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.

Benefits & tax credits

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

Has the criteria for (former ESA) UC support group changed?
I got a message in my UC journal asking if the claimant regularly needs overnight care from a non family member because of their needs. If they didn't before and qualified for support group and still don't, does that automatically mean they will now be moved into one of the work groups?
ESA assessment and sight loss query
Hi there, I hope someone can help me with a question regarding my upcoming ESA assessment. I know that my vision will be tested during the assessment, particularly when it comes to reading print. I used to use a magnifier to assist with reading, but I can no longer do so because my vision has become blurry. This means it…
When do new UC rates show on statement?
Just got my Statement for period 31st March to 29th April but it does not have the new 2025/2026 rates on it. The standard allowance is still showing as £617.60 as we are a couple over 25 so when do we get the new rates? Also for some reason the housing cost part of it is the same but my rent went up on April 1st and i…
Advice please, on PIP back pay
Hi all, Does anyone have a rough idea how long it takes for PIP to pay any back pay on renewal.. had a phone call to say renewal had been successful and that I’m due back pay , need to check if I owe money first … received my first months pip at new rate and later confirming award and it says I maybe entitled to back pay ……
How is new style JSA clawed back if you earn more than the allowed amount?
Posting for a friend. He has just started claiming new style JSA, meeting earlier this week with a work adviser from Jobcentre Plus. Friend asked what happens if he gets some adhoc work, what happens to his claim? Adviser gave an example, and said that if he earned £200 in a week, then any JSA he had received would be…
JSA nuances - help please!
Hi. I'm after some advice on how best to work with JSA please. I've just been made redundant from my full-time job (last date of employment was yesterday - 14/04), and submitted a claim for New-Style JSA this morning. My redundancy money will be paid on 29/04. I have a weekend job which pays minimum wage on a zero-hours…
Housing benefit paid direct moving to UC
A have a long term tenant migrating on to Universal Credit. Has been a tenant for over 10 years, due to initial persistent rent arrears, the rent has been paid directly to me for the last 10+ years. This is an agreement I made with the council many years ago - if they paid direct I would keep the tenant. The rent has been…
Migrated over to UC from ESA (SG) and have ESA payment
Hi everyone. I was migrated over the UC in March, they gave me the amount I'd be getting on the 16th of April and paid it on 23rd minus some because of payments I'd received from ESA. Then without me knowing, yesterday they paid me an ESA payment (slightly less) and I don't know why. Is anyone else who transferred over…
UC Claim effectively ending - should I stop claiming or just let it end through ineligibility?
I was migrated 12 months ago to UC from WTC. Due to having savings earmarked for paying off my mortgage when my fix ends I am not eligible for UC except via the transitional protection so my eligibility will end with the 12 months post migration. Each month I have to have my payment reassessed to include my private pension…
Council asking for tax from several years ago
My mother has received a bill from our local authority asking for Council Tax. For several years she and my father when he was alive, received assistance from the local council that has resulted in no monies being required towards the council tax. Father suffered with dementia and was registered blind. The support they got…
Universal Migration Nightmare
Hello all you lovely peeps....I was wondering if anyone else is in the same boat, I recieved my UC migration letter in March 2025, I went online and filled it all in , done what was asked, then letters started arriving saying this has been stopped and this has been suspended, it was confusing , but I think I understood.…
Worried
Am I in trouble for never declaring savings to universal credit I’ve claimed for 4 years and now under review my statement will show I’m well over£16k for a few years scared this is fraud
Will this still class as a sanction
Hi I have been told by my employer that my performance is poor which I agree with and she gave me 2 options either go through a disciplinary procedure or resign. I don't want to go through a disciplinary procedure because it will be too much stress and I know I can't improve my performance as I do want to leave and it is…
Quick PIP Question
Hello, I sent my PIP review form back in September 2024, I understand that they are backlogged, my award is due to end around the April 3rd 2025, I've read that they tend to send you an extension letter 35 days before it's due to end, is that correct because I've not received anything other than 2 texts saying they've…
Universal credit and child maintenance
Hello, I’m a newly separated mum of 2. I work 18 hours per week and make ends meet on my small wage (approx £1000 per month), child benefit and my ex pays me an amount per month for the kids. He pays more than the CSA would award if we went down that route. I am aware that child maintenance is disregarded when assessing…
Pension Credit (Care Home)
Friend's father is in care home it's been made permanent so new calculation. His state pension is £287.41 and share of private pension & annuity is £18.05 totalling £305.46 With allowances his payment towards costs £238.92 having looked at it it seems correct. (all figures per week) The issue I have the accompanying letter…
CA + Cont ESA, who should pay?
Hi all My wife went off sick from work last year with a back injury, her SSP period ended a few weeks ago and she has moved onto contribution based ESA. She is also in receipt of carers allowance. I know these are overlapping benefits and she would only receive the higher of the 2, ESA, but who should pay that amount?…
Childcare vouchers (old style) - impact of moving to higher tax bracket
As my daughter was born in 2016 I have been claiming childcare vouchers through my employer since she started nursery, and we didn't switch to the tax-free childcare scheme as her father was about to breach the cut-off point. Although we have recently separated at the moment we are still using the childcare vouchers to pay…
Universal Credit Transitional Protection Payment When does it end
I migrated from WTC last March. Reported at the time that we had savings of over £16k and still do. Our first payment was on 29th March 2024 and have received 13 payments since then, latest will be 29th April 2025 for £12. Just wondering when does Universal credit stop or do I just request to close my claim. I was under…
New UC claim and working
Hi, I was hoping for some advice as I'm new to doing this in regards to UC. I made an application recently and it was approved. I was advised I will hear back in May about how much I'm entilted too. I'm confused however, as they offered me an advance of £700.00 which I haven't accepted. Basically my circumstances are that…

★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

MSE News

Martin Lewis: How to call your bank with just three digits – as 'anti-scam' phone number called over a million times
One million calls have been made to the '159' anti-scam phone number since its launch in 2021, new figures reveal today (Wednesday 30 April). MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis – one of the well-known faces most used in scams – explains how to call your bank by dialling just these three numbers.
Revealed: Holland & Barrett's supposedly cheaper 'Subscribe & Save' often costs more – it's promised a review after our investigation
Holland & Barrett's 'Subscribe & Save' scheme claims to offer regular shoppers "the best value" – but it failed to do so in the majority of cases MoneySavingExpert.com checked over a five month period. The retailer has now promised to review the scheme after our research found it was often more expensive.
Don't get your passport by post – 360,000 paid more than needed last year
If your passport is due for renewal, apply online if you can – it'll save you £12.50. More than 7 million Brits did just that last year – but over 360,000 missed out on savings by using a paper form instead, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal.
Sainsbury’s Bank customer? NatWest takes over this week – here's what it means for savers and borrowers
Sainsbury's Bank's savings, credit cards and loans will be taken over by NatWest from Thursday 1 May. For most, this means little will change for now as the Sainsbury's Bank brand will remain, though it's expected to be phased out towards the end of this year. However, if you've over £85,000 saved across both banks, it's worth considering moving any excess elsewhere to ensure your cash remains protected.
Chase customer? Check if you can get its newly boosted 4.8% easy-access saver
If you've got a Chase account, check if you can boost your easy-access savings to 4.8% – made up of a 1.8% AER fixed six-month bonus plus its standard 3% variable rate. Chase says over 2 million customers can get the boost, which would top our normal savings tables if it were open to all, though it's beaten by the top easy-access cash ISAs.
NatWest to complete takeover of Sainsbury's Bank this week – here's what it means for savers and borrowers
Sainsbury's Bank's savings, credit cards and loans will be taken over by NatWest from Thursday 1 May. For most, this means little will change for now as the Sainsbury's Bank brand will remain, though it's expected to be phased out towards the end of this year. However, if you've over £85,000 saved across both banks, it's worth considering moving any excess elsewhere to ensure your cash remains protected.
Martin Lewis: Is the £20,000 cash ISA limit about to be killed off? What savers should be doing now
Plans to cut the £20,000 cash ISA limit later this year are being considered by the Government. In his latest video, MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis explains what's likely to happen, what the changes would mean for savers and what you should be doing now.
NatWest to complete takeover of Sainsbury's Bank this week – here's what it means for savers and borrowers
Sainsbury's Bank's savings, credit cards and loans will be taken over by NatWest from 1 May. For most, this means little change for now as the Sainsbury’s brand will remain, though it's expected to be phased out towards the end of this year. However, if you've over £85,000 saved across both banks, you'll need to move any excess elsewhere to ensure your cash remains protected.
NatWest to complete takeover of Sainsbury's Bank this week – here's what it means for savers and borrowers
From Thursday 1 May, Sainsbury's Bank credit cards, loans and savings accounts will be run by NatWest as part of a deal between the two banks. You'll be moved to NatWest in the future, likely towards the end of this year, but for now the Sainsbury's Bank brand will remain and you can continue to use its products and services as before.

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