving PIP & works few hours (can’t work more due to disability). Pays rent for flat. Receiving the government’s postgraduate loan. Thanks for any advice.
-
Student Council Tax Exemption.
Hello, I am a little confused around student council tax exemption - could someone enlighten me please? It’s summer 2025. Student 1 has just finished Y2 and is continuing into Y3/final year for academic year 2025-26 as a full-time student (& they receive PIP). Student 2 has just finished Y3/final year, in process of…
-
Council Tax Support and Carers Allowance
Hello I am on a low income and receive Council Tax Support, I am also a carer for my elderly Dad and would be eligible for carers allowance. If I claim carers allowance does anyone know if this will contribute towards the income calculation they use for council tax benefit? Could I end up paying more council tax? I will…
-
Pip review
Hi Not sure if anyone can help partner has had a text to say review complete and a decision will arrive within 2 weeks Then I rang the helpline to be told new amount for next payment so thinking he has had his award increased Then I sign onto gov website to ask for statement of entitlement which shows same amount that he's…
-
Moved: mortgage application with TSB
This discussion has been moved.
-
Carers Allowance Processing Time
my carer has recently applied for carers allowance. I received a letter from DWP letting me know they were claiming. They put the claim in on 15th August this year and still haven’t received anything. Can anyone who has recently applied for carers allowance kindly confirm how long you waited between making the application…
-
Universal credit stopped
I've been claiming universal credit while working full time and would always receive a payment if only working my basic hours, next month will be my 6th month in a row where I've not had any universal credit payment due to having hammered overtime for Christmas. I believe that my claim will now be closed due to 6 months…
-
U/C and pension savings
My daughter was given a huge rebate from DWP, back paid 9 yrs. She has lost her Housing benefit and U / C. because of this rebate. She has epilepsy / mental health issues and cannot get a job. She is in her mid 30's. My question is, can we put the money into a pension plan for her and declare it, or will it be held against…
-
Blue badge error will cost me money
I've had a blue badge now for approx 5 years , the second issue expires on 1/11/25 , I applied for a new one 7 weeks ago ( if your not familiar it's takes ages ) they've had the application for all this time , and took the £10! , I had a letter on Friday saying my application has been refused due to the fact that I hadn't…
-
DWP - Infuriating
Background is I started a new style ESA claim 31st July 2025. I followed every single request, to the letter, before every deadline. At every juncture, the DWP have been the complete opposite, including missing phone call appointments. I have been very patient up to now. However, I am autistic, this incompetence is beyond…
-
ESA and SSP enhancement
Hi, My wife is employed as a director of her own business (a community interest company, CIC). In April she was diagnosed with breast cancer and immediately started claiming SSP to focus on her health. Prior to this she was paying herself for 16 hours p/w at minimum wage. Her SSP ends now-ish and as she has just started…
-
Moved from ESA to UC, ESA stopped, LWCRA added and then deducted
Hi, I'm writing this on behalf of my neighbour. She is deaf as well as other medical problems so on her behalf in the past I have rang PIP a number of times for queries etc. Last month she got her letter from ESA stating it was being replaced with UC and that she was invited to sign up for a UC account, if not, her benefit…
-
Universal Credit Journal and ISA
I have updated my universal credit savings as now I have £8,000 in the ISA account, the last time I checked that account it was well under £6,000 I totally forgot about that ISA account when declaring my savings. How long does it take them to respond in the journal? I need to get some stuff for my home and use the money…
-
Emergency help for unemployed son with mental health issues
My son is unemployed and is separated, going through a divorce. He has mental health issues (recent ADHD assessment, anxiety and depression) and has a fit note until the end of this year. He used to have a high paying job in IT and has been trying to start up his own software development business but not, so far, with any…
-
UC compliance interview Husband did not disclose savings and he’s now been found out
Please help me .I am broken .Married with a joint Uc claim and I didn’t know husband had savings over 16k an investment with the bank . i logged into the Uc account to see he had been invvited for a compliance interview and that’s when he disclosed to me he had savings . i am dealing with the betrayal and also worried…
-
Health & Welfare LPA Question
Thoughts please on our Health LPA dilemma. My mum and I applied for both the Health and Property LPAs recently to cover each other. It's an archaic system being paper based, relying on mail delays and a bit fiddly. Although we double checked them before we posted them off, it seems one of our witnesses forgot to put their…
-
Universal Credit and Lifetime ISA
Hi all, I made a new (and first) claim for UC and still waiting for first payment. I have a Lifetime ISA but just realised I declared the full value instead of 75% due to the 25% penalty. I can't find any official information online that says I only need to declare 75% but I'm sure I've read it somewhere! Can someone…
-
Benefit advice for someone who came off due to inheritance/savings
I came off ESA support group (long term sickness) at an annoying time when they were about to transfer me to UC (created an account and everything) But I found out I was to receive some the inheritance money the month after, that would take me over saving limit so had no choice but to cancel my ESA and obviously the UC…
