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Benefits & tax credits

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

New Style ESA / ADP
I was awarded ADP at the standard rate in Nov and now receive New Style ESA. I have been told I will receive £90.50 per week (new style ESA) but my letter doesn’t explicitly say what group I am in (support or work-related activity). I have submitted fit notes but not been asked to complete any questionnaires as of yet only…
Council tax reduction
Hi, I'm considering applying for council tax reduction. I am currently receiving UC as I have just moved over from tax credits. When I apply for council tax reduction will I need to inform them that I receive a monthly sum from a personal lifestyle policy. The policy was fully funded bt myself and is now paying out due to…
Disability premiums and contribution based esa
Hi, confused and frustrated, I was registered blind in 2011, due to a genetic disorder known as retinias pigmentosa and claimed contribution esa and dla, then moved to pip and still on contribution esa, I have been told by 3 yes 3 dwp advisors I am entitled to disability premiums, namely the disability premium and enhanced…
PAYE AND SELF EMPLOYED INCOME
I work 18 hours on minimum wage and am also ungainfully self employed. I receive universal credits. My PAYE doesn't quite meet the £892 needed for UC on a 4 week month. When I queried about taking on the self employed job, I was told that it would be good as it brings my income up over the £892, so I took on the job. The…
Reimbursement of eye test paid by employer - Income for UC purposes?
Hi There, I am in the process of my earned income looked at by a decision maker, with a view to having SIPP pension contributions taken into account, has taken an age but getting there now! In my November wages I received a £21.96 reimbursement from my employer towards the cost of an eye test, as i use screens all day in…
Who to contact as executor after death?
I have contacted a couple of private pension companies and have spoken to utilities.I'm wondering about HMRC and DWP I haven't contacted them as I assume they have been contacted with the Tell us once service would that be correct? I'm just waiting to hear fro them
In a panic please help. AET self employed carer transitional protection ending
I have had this message from UC saying we are no longer entitled to it but I’m sure it’s wrong. My partner is self employed and I am on contributions based ESA & PIP. As far as I know AET doesn’t apply because he is self employed, have I got this wrong? “You no longer meet the criteria for transitional protection as within…
UC and household bills
Hi, I have just found out what I'm going to be getting on UC. It's slightly more than I got on ESA. I'm over 25, single, live with my parents (who get state pension and rent from local HA, pay full rent and council tax because their capital is over £16k). My question is because I live with them but they pay for everything…
UC and Adults children rent
Hi we are due to be moved from ESA to UC and I'm trying to find out weather they class Board money from adult children as income . They both dont work ,both are students and both receive PIP but no other benefits . I've tried to find out via google but cant find a definitive answer . thank you
COP payments
Asked on UC journal about these payments saying he had received all 5 and 2 pip col. Going back to 2022. Could i take them off his savings Reply was. You only not include any COL payments or any back dated benefits if this has been received within last year as they are only disregarded for 12 mth's and then after that they…
National Insurance 'Credit' Question
I am a retired police officer in receipt of an ill-health retirement police pension, and an injury award. I retired in February 2016 and was too ill to work. I am disabled and have been awarded DWP PIP at the lower level for day-to-day activities. I am currently 55 years old. In April 2023, I started part-time clerk work…
Not getting a reply via UC journal
I'm trying to sort out my housing costs as I have been underpaid. I was sending messages on the journal at the beginning of the week which were being replied to. However, I've not had a reply since Tuesday, despite several messages being left. I rang the helpline on Thursday, which was pretty much a waste of time to be…
Why do Universal Credit want me and my partner to confirm previous earnings from work?
Hi, We are transitioning from tax credits and have been claiming Universal Credit for about 10 months. UC have just asked us to confirm our previous earnings from work for the 4 months BEFORE we claimed UC. I was just wondering why they want this information as we were on Tax Credits then and have already declared our…
PIP telephone assessment
So I applied for PIP in November and was asked t ogo to a telephone assessment today. For one hour solid it felt like i was being barked questions at and i tried to tell the assessor she was firing questions at me with no pause for breath. She just said it was because she needed to write it down? Yes she needed to write it…
NI credits
Hi, I was hoping someone could help. I have a few years with incomplete national insurance contributions that I'm looking at paying. However I want to check if I can get NI credits for these years first. I was getting them until my children turned 12 then they stopped as I know they do, but I was still getting child tax…
Selling a rental property on Universal Credit
Hi, I'm after some advice please. I'm on my first year of universal credit, I own a rental property which puts my assets over the £16k limit but I'm in the transition period so it's disregarded. I'm trying to sell the property but wanted to know if this would affect my claim once the transition period ends. If I spent the…
inheritance and benefits
I'm an executor of mum's will as I have just lost my mum after looking after her for many years,it was only her funeral on Tuesday just gone.the bank has released her funds to me as it was below the probate amount in the account.Although probate does need to be done a solicitor is assisting with the forms to apply for…
Self employed expenses UC MS office software & mobile phone
Following on from my previous thread where our claim will end. I’ve looked at last months expenses and my partner has included MS office yearly subscription of £79.99. Can he actually claim this? If he can’t and I change my amounts for last month to remove this does this mean the claim won’t close? If my income of ESA…
Universal Credit AET
Hi, my wife and I are both self employed and started claiming Universal credit 9 months ago. In month 9, our payment stopped and was told it was because of 3 months in a row earning less then the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET). However I am disabled and registered with them due to my inability to actively look for…
Disibility Premium Problems
Hello. I have been on ESA with PIP for years due to disibility and so many operations I lost count after 30. I am in the support group. Due to the PIP, I had disibility premium. I live as a lodger under the rent a room scheme. In September, DWP stopped my disibility premium without informing me. When I queried this, they…

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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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