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Are you experiencing delays with Child Benefit? Let us know
Some forumites have reported delays to their Child Benefit claims, and that in some cases it's taking more than 3 months for a new claim to be processed. Here's the place to let us know if you've had problems or delays with your Child Benefit claim. Read the full guide here. Please let us know your experiences, and any…
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Made redundant, new to JSA and Universal Credit, after some advice about process
Hi, I was made redundant in Oct 25, was given 3 months PILON, that ends very soon. Im looking to use my mortgage protection policy to cover mortgage payments until I find a new job. To make a claim for this I need to provide the insurance company evidence that I am registered as unemployed, and receiving jobseekers…
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Is this letter a scam?
Hi my mum got a letter a few days ago from HMRC saying that they owe her money for the tax year 2003-2004 however that's over 20 years ago and she wasn't even working she was on income support at the time is this letter a scam? It's asking her to phone them and to provide her bank details so they can pay her?
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Free childcare hours - going over £100k
Hi there - could anybody please help me understand, if income is below £100k thus receiving free childcare hours - if I decided to purchase / sell some company shares as a one-off exercise, this would be considered income and means total income goes above £100k for that tax year: would you just stop claiming the free hours…
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Does anyone know what DWP PSCS refers to?
If you've ever tried to locate the meaning of codes used by the government on bank statements and coupled that with a slow postal service then you may understand my raising this question. It's sort of frustrating getting a payment into an account and not knowing what it is and whether it should be sent back or not! I sadly…
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Benefit overpayment 7 years ago
Hi all, Got a question regarding a supposed benefit overpayment from the council. It states I've been overpaid benefits in April 2018. The claim is for the amount of £315 or so. I read somewhere that statute barred might be applicable here as this is literally the first letter I've received from the council. Can anyone…
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ES A to State Pension/Pension Credit
Good Morning and Best Wishes for 2026! I have a couple of concerns about my change to State Pension and Pension Credit this coming February. I currently receive ESA in support group and PIP enhanced mobility and standard care. I live alone. I will receive full SP from 25th February ( my first payment) and the on-line…
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Christmas bonus
Hello everyone and hope you're all having a lovely Christmas!! I'm on Universal Credit and PIP and I'm sure I should be entitled to the £10 Christmas bonus this year but haven't received anything. I've had a search online and it said you should receive it the first week of December but not to contact anyone about it until…
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Change Child Benefit Claimant
Hi all, What is the correct process for me to end my claim for child benefit, and for my wife to be the claimant instead? Do I have to end my claim first and then she makes a new claim? Can it be done online or do we have to call them? The reason I'm doing this is because she doesn't work and therefore has been losing out…
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Going back to work…
Been off work now 11 months after quite nasty stroke, was awarded pip & lwrca which were a god send as sick pay from work was minimal, I’m getting bit better in some areas now and although I’m not ready yet to work got me wondering on the process, going straight back seems very daunting I dont think could do half the…
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Cold weather payment if wife works 4 hours a month?
We are on UC and i get the disability part of it but my wife works 4 hours a month getting about £55 a month from wages. So does that mean we will not get the Cold weather payments due to her working? When i was on ESA she was doing the same work and hours but we still got the cold weather payment. there has been nothing…
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Non means tested disability benefits - changes from Autumn 2026?
Dear Forum, Is anyone aware of any non means tested disability benefits becoming means tested from the Governments welfare review Autumn 2026? Appreciate that the Government can decide to change the eligibility at any time but just wondered if in the forthcoming review these changes are planned? Thank you in advance.
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Guide: How to make PIP contact you with email only - no letters, no calls, no face-to-face
I have just successfully got the DWP to promise that they will contact me by email only. That means no letters, no phonecalls, and no face-to-face assessments. If your disabilities mean that you can't take phonecalls or have any other difficulties with the communication PIP usually uses, email the address…
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Universal Credit & Deprivation of Capital (Mortgage)
I just want to find out if anyone has experiences of using redundancy money to pay off all or part of a mortgage and whether that is allowed, and then still being able to claim benefits? Everywhere I read online the answer appears to be that this is not considered a deprivation of capital, but at my first UC meeting…
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UC & Savings and reclaiming when still paying back overpayment
Hi there, We claimed universal credit as a couple from sometime in 2023 to April (ish) this year, 2025. We had to stop claiming as my father gave us a large sum of money towards a house deposit which took us well over the £16,000 threshold for savings. We only realized we had broken the rules a couple of months after he…
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LCWRA changes.
Does anyone have any links to the changes on LCWRA amount after April 2026. I know things will only change for new claimants. As I understand it people with serious lifelong conditions will get the highest rate and those who are end of life. Does anyone know whether people going through extensive treatment for example for…
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Child Benefit, NI Credits & eBay Side Hustle – Advice Needed
Dear all I’m trying to make sure we’re doing things correctly with tax and benefits. My wife claims Child Benefit for NI credits (child under 12), and I’m a high-rate taxpayer so the High Income Child Benefit Charge applies to me. She’s recently started an eBay side hustle: * Gross income: ~£12,000 this tax year * Interest…
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Universal Credit budgeting advance
I went on to universal credit early last year and whilst waiting on my first payment I was asked if I wanted to get a loan to keep me going until my first universal credit payment then I could. I now only have £20 left to pay, and was wondering if I could pay that early then apply for a budgeting advance straight away? I…
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UC and disregarded money
Hello I am moving from ESA to UC and have a question about disregarded money. When DWP ask for details of bank accounts, do I also have to give details of these two bank accounts where the money is disregarded for benefit purposes. 1. Personal injury trust fund, set up by solicitor, I cannot access without trustee…
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Universal Credit Managed Migration - I'm on the sick but they want me to work
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…
