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04/13/2023

warning to households on Universal Credit and benefits going on holiday this summer who risk cutting payments |==> https://link.clickhere.world/Money
HOUSEHOLDS on benefits including Universal Credit jetting away this year need to tell the government or risk having payments stopped.

You have to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you are going abroad for any length of time as it counts as a change of circumstances.

Households on benefits have to tell the DWP if they are going away on holiday[/caption]

If you don’t, you could see your claim stopped or reduced, and you might even have to cut your holiday short.

Plus, you might have to pay a fine on top worth between £350 and £5,000.

This is because not reporting a change in circumstances can be classed as benefit fraud.

If you land yourself in this situation, you can see benefits frozen while your claim is being investigated and you might even have to go to court.

How long can I stay abroad and still receive benefits?

There are limits on how long you can stay abroad and carry on receiving your benefits.

But the criteria depends on which specific benefit you are on.

If you are on Universal Credit, you can stay abroad for one month and carry on receiving payments, given you’ve told your work coach you’re going away and you carry on meeting the conditions of your claim.

That means if you are in the intensive work group and have to spend a minimum amount of hours per week looking for a job, you have to continue doing this.

There are exceptions to the one-month rule though – such as if a “close relative” dies while you are abroad and it is not deemed reasonable for you to return to the UK.

Meanwhile, you can carry on claiming Universal Credit for up to six months if you have gone abroad for medical treatment.

The criteria is different for other benefits.

For example, if you are on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you can keep claiming the benefit if you’re abroad for up to 13 weeks, or 26 if it’s for medical treatment.

You should check out the government’s website for more details on the rules for each benefit.

How do I report a change in circumstances?

How you report a change in circumstances depends on the benefit you are receiving.

If you are claiming Universal Credit, you can record any changes on your online journal or contact the helpline on 0800 328 5644.

You can also get in touch with your local Jobcentre Plus.

Meanwhile, if you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you have to contact the enquiry line on 0800 121 4433.

You can also get someone to call on your behalf, but you’ll need to be with them when they phone up.

When else might I see my Universal Credit payments stopped?

It’s not just failing to report a change in circumstances, such as going abroad, that could see your Universal Credit payments reduced or even stopped – known as a sanction.

There are other scenarios where this might happen to you. This includes:

not applying or looking for work

refusing a job offer

quitting your job without a good reason

being late to appointments and interviews

not taking a job in a different sector

You can appeal a sanction if you think you’ve been treated unfairly by the DWP by asking for a “mandatory reconsideration”.

For most benefits, you have one month from when you were notified about the sanction to apply for one.

You might want to apply for a reconsideration if you were in hospital and missed a Jobcentre appointment, for example.

If you have an online Universal Credit account, you can write a message to the DWP explaining why you disagree with the decision.

You can also print off and fill out the CRMR1 mandatory reconsideration request form on GOV.uk but remember to allow time for your letter to get to the DWP ahead of your deadline window.

You can also call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Letters should be sent to DWP Complaints, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 2GY.

If you submit a mandatory reconsideration and it is decided you were still in the wrong, you can challenge again.

You can appeal to a First-Tier tribunal, but only have one month to do this.

You’ll need to download and fill in what’s known as a SSCS1 form from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website.

The form will ask for you:

Name and contact details

National Insurance number

Reasons for appealing

You’ll need to then send this, with the outcome of your mandatory reconsideration, to HMCTS Appeals Centre, PO Box 1203, Bradford, BD1 9WP.

The DWP should then respond to you within 28 days.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]

04/12/2023

warning as more than one million families lose child benefits due to ‘stealth tax’ – are you affected? |==> https://link.clickhere.world/Money
MORE than a million parents are losing out on crucial government payments worth more than a £1,000 a year because of a stealth tax.

The number of households receiving child benefit plummeted to a record low in 2022, the latest stats from HMRC show.

Photo of a father and daughter sitting in the kitchen,daughter is playing while dad is sitting worried and checking his bills[/caption]

It’s thought many have stopped claiming over fears they will be hit with the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

This tax means parents have to repay some or all of the benefit if they or their partner earn more than £50,000 a year.

The cap on earnings was introduced in 2013 and hasn’t moved since, meaning more families have become liable for the charge.

If the threshold had moved in line with inflation it would be worth £65,000, according to calculations by investment firm AJ Bell.

In August 2022, 7.7 million families claimed child benefit, a fall of 43,000 from a year earlier, and down from 8million in 2013.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance, at financial provider Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “The stealthy creep of the High Income Child Benefit tax charge has forced over a million children out of receiving child benefit since 2013 and sent the number of families claiming to a record low.

“The fact the threshold hasn’t moved in a decade means more and more families are being hit by the charge, including thousands of basic rate taxpayers.

“This isn’t just costing families money now, but could end up taking a serious toll in retirement too.”

At the same time, a lack of awareness over child benefit means many parents who could claim are failing to do so.

In 2012, 97% of eligible children were claimed for but last year this figure dropped to a new low of 89%, according to HMRC data.

Parents with younger kids have a particularly low take-up rate, with one in four eligible families of children under one not claiming and one in five under twos also missing out.

HMRC said the pandemic could be behind the lower rates of claims among these families.

Contact with professionals dropped during lockdown while official processes, such as forms being circulated in hospitals, were disrupted.

How much is child benefit worth?

There are two child benefit rates, one for the eldest child and another for each further child or children.

The current rate for your eldest or only child is £24 a week working out at £1,248 a year.

For every additional child payments are £15.90 a week or £826.80 a year.

For eligible families with two children, the payment is worth £2074.80 a year.

Who can claim?

Almost all parents in the UK can claim child benefit if they look after anyone under 16 or under 20 and in approved education or training.

Only one person in the household can get child benefit, but there is no limit to how many children you can claim for.

After anyone earns more than £50,000, they have to start repaying the Child Benefit on a sliding scale.

This means that a parent or a partner who earns £60,000 will need to repay the entire entitlement.

However, you can still claim and opt out of receiving payments to build up National Insurance contributions which are used to calculate your State Pension entitlement in retirement.

You need 35 years of NI contributions for a full state pension.

Those who take time away from work to look after children could have years where they don’t pay enough National Insurance to count towards the state pension.

This is why it’s important to claim child benefit even if you opt out of payments.

How do I apply?

You need to apply for child benefit which you can do online through gov.uk.

Only one person can get the benefit for the child or children though so you’ll have to decide which parent will get it.

What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?

The high income child benefit tax charge hits families where a parent is earning £50,000 or more.

It means you pay back 1% of your child benefit for every £100 of income over this amount.

Once you reach £60,000 of income you have to repay the full amount.

The reduction applies when just one parent or guardian earns more than the threshold, and not on combined household earnings.

This means that two parents could earn £49,999 and dodge the charge.

But if one parent earns £55,000 and another £20,000 they would have to pay the charge despite a far lower combined income.

Parents who have been caught out by the complicated rules and have received repayment bills for thousands of pounds.

It’s up to parents to notify HMRC if they are liable for the charge and they must file a self-assessment tax return to pay it.

It’s feared that by 2025 2.5million families will lose out on child benefits payments, due to the charge.

04/12/2023

to get free cash on Universal Credit you don’t have to pay back |==> https://link.clickhere.world/Money
UNIVERSAL Credit claimants can get extra help to go towards their bills.

The support for people on Universal Credit and other benefits ranges from council tax discounts to supermarket food vouchers.

Extra help is available for struggling households and you won’t have to pay it back

It comes as millions of Universal Credit claimants will see their payments go up this month.

From April 10, the standard allowance rose to £292.11 for those single and under 25, £368.74 for those singles over 25, to £458.51 for couples under 25 and £578.82 for couples over 25.

We’ve rounded up all the help you can get that is completely free and you don’t have to pay back.

Check your benefit entitlement

Just because you receive Universal Credit, it doesn’t mean that’s all you can get.

Millions of Brits are missing out on benefits they’re entitled to.

Benefit calculators can help you check what you could get.

For instance, you might get extra cash if you’re looking after someone else or for housing costs.

There are several benefit checker tools you can use – here’s our guide.

Get a council tax discount

Council tax is one of the biggest household bills and the most important – if you fall behind you could be asked to pay the entire year upfront.

Non-payment can also result in bailiffs visiting your home, court action or even imprisonment.

So if you’re struggling to pay you should seek help straight away.

And you can also find support from charities like Citizens Advice.

Brits struggling can also get council tax debt written off using a little-known rule.

Many don’t know that they could get a discount on their council tax bill, or be exempt from paying it altogether.

Reductions are available for those on low incomes, people claiming certain benefits, those caring for others as well as other circumstances.

The amount your bill is reduced by can range from 25% off to 100% which would mean you pay nothing at all for this bill.

You can check out when you might get a council tax discount in our guide or contact your local council to check what support you can claim and apply.

For more information on the various discounts available, see our handy guide here.

Grant schemes

Low-income families may be eligible for charitable grants to cover housing costs.

As grants are typically different to loans, most do not have to be paid back.

Turn2Us has a tool that can help you check out grants available near you on its website.

You’ll need to enter some personal information like your postcode, your gender, and your age.

Energy suppliers are offering cash grants to those hardest hit by bill rises.

For instance, British Gas is giving out up to £1,500 to struggling debt payers – check if you’re eligible here.

But the amount can vary according to your supplier and your circumstances so ask directly what’s on offer and how to apply.

We’ve rounded up the different grants companies are offering energy customers.

Household Support Fund

The £421million Household Support Fund has been extended until March 2024 to help the country’s most vulnerable households.

The government is pumping a further £842million into the pot of cash which councils are giving out.

The scheme was first established in 2021, extended for the second time in the March Budget and for a third time in November to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

You can find your local council using this tool and searching for your postcode to see what help is available near you.

Cash for paying rent

There’s cash help for anyone struggling from your local council through the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Anyone claiming Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit could be eligible if they are struggling with rent costs.

Each local authority dishes out the cash to those in need on a case-by-case basis and the amounts available can vary.

The Sun found last year that the average DHP was £965, based on freedom of information requests sent to 30 of the biggest councils.

The difference in the maximum amount given out ranged from £32,000 in Brent to £145 in Wakefield, based on the 17 councils that responded.

We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about who can get the cash and how to claim.

Welfare assistance scheme

Some councils also offer support through the welfare support fund, to help cover the costs of essentials, from buying new furniture to food vouchers.

An investigation by The Sun found that hard-up Brits can apply for help worth up to £1,000.

But exactly how much you get and what for will depend on where you live – and not all councils have this help.

Grants are given on a case-by-case basis and there will be a different application process depending on where in the country you live.

You can find out who your local council is by visiting the gov.uk website and getting in touch with them about whether help is available in your area.

Cost of living payment

Millions of households on certain benefits will get a £900 cost of living payment later this year.

The free cash will be paid out in three instalments and is there to help households with rising food and energy bills.

The first payment of £301 will be made in the spring, with a second of £300 in the autumn and a final £299 instalment in the spring of 2024.

More than eight million people will have the cash paid directly into their bank accounts.

We’ve rounded up the full list of benefits that will be entitled to the payment, as well as those that are not.

Free school meals

If you’re claiming certain benefits including Universal Credit, JSA and Child Tax Credit then your child might be entitled to free school meals.

You will need to apply through your local authority so that they can apply for extra funding from the Government, while some councils ask you to contact the school directly.

Simply click here and type in your postcode to be redirected to your local council’s website and apply.

Over the school holidays, many councils are giving out cash to help parents during the break – check out our guide.

Free milk, fruit and veg

The Healthy Start scheme offers thousands of parents on low incomes help to feed their kids.

You get a prepaid card and payments worth up to £442 a year for those claiming certain benefits.

You can start getting the cash from 10 weeks pregnant up to when the child turns four.

The card can be used at major supermarkets and shops to buy the following:

cow’s milk

fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables

infant formula milk

fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

Check out how to apply for the Healthy Start scheme in our guide.

Free £200 for school uniforms

It’s not just food costs that can add up quickly if you have kids.

You can get a grant of up to £200 to help cover the cost of school uniforms for the year ahead, depending on where you are.

As a general rule, those on income support, Universal Credit, JSA, child tax credit, ESA, and pension tax credit are entitled to support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

You may also be eligible if your annual income is less than £16,190.

To apply, enter your postcode on the Gov.uk website, which will direct you to your council’s website, where you should search for “uniform grant” to find out what help is available in your area.

Water bill help

Families on Universal Credit or other benefits could reduce their water bill by hundreds of pounds on average if they’re struggling.

You may be eligible for help through the WaterSure scheme, which puts a cap on bills for low-income customers regardless of how much water they’re using.

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) estimates that bills are reduced by £270 on average through the scheme.

But the amount you could save does vary in reality from as little as £10 to as much as £400 a year.

To qualify for the scheme, you need to already have a water meter installed, and prove you need to use a lot of water.

Also, some water companies are offering further to particular households, and some can get nearly 90% off their bills if they qualify.

All you need to do is switch social tariff.

The amount varies depending on the water provider and then your own financial situation.

You can find out more here.

Work from home cash

If you worked from home even for just one day since the pandemic started, you could get tax back.

It’s worth up to £125 a year for the previous two years and you can make a claim for both if you haven’t already.

Millions of people have still not claimed the cash back but there’s still time to do it.

HMRC has a simple tool you can use to apply – here’s what you need to do.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]

04/11/2023

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