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.

📨 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

Get help discovering which benefits you are entitled to - and how to claim them.

ESA 98 Letter
I was trying to find a template of the above letter online but cannot find an identical layout is anyone familiar with the above letter ESA98 About Your Employment and Support Allowance your payments are changing Has anyone seen this before?
Universal credit and cash withdrawals
I recently had a claim review and they asked me about cash withdrawals and now I am worried every time I withdraw cash, is it reasonable to draw about 100 a week in cash for groceries, going out with friends etc, I am worried in case they review me again
Universal credit
Hi all. I’ve recently had a review requested from universal credit wanting back statements, tenancy agreement etc. which isn’t an issue. The only thing I’m worried about it that my boyfriend that doesn’t live with me (I’m a single parent and like to spend as much time as I can with my little girl) sends me money every…
Universal Credit Down currently
What are the rules if you can't gain access in time for a deadline notification. The Universal Credit sign-in service is currently experiencing an outage, causing users to be unable to access their accounts. This issue is affecting both the website and the app. Users are seeing a "Service Unavailable" message when…
Migration to Universal Credit - why a joint claim?
I wonder if there is anyone else in a similar situation to me? Please forgive me in advance for my almost complete ignorance of the current benefit system. I live with my partner (we are not married or civilly partnered) who has a serious mental health condition and is in receipt of ESA. He has been told to complete an…
Deferred CSP lump sum effect on ESA
This discussion was created from comments split from: Unclaimed Deferred Classic CSP.
Contribution based esa and uc
Hi Does anyone know what advantage there is in continuing to claim new style/contribution based esa alongside uc , with it being deducted from your uc payment, only advantage I can see is that you get some money paid fortnightly? Will new style esa be ending soon anyways like income based esa? Thanks!
HMRC - can I claim interest charges against them?
I have been completing self assessment tax returns for the past 2 years due to my salary increasing to above the threshold for high income child benefit repayments. In the previous year I repaid using the ability to do this through my tax code adjustment and I proposed to do this again this year as the £3k repayment was a…
Daughter 16 anxiety benefits?
Hi daughter 16 hasn’t been school for 4 years suffers severe social anxiety, has missed GCSE exams. Been through CAMHS merry go round for last 2/3 years nothing helps. Had little support from school been a difficult time. i have just submitted a PIP claim form not sure if anything else she could claim? Me and partner both…
How can i prove they are mine.
Hi, I'm currently in receipt of disability benefit and I have to migrate over to universal credit meaning I will have to spend five weeks or more without any benefit.I wanted to sell some of my personal possessions to help me through that period.I'm worried that the HMRC might see what I'm doing as a side hustle and either…
Universal Credit Capped month.
Hi, I've just signed into my UC account to view this months statement with payment due 20th June. It's been capped £1511.87!! Our situation - We claim for myself (working), my partner (homemaker), 6 children all born before 2017 so unaffected by the 2 child benefit cap. We usually receive somewhere around £2350 which…
UC and Restart
I have a joint claim for uc with partner and l am working .but my partner is refusing to go to all appointments.will all money from uc be stopped or half ,we claim for housing and one child.
WFP fleshed out. who will qualify and who will have to pay it back.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5yxvdl4d0pt * The payment, worth up to £300, will still be given to pensioners with income above the £35,000 threshold, but will then be reclaimed from them Seems a strange decision to pay & then claim back... We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate
Newly disabled parent in care home - what benefits available?
Hi everyone, As a family this will be our first foray into benefits so would be really grateful for some assistance with it. My widower dad is 77 and in February had an operation to remove a tumour from his spine. He is now paraplegic and double incontinent as a result. He came out of NHS spinal rehab a couple of weeks ago…
Change of job UC
Can someone please explain how put a change of job onto UC? We've gone on report a change, work and earnings but it doesn't seem to be right. My husband wants to say he finishes one job today and then starts a new job on Monday. I also need to go on and put that I am starting working in a weeks time. Help please!!
Winter fuel update 9th June 2025
Hi All, Ive just been reading about the new rules for winter fuel payments and it's confusing. As i have read it today, if a pensioner earns over £35,000 pa then they will not be entitled to WFP If you earn less than £35,000 then you will be entitled to WFP WFP of £200 is paid on the basis of a household having a…
Private pension and pension credit.
I've just discovered I have a private pension sum. (I had a brain injury several years ago and have no memory of this private pension) My husband & I receive guaranteed pension credit. He's older than me, I'll be 60 in November, but stopped working several years ago due to the affects of my brain injury and other physical…
Migration from income based ESA support group to universal credit
I have had the statement for my first Universal Credit payment! It has been amended to include a transitional payment! I was in the esa support group with enhanced disability premium and severe disability premium. I have attached a copy of the statement as I can’t see where the LCWRA element is or is this included in the…
High income child benefit charge and separation
So I have a bit of a dilemma here. My partner (now ex not married) claimed child benefit for the whole 24/25 tax year. We separated in September 24 but have still be living together but as separate households since due to financial reasons, we have no bank accounts tied etc… I have exceeded the threshold for the high…
What Are The Rules on UC If New Job Does Not Work Out?
I am on universal credit (I was obliged to seek work,) and have a new job starting on Monday. What are the rules regarding UC, if the job does not “work out”? I would imagine if I decide to walk out the door on the first day, I will not be able to immediately claim UC (I have no intention to do this.) However, say the…

★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

MSE News

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.
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 Payments 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

Categories

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

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

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