Child Tax Credit

Overview

You can only make a claim for Child Tax Credit if you already get Working Tax Credit.

If you cannot apply for Child Tax Credit, you can apply for Universal Credit instead.

You might be able to apply for Pension Credit if you and your partner are State Pension age or over.

What you’ll get

The amount you can get depends on how many children you’ve got and whether you’re:

making a new claim for Child Tax Credit

already claiming Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit will not affect your Child Benefit.

You can only claim Child Tax Credit for children you’re responsible for.

If you're making a new claim

What you’ll get

The amount you could get depends on when your children were born.

If all your children were born before 6 April 2017

You could get the ‘child element’ of Child Tax Credit for all of your children.

You’ll also get the basic amount, known as the ‘family element’.

If one or more of your children were born on or after 6 April 2017

You could get the child element of Child Tax Credit for up to 2 children. You might get the child element for more children if exceptions apply.

You’ll only get the family element if at least one of your children was born before 6 April 2017.

Child Tax Credit rates for the 2021 to 2022 tax year

Element | Yearly amount

The basic amount (this is known as ‘the family element’) | Up to £545

For each child (this is known as ‘the child element’) | Up to £2,845

For each disabled child | Up to £3,435 (on top of the child element)

For each severely disabled child | Up to £1,390 (on top of the child element and the disabled child element)

Use the tax credit calculator to work out how much you could get.

Moving to the UK from the EEA

You must wait 3 months before claiming Child Tax Credit if you arrived in the UK from the EEA on or after 1 July 2014 and do not work.

There are some exceptions who will not have to wait 3 months, for example refugees.

You're already claiming Child Tax Credit

How much Child Tax Credit you get depends on your circumstances.

You must tell HM Revenue and Customs if your circumstances change.

If your claim started before 6 April 2017

You get:

the basic amount of Child Tax Credit (known as the ‘family element’)

the ‘child element’ for children born before 6 April 2017

If you have another child on or after 6 April 2017, you’ll usually only get the child element for them if they’re the second child you’re claiming for.

If your claim started on or after 6 April 2017

You get the child element for up to 2 children. You might get the child element for more children if exceptions apply.

You only get the family element if at least one of your children was born before 6 April 2017.

You get the child element for all your children. You also get the basic amount (known as the family element).

Element | Yearly amount

How you're paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account (a bank account, for example) of the person mainly responsible for the child.

You’re paid every week or every 4 weeks from the date of your claim up to the end of the tax year (5 April), unless your circumstances change.

How to claim

You can no longer make a new claim for Child Tax Credit. You can apply for Universal Credit instead.

To claim Child Tax Credit, update your existing tax credit claim by reporting a change in your circumstances online or by phone.

Responsibility for a child

You’re usually responsible for a child if:

they live with you all the time

they normally live with you and you’re the main carer

they keep their toys and clothes at your home

you pay for their meals and give them pocket money

they live in an EEA country or Switzerland but are financially dependent on you

Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you’re not sure you’re responsible for the child.

If you share responsibility for a child and you cannot agree who should claim you can both apply. HMRC will decide for you.

If you adopted or fostered a child

You can claim for an adopted or fostered child if you’re not getting money from your local council (Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland). If you do get money, call HMRC to find out if you can claim.

If you’re responsible for a disabled child

You may get extra Child Tax Credits if your child either:

gets Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment

is certified blind (or was within 28 weeks of your tax credits claim)

You still qualify if Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment stops because the child goes into hospital.


Working Tax Credit

Eligibility

You can only make a claim for Working Tax Credit if you already get Child Tax Credit.

If you cannot apply for Working Tax Credit, you can apply for Universal Credit instead.

You might be able to apply for Pension Credit if you and your partner are State Pension age or over.

Hours you work

You must work a certain number of hours a week to qualify.

Circumstance | Hours a week

Aged 25 to 59 | At least 30 hours

Aged 60 or over | At least 16 hours

Disabled | At least 16 hours

Single with 1 or more children | At least 16 hours

Couple with 1 or more children | Usually, at least 24 hours between you (with 1 of you working at least 16 hours)

A child is someone who is under 16 (or under 20 if they’re in approved education or training).

Use the tax credits calculator to check if you work the right number of hours.

You can still apply for Working Tax Credit if you’re on leave.

Exceptions for couples with at least one child

You can claim if you work less than 24 hours a week between you and one of the following applies:

you work at least 16 hours a week and you’re disabled or aged 60 or above

you work at least 16 hours a week and your partner is incapacitated (getting certain benefits because of disability or ill health), is entitled to Carer’s Allowance, or is in hospital or prison

What counts as work

Your work can be:

for someone else, as a worker or employee

as someone who’s self-employed

a mixture of the two

If you’re self-employed

Some self-employed people are not eligible for Working Tax Credit. To qualify, your self-employed work must aim to make a profit. It must also be commercial, regular and organised.

This means you may not qualify if you do not:

make a profit or have clear plans to make one

work regularly

keep business records, such as receipts and invoices

follow any regulations that apply to your work, for example having the right licence or insurance

If the average hourly profit from your self-employed work is less than the National Minimum Wage, HM Revenue and Customs may ask you to provide:

business records

your business plan - find out how to write a business plan

details of the day-to-day running of your business

evidence that you’ve promoted your business - such as advertisements or flyers

Your pay

The work must last at least 4 weeks (or you must expect it to last 4 weeks) and must be paid.

This can include payment in kind (for example farm produce for a farm labourer) or where you expect to be paid for the work.

Exceptions

Paid work does not include money paid:

for a ‘Rent a Room’ scheme (less than £7,500 or £3,750 for joint owners)

for work done while in prison

as a grant for training or studying

as a sports award

Your income

There’s no set limit for income because it depends on your circumstances (and those of your partner). For example, £18,000 for a couple without children or £13,100 for a single person without children - but it can be higher if you have children, pay for approved childcare or one of you is disabled.

What you'll get

You get a basic amount and extra (known as ‘elements’) on top of this.

How much you get depends on things like your circumstances and income.

The basic amount is up to £2,005 a year.

Element | Amount

You’re a couple applying together | Up to £2,060 a year

You’re a single parent | Up to £2,060 a year

You work at least 30 hours a week | Up to £830 a year

You have a disability | Up to £3,240 a year

You have a severe disability | Up to £1,400 a year (usually on top of the disability payment)

You pay for approved childcare | Up to £122.50 (1 child) or £210 (2 or more children) a week

Use the tax credits calculator to work out how much you could get.

How you’re paid

Money is paid directly into your bank or building society account, every week or 4 weeks.

You must choose one account if you’re a couple.

Usually, you’re paid from the date of your claim up to the end of the tax year (5 April).

If your circumstances change

Your tax credits can go up or down if your family or work life change if you start a new job, you’re laid off work or your partner dies.

You must report these changes to HM Revenue and Customs.

How to claim

You can no longer make a new claim for Working Tax Credit. You can apply for Universal Credit instead.

To claim Working Tax Credit, update your existing tax credit claim by reporting a change in your circumstances online or by phone.

Leave and gaps in your employment

You can get Working Tax Credit for periods when you do not work. For example, when you:

go on maternity leave

get sick pay

are in between jobs

You’re entitled to the tax credits for a certain period of time providing you qualify.

If you do not return to work at the end of the period contact HM Revenue and Customs.

Circumstance | Period you get tax credits for

You lose or leave your job | For 4 weeks

You’re on maternity leave | For the first 39 weeks of your leave

You’re on adoption leave | For the first 39 weeks of your leave

You’re on paternity leave | For the period of your ordinary paternity leave

You’re on additional paternity leave | Up to the equivalent 39th week of your partner’s leave

You’re off sick | For the first 28 weeks

You’re on strike | For the first 10 days

You’re laid off work | For 4 weeks after you’re laid off or the lay off becomes indefinite

You’re suspended from work - for example because of a complaint | Usually the period of suspension

Qualifying rules

To qualify, you must:

have been in paid work

have worked the right number of hours before you go on leave or the gap happens

have got Statutory Sick Pay or an equivalent benefit if you were on sick leave

You’ll still qualify if you were self employed and you would have been eligible for Statutory Sick Pay or an equivalent benefit if you were not self employed.

The equivalent benefits are National Insurance credits (incapacity for work element), Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support (incapacity for work element).


Manage your Child Maintenance Service case

Overview

The Child Maintenance Service is for parents who have not been able to make a private arrangement for paying their child’s living costs.

Once you’ve set up a Child Maintenance Service case, you:

can manage your case online

need to report any changes to your circumstances, for example changes to your employment, benefits or the people who live with you

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Making and getting payments

Child maintenance can be paid:

between parents

directly from the paying parent’s earnings - arranged with their employer

by Direct Debit

by reducing the paying parent’s benefits

Payments are paid into the receiving parent’s bank account.

The receiving parent has main day-to-day care of the child. The paying parent does not have main day-to-day care.

Contact the Child Maintenance Service if you’re having problems paying.

You can adjust your payment plan if you’re self-isolating because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse or controlling behaviour

Tell the Child Maintenance Service. They can arrange payments with your child’s other parent for you.

If you’ve changed your name, you can arrange child maintenance without the other parent knowing your new name.

If you do not want the other parent to know where you live, ask your bank to set up an account with a ‘non-geographic’ sort code. The Child Maintenance Service can give you a letter for your bank explaining why you need to set up this type of account.

Making payments yourself

Once the Child Maintenance Service has worked out an amount, you can make the payments yourself.

This is called Direct Pay.

The easiest way to pay is by standing order - payments go direct from the paying parent’s bank, building society or Post Office account into the receiving parent’s account.

The Child Maintenance Service can still enforce missed payments. Keep a record of payments in case there are any problems in the future.

Either parent can choose Direct Pay without needing the other’s consent, unless there’s evidence that the paying parent is unlikely to pay.

Arranging payments for you

If you’re using the Child Maintenance Service to collect and pass on payments, they’ll arrange this based on when the paying parent is paid their wages, pension or benefits.

This is called Collect and Pay.

You must tell the Child Maintenance Service about any Direct Pay transactions you make or receive while you’re signed up to the Collect and Pay service.

Collection fees

You have to pay a fee each time you make or receive a regular child maintenance payment. The fee is:

20% (which is added to the payment) for paying parents

4% (which is taken off the payment) for receiving parents

You cannot avoid collection fees by making payments in advance.

You will not have to pay:

any fees if you choose a private arrangement

collection fees if you use Direct Pay

When you’ll pay or receive the money

If you’re the paying parent you’ll be sent a letter explaining how much you need to pay and when. This is called a payment plan.

If you’re the receiving parent, you’ll be sent a letter telling you what payments will be made and when. This is called an expected payment plan.

The first payment is usually made within 12 weeks of making payment arrangements.

If a parent does not pay

The Child Maintenance Service will take action if child maintenance is not paid.

Enforcement charges

Action taken by the Child Maintenance Service | Charge

Liability order | £300

Lump sum deduction order | £200

Regular deduction order | £50

Deduction from earnings request or order | £50

What action is taken

The Child Maintenance Service will take action immediately if the paying parent pays through them.

If the paying parent used the Child Maintenance Service to calculate child maintenance but pays directly, the receiving parent needs to ask the service to take action.

Disagreements about parentage

When someone denies they’re the parent of a child, the Child Maintenance Service will:

ask them for evidence proving they’re not the parent

tell the other parent what’s happened and ask for evidence to prove parentage

If there’s no evidence to prove they’re not the parent, the Child Maintenance Service can:

ask both parents to take a DNA test

ask the courts to make a decision

Assumed parentage

The Child Maintenance Service can assume parentage if the person named as the parent:

was married to the child’s mother at any time between the conception and birth of the child (unless the child was adopted)

is named on the child’s birth certificate (unless the child was adopted)

has taken a DNA test that shows they’re the parent

has legally adopted the child

is named in a court order as the parent when the child was born to a surrogate mother

If parentage is assumed, they’ll work out a child maintenance amount. The person named as the parent has to pay this until they can prove that they’re not the parent.

Paying child maintenance during a disagreement

When a child maintenance amount has already been worked out, the person named as the parent has to pay until they can provide evidence they’re not the parent.

When the amount has not been worked out, the service managing the case will not work it out or ask for payment until the disagreement has been sorted out.

If the person is found to be the parent, the amount of child maintenance they have to pay will be back-dated.

Named person proves they’re not the parent

When this happens, the Child Maintenance Service may:

refund any payments made after the date they first denied they were the parent, or offset the amount against maintenance for another child

refund the cost of any DNA tests arranged through the service

They may also ask the other parent to pay back any child maintenance.

Refunds depend on the circumstances of each case.

Changes you need to report

There are some changes you must tell the Child Maintenance Service about by law. You should report the change as soon as it happens.

You can report changes to the Child Maintenance Service online or by phone.

Either parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if:

a parent or a child has died

one of the parents is adopting a child

you want to close your case

you want to change from using a payment collection service to a Direct Pay service, or the other way around

there’s a change to the number of nights a child regularly stays overnight with the paying parent

Paying parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if you:

start or stop working for an employer

start or stop being self-employed

have lost your job or you’re temporarily receiving Statutory Sick Pay

want to restart your payments

have received notification of a court or tribunal date

have received notification of a deduction order from a bank

move house (give your new address within 7 days of moving)

change your phone number (including mobile number)

have an income change of 25% or more

Your payments may be reduced for a period. You’ll get a payment schedule with the new amount.

If you pay child maintenance through deductions in your earnings and you leave your job, you must tell the Child Maintenance Service:

the date you left your last job

the name and address of your new employer (if any)

how much you expect to earn

your new payroll number (if any)

You should also report details about children who you or your partner have registered for Child Benefit, for example:

any changes to the number of children living with you

if any child living with you reaches the age of 20

Receiving parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if:

there’s a change to the number of children living with you that you get child maintenance for

there’s a change to the number of children that you or your partner have registered for Child Benefit

a child you get child maintenance for leaves full-time education (up to and including A Level) or reaches the age of 20

you or any of the children you get child maintenance for no longer live in the UK

you find out that the paying parent is coming off benefits

you’re moving house or know that the other parent is

your phone number (including mobile number) changes

the paying parent’s income has changed by 25% or more

When you report a change

You might need to provide:

employers’ details or payslips

benefits information

a tax return or an explanation of what you think you’ll earn if you’re self-employed

If you do not give the right information

You could be taken to court and fined up to £1,000 if you:

do not give the information you are asked for

give information that you know is false

This applies to any person or organisation who, by law, must give the Child Maintenance Service information, for example:

employers

accountants

either parent

When changes could affect your payments

Changes to your circumstances may mean a change to the amount of child maintenance you pay or receive.

You can find out how child maintenance is worked out.

Complaints and appeals

Contact the Child Maintenance Service if you’re unhappy with the service you’ve received.

If you’re not satisfied with how the Child Maintenance Service deals with your complaint, ask for it to go to a senior manager and be looked at by the DWP Complaints team.

Independent Case Examiner

You can ask the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) to look into your complaint if you’ve already been through the full complaints process.

You must not contact the Independent Case Examiner until you’ve received a final response from the Child Maintenance Service saying you can do so.

If you’re unhappy with the response from the Independent Case Examiner, you can ask your MP to get the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to look into it.

If your complaint is valid

The Child Maintenance Service will:

apologise and explain what went wrong

make any changes needed to put it right

If you’ve been treated particularly badly, you may get a consolatory payment. However, you do not have a legal right to this.

Appeals

You can appeal a child maintenance decision about payment amounts.

Before you can appeal, you must contact the Child Maintenance Service to ask for the decision to be looked at again. This is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’. You’ll need to say why you disagree with the decision.

If you’re unhappy with the outcome of the mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. The tribunal is impartial and independent of government.

Appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal

Appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting the mandatory reconsideration decision. If you submit your appeal after a month you’ll have to explain why you did not do it earlier.

Download and fill in form SSCS2 and send it to the address on the form.

You’ll need to choose whether you want to go to the tribunal hearing to explain your case. If you do not attend, your appeal will be decided on your appeal form and any supporting evidence.

After you submit your appeal, you can provide evidence. Your appeal and the evidence will be discussed at a hearing by a judge and one or two experts. The judge will then make a decision.

It usually takes around 6 months for your appeal to be heard by the tribunal.

Contact

Report changes online

Report changes to your circumstances through your online account.

Call the Child Maintenance Service

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

Watch a video to check you can use the service.

Go to the video relay service.

Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm

There’s a different phone number if you live in Northern Ireland.

Contact the Child Maintenance Service by post

You can also write to the Child Maintenance Service.


Disability premiums

Overview

Disability premiums are extra amounts of money added to your:

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Housing Benefit

Any money you get is added to your benefit payments automatically so you usually do not have to apply for a disability premium.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

There are 3 types of disability premium for adults:

disability premium

enhanced disability premium

severe disability premium

You can get more than one premium at a time.

What you'll get

You can get the disability premium on its own. You might get the severe or enhanced disability premium as well if you’re eligible for them.

If you get income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) you cannot get the disability premium, but you may still qualify for the severe and enhanced premiums.

Disability premium

You’ll get:

£35.10 a week for a single person

£50.05 a week for a couple

Severe disability premium

You’ll get:

£67.30 a week for a single person

£134.60 a week for a couple if you’re both eligible

Some couples will be eligible for the lower amount of £67.30 a week instead.

Enhanced disability premium

You’ll get:

£17.20 a week for a single person

£24.60 a week for a couple if at least one of you is eligible

How you’re paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account such as your bank account.

There is a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to under State Pension age can get. This is called a benefit cap.

Eligibility

Disability premium payments can be added to your:

Income Support

housing benefit

You usually need to be eligible for the disability premium to qualify for the severe or enhanced premiums.

If you get income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) you can only get the severe or enhanced premium.

Use a benefits calculator to check your eligibility.

Disability premium

You or your partner must be under pension credit age and either registered blind or getting:

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

Working Tax Credit with a disability element

Attendance Allowance

Constant Attendance Allowance

War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

Severe Disablement Allowance

Incapacity Benefit

If you do not qualify, you may still get the premium if you’ve been unable to work for at least a year.

Severe disability premium

You must get the disability premium or income-related ESA, and one of the following qualifying benefits:

PIP daily living component

AFIP

DLA care component at the middle or highest rate

Attendance Allowance (or Constant Attendance Allowance paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Pension)

You usually cannot have anyone aged 18 or over living with you, unless they’re in one of these situations:

they get a qualifying benefit

they’re registered blind

they’re a boarder or subtenant (but not a close relative)

they make separate payments to the landlord

You cannot get the severe disability premium if someone is getting Carer’s Allowance or the carers element of Universal Credit for looking after you.

If you’re in a couple

You’ll get the higher amount of severe disability premium if both you and your partner are eligible.

You can get the lower amount if:

someone gets Carers Allowance or the carers element of Universal Credit for looking after only one of you

only one of you meets the eligibility criteria and the other is registered blind

Enhanced disability premium

To get this, you must be under pension credit age.

You must get the disability premium or income-related ESA, and one of the following:

PIP daily living component at the higher (‘enhanced’) rate

AFIP

DLA care component at the highest rate

You’ll also get this if you’re in the support group for income-related ESA.

How to claim

You do not have to claim disability premium. If you’re eligible, it’s automatically added to your:

Income Support

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

housing benefit

Contact your local Jobcentre Plus if it has not been paid.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.


Cold Weather Payment

Overview

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

The 2020 to 2021 Cold Weather Payment scheme has now ended. You’ll be able to check if your area is due a payment when next year’s scheme starts on 1 November 2021.

Cold Weather Payments are different to Winter Fuel Payments.

What you'll get

After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.

Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.

Eligibility

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:

Pension Credit

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

Universal Credit

Support for Mortgage Interest

Pension Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credit.

Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and have any of the following:

a disability or pensioner premium

a child who is disabled

Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element

a child under 5 living with you

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either group, you might also get Cold Weather Payments if you have any of the following:

a severe or enhanced disability premium

a pensioner premium

a child who is disabled

a child under 5 living with you

Universal Credit

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit and you’re not employed or self-employed. One of the following must also apply:

you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)

you have a child under 5 living with you

You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you’re employed or not.

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) and have any of the following:

a severe or enhanced disability premium

a pensioner premium

a child who is disabled

a child under 5 living with you

How to claim

You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically.

If you have a baby or a child under 5 comes to live with you

Tell Jobcentre Plus if you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance and:

you’ve had a baby

a child under 5 has come to live with you

You will not automatically get Cold Weather Payments if you do not.

If you do not receive your Cold Weather Payment

Tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if you think you should’ve received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not.

If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.

If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit claim.

Hospital stays

Tell the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus if you go into hospital - this could affect your payment.

If you do not have an online account, ring the Universal Credit helpline instead. The phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit.


Winter Fuel Payment

Overview

If you were born on or before 5 October 1954 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You will get your Winter Fuel Payment automatically (you do not need to claim) if you’re eligible and either:

get the State Pension

get another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit)

If you do not get either of these, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim.

If you’ve got a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad.

The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2020 to 2021 is 31 March 2021.

When you’ll be paid

Most payments are made automatically in November or December. You should get your money by 31 March 2021.

If you do not get your payment, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.

Winter Fuel Payments are different to Cold Weather Payments.

Eligibility

You qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if both the following apply:

you were born on or before 5 October 1954

you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 21 to 27 September 2020 - this is called the ‘qualifying week’

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:

you live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country

you have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK - this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK

Read guidance to check if you can get benefits as a UK national in an EU or EEA country, or Switzerland.

You cannot get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.

You may still be able to get Cold Weather Payment or the Warm Home Discount Scheme, even if you do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payment.

When you will not qualify

You will not qualify if you:

are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year

need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you can not claim public funds

were in prison for the whole week from 21 to 27 September 2020

lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June to 27 September 2020, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

How much you'll get

How much you get depends on your circumstances during the qualifying week. The qualifying week for winter 2020 to 2021 is 21 to 27 September 2020.

Any money you get is tax-free and will not affect your other benefits.

| Born between 28 September 1940 and 5 October 1954 | Born on or before 27 September 1940

You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) | £200 | £300

You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies | £100 | £200

You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies | £100 | £150

You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits | £100 | £150

If you get certain benefits

Your payment may be different if you or your partner get one of the following benefits:

Pension Credit

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Income Support

You qualify, get one of the benefits and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) | £200 | £300

You qualify and live with someone who also gets one of the benefits | £200 - only one of you will get the payment | £300 - only one of you will get the payment

You qualify, live in a care home and get one of the benefits | Nil | Nil

When you’ll get paid

You’ll get a letter telling you how much you will get and an estimated payment date.

If the money is not paid into your account by 31 March 2021, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, such as a bank account.

How to claim

You usually do not need to claim Winter Fuel Payment - you’ll get it automatically if you’re eligible.

If you have not got a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if any of the following apply:

you do not get benefits or a State Pension

you only get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit

you get benefits or a State Pension but live in Switzerland or an EEA country

If you have got a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if since your last payment you have either:

deferred your State Pension

moved to Switzerland or an EEA country

Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if your circumstances have changed.

If you need to claim

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by phone or by post.

Claim for the first time by phone

Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone.

You will need to know:

your National Insurance number

your bank or building society details

your BIC and IBAN numbers if you live in the EEA or Switzerland

the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate)

Payments can not be made into a National Savings and Investments (NS&I) account unless you already get other benefits paid into the account.

You’ll also need to say whether during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2020 you were:

in hospital getting free in-patient treatment

in a residential care home or Ilford Park Resettlement Home

in prison

Claim for the first time by post

The claim form you need depends on where you live.

Winter Fuel Payment claim form if you live in the UK

Winter Fuel Payment claim form if you live in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country

Send your claim to the following address if you’re in the UK.

Send your claim to the following address if you’re in an EEA country or Switzerland.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

Report a change or cancel your payment

Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you’ve claimed Winter Fuel Payment before and you:

need to report a change of circumstances

need to change your address or personal details

want to cancel future payments

want to return a payment

Report any change of circumstances as soon as possible, as these can affect how much Winter Fuel Payment you get. For example, if you stop getting a benefit, move house or go into care.

If you cancel your payments, you can change this at any time.

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

did not report a change straight away

gave wrong information

were overpaid by mistake

Find out how to repay the money you owe from benefit overpayment.


Christmas Bonus

Overview

The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December.

You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

What you'll get

The Christmas Bonus is a one-off payment of £10.

It will not affect any other benefits you get.

How you’re paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are normally paid into an account, such as your bank account. It may show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.

Eligibility

To get a Christmas Bonus you must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.

If you live in or are moving to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, find out about benefits for UK nationals in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’ - this is normally the first full week of December:

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Attendance Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)

Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)

Disability Living Allowance

Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate

Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)

Mobility Supplement

Pension Credit - the guarantee element

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)

Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)

Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)

War Disablement Pension at State Pension age

War Widow’s Pension

Widowed Mother’s Allowance

Widowed Parent’s Allowance

Widow’s Pension

If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus

How to claim

You do not need to claim the Christmas Bonus - you should get it automatically.

If you think you should get it, but have not, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service.

Further information

If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together as if you are and you both get one of the qualifying benefits you’ll each get a Christmas Bonus payment.

If your partner or civil partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas Bonus if both the following apply:

you’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week

your partner or civil partner was also present (or ‘ordinarily resident’) in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during the qualifying week

and either:

you’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner

the only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit


Claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad

Overview

You may still be able to claim some benefits if you travel or move abroad, or if you’re already living abroad. What you’re entitled to depends on where you’re going and how long for.

Who to contact if you’re going abroad

Tell your local Jobcentre Plus or the office that pays your benefit if you’re going abroad. If it’s a temporary move, tell them when you’re coming back.

You must also tell HMRC if you’re leaving the UK.

Claiming when abroad

If you’re going to (or are already living in) a European Economic Area (EEA) country or a country with a special agreement with the UK, you may be able to claim:

UK-based benefits

benefits provided by the country you’re going to

You can also claim your State Pension abroad.

Claiming benefits in an EEA country or Switzerland

If you’re living in or planning to go to an EEA country or Switzerland you may be able to get some UK benefits.

Find out if you can get benefits in the EEA or Switzerland.

When you get your payment

The date you get your payment depends on which benefit you claim.

If you live abroad and your payment is due in the same week as a US bank holiday, it could arrive one day late. This is because a US company processes these payments.

Benefit fraud

You’re committing benefit fraud if you:

do not tell the office that pays your benefit you’re going abroad, even if it’s just for a visit

deliberately do not report a change in your circumstances while abroad, like buying a property, working, or claiming a pension or benefit from another country

are dishonest in order to get benefits, like continuing to claim the pension or benefit of someone who has died overseas

Where you can claim benefits

European Economic Area (EEA) countries

Other countries with UK benefits arrangements

The following countries have social security agreements with the UK:

Barbados

Bermuda

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Canada

Channel Islands

Gibraltar

Israel

Jamaica

Kosovo

Mauritius

Montenegro

New Zealand

North Macedonia

the Philippines

Serbia

Turkey

USA

You may be able to claim certain benefits in these countries but it will depend on the particular country.

Jobseeker's Allowance

There are 3 different types of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA):

‘new style’ JSA

contribution-based JSA

income-based JSA

You cannot get income-based JSA abroad.

You may get ‘new style’ JSA or contribution-based JSA in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for up to 3 months if you:

are entitled to it on the day you go abroad

register as a jobseeker at least 4 weeks before you leave

are looking for work in the UK up to the day you leave

are going abroad to look for work

register at the equivalent of a Jobcentre in the country you’re going to

follow the other country’s rules on registering and looking for work

are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement

Find out if you can get JSA in the EEA or Switzerland.

Moving to a country not in the EEA

Some countries outside the EEA have social security agreements with the UK. This means that if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contributions in the UK, you may be able to get unemployment benefits in:

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Channel Islands

Kosovo

Macedonia

Montenegro

New Zealand

Serbia

Help and advice on JSA

Maternity and childcare benefits

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

If you work for a UK employer in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you may  get SMP as long as you’re eligible.

Find out if you can get Statutory Maternity Pay in the EEA or Switzerland.

If you work in a different country, you can still get SMP as long as your employer pays UK National Insurance contributions for you.

Talk to your employer about claiming SMP.

Maternity Allowance

If you cannot get SMP, you might be eligible for Maternity Allowance.

If you’re eligible, you may get Maternity Allowance in an EEA country or Switzerland.

Find out if you can get Maternity Allowance in the EEA or Switzerland.

You may also be able to claim it in:

Barbados

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Channel Islands

Gibraltar

Israel

Kosovo

Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Turkey

Ask your local Jobcentre Plus for more information.

Child-related benefits

You may also get the following in an EEA country or Switzerland if you’re eligible:

Child Benefit

tax credits

Guardian’s Allowance (you can claim this if you’re getting Child Benefit for a child whose parents have both died)

Illness and injury benefits

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

You can get SSP if you’re eligible and either of the following apply:

you work outside the EEA and your employer pays National Insurance contributions for you

Contact your employer to claim SSP.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can get ESA for up to 4 weeks if you go abroad. Talk to your local Jobcentre Plus before you go.

Going abroad for more than 4 weeks but less than a year

Tell your local Jobcentre Plus if you’re going abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can carry on getting contribution-based ESA for up to 26 weeks if you’re going abroad for medical treatment for yourself or your child.

It does not matter which country you go to.

Going abroad for more than a year

You may get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland if you:

are eligible

have paid enough National Insurance contributions

are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement

Find out if you can get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland.

Help and advice on ESA

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)

If you’re getting Industrial Injuries Benefit for work-related accidents and illnesses, you can still get this abroad.

Contact the office dealing with your benefit if you’re still in the UK, or the International Pension Centre if you’re living abroad.

Help and advice on IIDB

Benefits for carers and people with disabilities

What you can claim depends on:

which benefit you’re claiming

where you’re going and for how long

Going abroad temporarily

You can claim the following benefits if you’re going abroad for up to 13 weeks (or 26 weeks if it’s for medical treatment):

Attendance Allowance

Disability Living Allowance

Personal Independence Payment

You can carry on claiming Carer’s Allowance if you take up to 4 weeks holiday out of a 26-week period.

Tell the office that deals with your benefit that you’ll be away.

Going abroad permanently to an EEA country or Switzerland

You or a family member may be able to claim benefits if you:

work in the UK or pay National Insurance in the UK because of work

have paid enough National Insurance to qualify for contribution-based benefits

are getting State Pension, Industrial Injuries Benefit, contribution-based ESA or bereavement benefits

are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement

If you’re eligible then you may be able to claim:

Disability Living Allowance care component

Personal Independence Payment living component

Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance

You cannot claim Disability Living Allowance mobility component and Personal Independence Payment mobility component abroad.

Find out if you can get benefits in an EEA country or Switzerland.

If you already live in an EEA country or Switzerland

You do not need to have claimed in the UK before you moved. But you must:

be habitually resident in the EEA country or Switzerland

have a genuine link with the UK social security system, for example you’ve lived or worked in the UK

be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement

Make a claim or change your details

To make a claim or change any personal details, such as your address or bank account, write to the Exportability Team that deals with the benefit you are claiming.

If you’re making a claim, your letter should say:

what benefits you want to claim

where you live

Attendance Allowance Exportability Team

Disability Living Allowance Exportability Team

Personal Independence Payment 7 Exportability Team

Carer’s Allowance

You can claim Carer’s Allowance or report a change of circumstances online.

You can also write to the Carers Allowance Exportability Team.

Help and advice

Contact the Disability Benefits Exportability Team about Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment.

If you have a general enquiry about Carer’s Allowance, contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit.

If you’re a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use the video relay service. It’s available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm - check you can use the service.

Winter Fuel Payments

You may be able to claim a Winter Fuel Payment if all of the following apply:

you were born on or before 5 October 1954

you live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country (except for Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain)

you have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK - this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK

you’re covered by the Withdrawal Agreement

You do not need to have claimed Winter Fuel Payments in the UK before you go abroad.

Find out if you can get Winter Fuel Payments in an EEA country or Switzerland.

Bereavement benefits

If you’re already getting a bereavement benefit when you move abroad, you’ll still get it - it does not matter where you move to.

You may be able to make a new claim if you live in certain countries outside the UK.

European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Switzerland and Gibraltar

If you live in an EEA country, Switzerland or Gibraltar, and you’re eligible, you may be able to claim the following:

Bereavement Support Payment

Widowed Parent’s Allowance

Find out if you can get bereavement benefits in an EEA country or Switzerland.

Countries outside the EEA

You may also be able to claim bereavement benefits in some countries outside the EEA.

Bereavement Support Payment:

Barbados

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Channel Islands

Israel

Jamaica

Kosovo

Macedonia

Montenegro

New Zealand

the Philippines

Serbia

Turkey

USA

Widowed Parent’s Allowance:

Barbados

Bermuda

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Channel Islands

Israel

Jamaica

Kosovo

Macedonia

Mauritius

Montenegro

New Zealand

the Philippines

Serbia

Turkey

USA

The rate and eligibility criteria may vary between countries.

Help and advice on bereavement benefits


Benefits and prison

Overview

Benefit payments and entitlement may change or stop if you, your partner or your child is:

sent to prison or a young offenders’ institution

in custody awaiting trial (on remand)

You must tell the Tax Credit Office about prison sentences.

You cannot claim State Pension while you’re in prison.

If you’re in prison or on remand

You can get help from a benefits adviser to suspend or close down benefits you’re no longer able to claim if you go to prison or on remand.

If your partner or child is in prison or on remand

If your partner or child has gone to prison or is on remand, you must tell whoever pays your benefits and find out:

if your benefit claims will be affected

if you can claim other benefits

You may still be entitled to benefits if your partner has gone to prison, as long as you satisfy the benefit entitlement conditions in your own right.

Benefits that stop or are suspended

Your entitlement to benefit stops if you go to prison, apart from:

Housing Benefit
for shorter sentences

help with council tax if you’re eligible

tax credits and Child Benefit, in some cases

Industrial Injuries Disabled Benefit, which is suspended

You’ll stop getting Carer’s Allowance if the person you care for goes to prison or is on remand.

Benefits while on remand

If you’re on remand, you cannot claim:

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Income Support - apart from help with housing costs

Working Tax Credit - although your partner may be able to claim for an absent partner

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit

Attendance Allowance

Pension Credit - apart from help with housing costs

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

You will not be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay or Statutory Maternity Pay from your employer.

Benefit arrears

If you’re owed any benefit arrears at the time you’re sent to prison or on remand, you can make a request in writing for these to be paid to someone else.

Benefit arrears if you’re not convicted

If you’re not convicted, you can get benefit arrears for:

Contributory Employment and Support Allowance

Incapacity Benefit

Benefit arrears if you’re convicted

If you’re sent to prison and claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, you may be entitled to up to a year’s arrears whenever you’re released.

Claiming benefits on release

If you’re entitled to benefits, you can put in new claims as soon as you leave prison. You may also be able to get other financial and practical support.

You cannot claim Job Seeker’s Allowance if you’re released on temporary licence (ROTL).

Housing Benefit

You may be able to continue getting Housing Benefit or make a claim for the first time if you go to prison or are on remand.

Making a new Housing Benefit claim

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if one of the following is true:

you have reached State Pension age

you live in temporary accommodation

you live in sheltered or supported housing with special facilities such as alarms or wardens

When you will not be able to claim

You will not be entitled to claim Housing Benefit if:

you’re likely to be on remand for more than 52 weeks

you’re likely to be in prison for more than 13 weeks (including any time on remand)

you’re not intending to return home on release

you’re claiming as a couple and you’ve split up

the property is going to be rented out

On remand

If you’re single

You can claim Housing Benefit payments for up to 52 weeks while you’re on remand, if you’re likely to return home in a year or less.

If you’re in a couple

You can claim joint Housing Benefit for up to 52 weeks while one of you is on remand, if it’s likely to be for a year or less.

If your child is on remand

Your Housing Benefit payments can continue for up to 52 weeks if your child’s on remand, if they’re likely to be away for a year or less.

In prison

If you’re single

You can claim Housing Benefit for up to 13 weeks if you’re single and go to prison and are likely to return home in 13 weeks or less - including any time on remand.

If you’re in a couple

You can claim joint Housing Benefit for up to 13 weeks if one of you has gone to prison and is likely to return home in 13 weeks or less - including any time on remand.

If your partner’s been the one claiming Housing Benefit and goes to prison, you may be able to claim it instead. You may need to have your name added to the tenancy agreement, if it’s not there already.

If your child is in prison

If your child goes to prison, you’ll need to contact your local council to see if your Housing Benefit entitlement will change. For example, if you rent from a private landlord, the amount of benefit paid is limited, depending on who’s living with you.

Council Tax exemption and reduction

You will not count as an adult living in a property for Council Tax if you’re in prison or on remand.

If you’re single

You can apply for your home to be exempt from Council Tax if you’re single, in prison or on remand, and there’s no one living there.

Your home will not be exempt if you’re in prison for not paying Council Tax or a fine for not paying it.

If you’re in a couple

On remand

You can apply or continue to get joint Council Tax Reduction if your partner’s on remand and is expected home in a year or less.

In prison

You can claim or continue to claim joint Council Tax Reduction if your partner’s expected to be in prison for 13 weeks or less – including any time on remand.

Making a new claim

You’ll get a 25% discount off your Council Tax bill if your partner’s going to be absent for more than 13 weeks and you’re the only adult in the property. You may be able to apply for Council Tax Reduction if you do not already get it.

Tax Credits

Reporting changes

You must tell the Tax Credit Office about changes that affect your tax credits. They’ll tell you what happens next.

Working Tax Credit

If you’re single

Your Working Tax Credit will stop if you’re single and:

you’re on on remand

you’re sent to prison

you’re sent to a young offenders’ institution

If you’re in a couple

You may be able to continue claiming Working Tax Credit if you’re in a couple and your partner goes to prison for a year or less.

You must work a certain number of hours a week to qualify.

Any work you do while you’re serving a sentence or on remand will not be counted.

Child Tax Credit

If you’re single and you go to prison

Your Child Tax Credit may stop if you’re single with children and go to prison. The Tax Credit Office will decide by looking at:

whether you’re still responsible for your child

how long you’re in prison for

if you’re still in regular contact

if your child’s with you in prison

The person looking after your child or children may be able to claim Child Tax Credit if you cannot.

If you’re in a couple and one of you goes to prison

Your Child Tax Credit will continue if you’re in a couple and one of you goes on remand or to prison.

If your child goes to prison

You’ll still get Child Tax Credit if your child goes to prison for 4 months or less.

You will not get Child Tax Credit for your child’s sentence if it’s more than 4 months.

Child Benefit

You can continue to claim Child Benefit when you’re in prison if:

your child is with you in prison

the child you’re claiming for for is living with someone else and you pay an equivalent sum to them

You can also ask to transfer the Child Benefit payment to someone else.

If your child is being cared for by the local council, your Child Benefit payments will stop after 8 weeks.

If your child goes to prison or is on remand

Your Child Benefit payments will stop after 8 weeks if your child goes to prison or is on remand. You’ll get arrears if they’re cleared of the offence.

Looking after someone else’s child

You may be able to claim Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance if you look after your partner’s child or someone else’s child while they’re in prison.

You may also be able to to claim Child Tax Credit.

Support for Mortgage Interest

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is no longer a benefit. It’s now only available as a loan.

You cannot get an SMI loan if you’re serving a prison sentence but your partner might be able to claim instead.

Your partner’s name may not have to be on the mortgage to be able to claim.

Getting an SMI loan while on remand

If you’re single and on remand, you may be able to continue getting SMI loan payments if you meet the eligibility conditions.

You cannot get an SMI loan or Income Support if you’re part of a couple and on remand, but your partner can claim benefit and housing costs.

Eligibility

If you’re on remand, you must be getting Pension Credit or Income Support to get an SMI loan.

You’ll need to apply for one of these benefits if you’ve previously qualified for SMI by getting Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support allowance.

You’ll only be able to get SMI loan payments - you will not be paid Pension Credit or Income Support.

If you get Income Support and have accepted an offer of an SMI loan, you can only get loan payments after you’ve been receiving the benefit for 39 consecutive weeks.


Benefit cap

Benefits affected by the cap

The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The benefit cap affects:

Universal Credit

Bereavement Allowance

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit

Employment and Support Allowance

Housing Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Income Support

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Maternity Allowance

Severe Disablement Allowance

Widowed Parent’s Allowance (or Widowed Mother’s Allowance or Widow’s Pension if you started getting it before 9 April 2001)

You might not be affected by the benefit cap if you get certain benefits or you’re over State Pension age.

If you’re claiming Universal Credit the benefit cap might not start for 9 months, depending on your earnings.

When you're not affected

You’re not affected by the cap if you’re over State Pension age. If you’re part of a couple and one of you is under State Pension age, the cap may apply.

You’re not affected by the cap if you or your partner:

get Working Tax Credit (even if the amount you get is £0)

get Universal Credit because of a disability or health condition that stops you from working (this is called ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’)

get Universal Credit because you care for someone with a disability

get Universal Credit and you and your partner earn £617 or more a month combined, after tax and National Insurance contributions

You’re also not affected by the cap if you, your partner or any children under 18 living with you gets:

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Attendance Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the support component)

Guardian’s Allowance

Industrial Injuries Benefits (and equivalent payments as part of a War Disablement Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

War pensions

War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension

If you are affected, the benefit cap might not start for 9 months - depending on your earnings.

When the benefit cap affects your Universal Credit payments

The benefit cap might not affect your Universal Credit payments for up to 9 months. This is called the ‘grace period’.

You’ll get the grace period if all of the following are true:

you’re claiming Universal Credit because you stopped working or your earnings went down

you’re now earning less than £617 a month

in each of the 12 months before your earnings went down or you stopped working, you earned the same as or more than the earnings threshold (this was £604 up to 11 April 2021 and is £617 from 12 April 2021)

Your partner’s earnings will be included when working out how much you earned even if they’re not claiming benefits. If you have separated from your partner, their earnings will be included for the time that you lived with them before you separated.

You need to report your last 12 months’ earnings when you apply for Universal Credit to get the grace period.

You will not be affected by the benefit cap if you or your partner get Universal Credit because you have a disability or health condition or because you care for someone with a disability or you earn £617 or more between you.

How the 9 month grace period works

If you’re already claiming Universal Credit, the grace period will start on the first day of the assessment period in which your earnings went below the earnings threshold. The threshold was £604 up to 11 April 2021 and is £617 from 12 April 2021.

If you’re making a new claim for Universal Credit, the grace period starts from either:

the day after the last day you worked

the payday when your earnings went below the earnings threshold (this was £604 up to 11 April 2021 and is £617 from 12 April 2021)

The 9 month grace period continues if you stop claiming Universal Credit and then start again.

After the 9 month grace period ends, the amount of Universal Credit you get will usually go down. It might not go down if your circumstances change and you are not affected by the benefit cap.

Help if you're affected by the benefit cap

Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you’re affected by the benefit cap and you need help.

If you need help paying your rent or a rent deposit, contact your local council as well. They can check if you’re eligible for a discretionary housing payment, which is not affected by the benefit cap.

If you get Universal Credit

Contact DWP either:

through the journal in your online account

by calling the Universal Credit helpline

If you get any other benefits

Benefit cap amounts

The amount you get through the benefit cap depends on whether:

you live inside or outside Greater London

you’re single or in a couple

your children live with you (if you’re single)

If you’re in a couple but you do not live together, you’ll get the amounts for a single person.

Use the benefit cap calculator to find out how much your benefit might be capped.

Outside Greater London

The benefit cap outside Greater London is:

£384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re in a couple

£384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re a single parent and your children live with you

£257.69 per week (£13,400 a year) if you’re a single adult

Inside Greater London

The benefit cap inside Greater London is:

£442.31 per week (£23,000 a year) if you’re in a couple

£442.31 per week (£23,000 a year) if you’re a single parent and your children live with you

£296.35 per week (£15,410 a year) if you’re a single adult


Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

If you disagree with a decision about benefits, tax credits or child maintenance you can ask for the decision to be looked at again - this is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You can do this if any of the following apply:

you think the office dealing with your claim has made an error or missed important evidence

you disagree with the reasons for the decision

you want to have the decision looked at again

Some decisions cannot be reconsidered. Others can go straight to an appeal. Your original decision letter will say if this applies to you.

You need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision.

Benefits this applies to

You can ask for mandatory reconsideration for benefits including:

Attendance Allowance

Bereavement Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Carer’s Credit

child maintenance (sometimes known as ‘child support’)

Compensation Recovery Scheme (including NHS recovery claims)

Diffuse Mesotheliomia Payment Scheme

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Funeral Expenses Payment

Income Support

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Maternity Allowance

Pension Credit

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Sure Start Maternity Grant

Universal Credit (including advance payments)

Winter Fuel Payment

There’s a different process for Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare, Guardian’s Allowance, tax credits, Housing Benefit and Vaccine Damage Payment.

How to ask for mandatory reconsideration

Contact the benefits office that gave you the decision. You can contact them:

by phone

by letter

by filling in and returning a form

The contact details are on your decision letter.

You need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter. If you’re writing, the letter or form must arrive by then.

If you do not have your decision letter, contact the office where you applied for the benefit.

If you get Universal Credit

If you get Universal Credit you can use your journal to ask for mandatory reconsideration.

If you’re unable to use your journal, you can ask for mandatory reconsideration in any of the following ways:

writing to the address on your decision letter

filling in and returning a form

calling the Universal Credit helpline

Before you ask for mandatory reconsideration

If you’re not sure whether to ask for mandatory reconsideration or what evidence to give, call the benefits office dealing with your claim. They’ll be able to explain the reason for your benefit decision and answer any questions.

You can still ask for mandatory reconsideration after you’ve spoken to your benefits office.

If you want an explanation in writing

You can ask for a written explanation from the benefits office dealing with your claim - known as a ‘written statement of reasons’.

You do not need to do this for Personal Independence Payment - your decision letter will include a written statement.

You can still ask for mandatory reconsideration, but must do this within 14 days of the date on your written statement of reasons.

Applying after one month

You can ask for mandatory reconsideration after this but it must be for a good reason, for example if you’ve been in hospital or had a bereavement. You must explain why your request is late.

Call the phone number on your decision letter first.

What you need to provide

You need to give:

the date of the original benefit decision

your name and address

your date of birth

your National Insurance number

Explain what part of the decision is wrong and why.

If you want to send evidence

This needs to shows why the decision was wrong. It could, for example, be:

new medical evidence

reports or care plans from specialists, therapists or nurses

bank statements or payslips

Only include evidence you have not already sent.

Write your full name, date of birth and National Insurance number at the top of each bit of evidence and send it to the benefit office where you applied for your benefit.

You cannot claim back the cost of any evidence you pay for.

It will not help your claim to include:

general information about your condition - for example factsheets, medical certificates or sick notes

appointment cards or letters about medical appointments, unless you could not claim your benefit because you were at the appointment

letters about tests that you’re due to have

If you’re not sure what evidence to send, read the guidance for the request form. You can also call the number on your decision letter.

What happens next

The benefits office that gave you the original benefit decision will reconsider it - you’ll get a ‘mandatory reconsideration notice’ telling you whether they’ve changed the decision. It’ll explain the reasons for that decision and the evidence it was based on.

Your benefit may increase, decrease, stop or stay the same following mandatory reconsideration.

If you disagree with the outcome

You can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal if you think the decision in the mandatory reconsideration notice is wrong. The tribunal is independent of government. A judge will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.

You usually need to do this within one month of the date of your mandatory reconsideration notice.

You cannot appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal until you get your mandatory reconsideration notice.


Appeal a benefit decision

Overview

You can appeal a decision about your entitlement to benefits, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit.

There’s a different process if you live in Northern Ireland.

Appeals are decided by the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. The tribunal is impartial and independent of government. The tribunal will listen to both sides before making a decision.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How to appeal

Before you appeal you must usually ask for the decision about your benefits to be looked at again - this is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

If you do not need to do this, your decision letter will say that you can appeal straight away. The letter will explain why you do not need a mandatory reconsideration - include this when you submit your appeal.

Appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision. If you start your appeal after a month you’ll have to explain why you did not do it earlier. Your appeal might not be accepted.

After you submit your appeal, you can provide evidence to the tribunal. Your appeal will be decided at a tribunal hearing.

Benefit decisions you can appeal

You can appeal a decision about:

30 hours free childcare scheme

Attendance Allowance

Bereavement Support Payment

Budgeting Loans

Carer’s Allowance

Child Benefit

Cold Weather Payment

Compensation Recovery Unit

Contracted Out Employment Group

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Working Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Funeral Expenses Payment

Health in Pregnancy Grant

Home Responsibilities Protection

Housing Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Income Support

Industrial Death Benefit

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Maternity Allowance

Pension Credit

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Retirement Pension

Severe Disablement Allowance

Sure Start Maternity Grant

Tax credits

Tax-Free Childcare

Universal Credit

Widowed Parent’s Allowance

Winter Fuel Payment

Check any letters you’ve received about your benefit if you do not know the exact name.

Submit your appeal

You can appeal a decision about your entitlement to benefits, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit.

You must ask for the decision about your benefits to be looked at again before you can appeal, unless your decision letter says you do not need a ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

You’ll need:

your National Insurance number

the details of the representative helping with your appeal (if you’re using one)

your mandatory reconsideration notice  - you get this after you ask for the benefit decision to be looked at again

If you do not need a mandatory reconsideration your decision letter will say why. Include this explanation when you submit your appeal.

You’ll need to choose whether you want to go to the tribunal hearing to explain your appeal in person. If you do not attend, your appeal will be decided on your appeal form and any supporting evidence you provide.

Start now

You can only access the service’s web chat if you’re using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari. You can access everything else in the service using any browser.

Continue with an existing appeal

Sign in to continue with your saved benefit appeal application.

Appealing by post

Use form SSCS1 to appeal a Universal Credit, ESA or PIP decision by post.

Help with your appeal

You can appoint someone as a ‘representative’ to help you with your appeal. A representative can:

help you submit your appeal or prepare your evidence

act on your behalf

give you advice

Anyone can be a representative, including friends and family.

You might also be able to find a representative through a library or from an organisation in your area that gives advice on claiming benefits, such as Citizens Advice.

Your representative will have permission to act on your behalf, for example to respond to letters. They’ll be sent all the information about your appeal, including any medical evidence.

To register a representative, you can either:

name your representative when you submit your appeal

register a representative at any point after you submit your appeal

Write to HMCTS Benefit Appeals to register a representative after you submit your appeal.

Contact the benefit appeals helpline if you need more help submitting an appeal.

After you submit your appeal

Your appeal will be sent to the department that made the decision about your entitlement to benefits. They’ll respond to your appeal explaining why they made the decision.

You’ll get a copy of the response.

Providing evidence

You can provide evidence to help the tribunal understand your condition or circumstances so they can make a decision. Evidence can include a letter from a doctor or someone who knows you.

You’ll be told where to send your evidence after you submit your appeal. Send it as soon as you can so the tribunal have time to read it before the hearing.

The hearing

Your appeal is decided at a tribunal hearing.

You’ll get the decision by post after the hearing. You may get a decision on the day if you go to the hearing.

How long it takes

It usually takes up to 6 months for an appeal to be heard by the tribunal.

Your appeal might be delayed unless you:

send any evidence as soon as you can before the hearing

arrive at the hearing on time (if you’re attending)

register your representative as soon as you can (if you’re using one)

What happens at the hearing

Submit any evidence as soon as possible before the hearing so the tribunal have time to read it. Evidence will usually be shared with all parties, including your representative (if you’re using one).

A judge and one or two experts will make a decision about the case. Who the experts are depends on what benefit you’re appealing. The judge and experts are impartial and independent of government.

The tribunal must follow the rules in the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Social Entitlement Chamber) Rules 2008.

If you attend the hearing

You’ll have to the opportunity to explain your appeal.

You’ll be asked questions about your condition or circumstances by the judge or the experts.

The department that made the original decision may also be at the hearing. They may ask questions, but they’re not part of the tribunal and do not decide the result of the appeal.

You can get support during the hearing, for example an interpreter, hearing loop or accessible tribunal room. You can request support when you make an appeal.

You cannot use your own interpreter during the hearing.

Claiming expenses

You may be able to claim for reasonable expenses for going to the tribunal, for example:

travel expenses to cover your fare if you get there using public transport

travel expenses of 12p per mile if you drive, plus 2p per mile for up to 2 passengers

meals - £4.25 if you’re away for more than 5 hours, £9.30 for more than 10 hours or £13.55 for more than 12 hours

loss of earnings - £38.96 if you’re away from work for up to 4 hours or £75.59 for 4 hours or more

care expenses up to the National Minimum Wage, for example for a childminder

The clerk will help you fill in a claim form when you go to the hearing.

You’ll need to include proof, for example:

receipts

a letter from your employer for loss of earnings

If you're unhappy with the tribunal's decision

You may be able to:

get a decision cancelled (‘set aside’)

Your decision letter has more information.

Get a decision set aside

You’ll be told how to get a decision ‘set aside’ (cancelled) if you think there’s been a mistake in the process. Contact Citizens Advice if you need help.

Appeal to the Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber

You can only appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) if you think the decision was wrong for a legal reason, for example, if the tribunal did not:

give proper reasons for its decision, or back up the decision with facts

apply the law properly

You may be able to get legal aid when you appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) - this can help pay for legal advice.

Contact Citizens Advice if you need help.

You must then follow 3 steps.

Ask the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal for full written reasons (known as a ‘statement of reasons’) within one month of the date of the decision. The decision letter will tell you how to do this.

Ask the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber).

If the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal refuses, ask the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) for permission to appeal.


Tax credits: appeals and complaints

Overview

You can:

dispute an overpayment decision if you’ve been asked to pay back tax credits

disagree with a tax credits decision if you think your tax credits are wrong

complain if you think you’ve been treated unfairly

Call the helpline first if you think HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) made a mistake.

Dispute a tax credits overpayment

You can be overpaid tax credits even if you told HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about a change of circumstances on time. You’ll normally have to repay these.

Disputes are usually only successful if HMRC made a mistake.

Fewer than 1 in 10 tax credit disputes are successful.

How to dispute

Tell HMRC online or by post.

You can do this even if you’re no longer getting tax credits.

HMRC will continue to reclaim overpayments while they review your dispute.

Deadlines

Send your dispute form within 3 months of either:

the date on the first letter, statement or notice you received telling you that you’ve been overpaid

the ‘decision date’ on your Annual Review notice

You can only send it after the deadline in exceptional circumstances, for example you were in hospital for the 3 months.

If you’ve requested a ‘mandatory reconsideration’, you need to send your dispute form within 3 months of getting a reconsideration decision.

What happens next

You’ll get a dispute decision letter telling you:

if you have to repay the tax credits

how much you have to repay

the reasons for the decision

If you do not agree with the decision

You can:

send HMRC new information

ask them to review the information you sent

You need to do this within 30 days of getting your dispute decision letter unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example you were in hospital.

You can only ask for the decision to be reviewed once.

HMRC will continue to reclaim overpayments while they review your information.

You can contact an organisation like Citizens Advice if you have not got any new information and you’re still unhappy.

Disagree with a tax credits decision

Call HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you think your tax credits are wrong. They can check your award and may be able to change it if it’s wrong.

There’s a different way of disagreeing with an overpayment decision.

If they do not change it or you still think it’s wrong

You can ask for the decision to be reconsidered by filling in a WTC/AP form. This process is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’. You can fill in the form online or print it and send it to HMRC.

You need to do this within 30 days of getting your award notice unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example you were in hospital.

If you disagree with the result

If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal.

If you’re in Northern Ireland appeal to the Appeals Service Northern Ireland.

Complain about tax credits

You can complain about things like unreasonable delays or the way you’ve been treated.

There’s a different process if you think your tax credits are wrong or you want to dispute a tax credits overpayment.

How to complain

You can:

complain online

call or write (telephone complaints are usually dealt with faster)

To complain online, you need a Government Gateway user ID and password. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you complain.

You can call or write to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If you write, include:

your National Insurance number

your full name, address and telephone number

details of what happened and when

how you’d like your complaint settled

the word ‘Complaint’ at the top of your letter

If you do not agree with the response

Ask HMRC to review their response and send you a final decision.

If you’re unhappy with the final decision, you can contact the Independent Adjudicator.

You may be able to claim costs (for example for postage or phone calls) if HMRC admits they made a mistake. Ask them for details.


Benefit overpayments

Overview

Tell the office dealing with your benefit straight away if:

you think you’re being overpaid

your circumstances change

You may have to pay back the benefit if you’ve been overpaid.

There’s a different process for tax credits overpayment.

You may be prosecuted for benefit fraud or have to pay a penalty if you do not tell benefit providers about overpayments.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

If you’ve been overpaid Universal Credit

You can report an overpayment by signing into your Universal Credit account or calling the Universal Credit helpline.

When the benefit office will contact you

You’ll get a letter to let you know that you’ve been overpaid.

If you think it’s a mistake you can ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of receiving the letter.

Housing Benefit paid directly to your landlord

Your landlord may be asked to repay the money if they’re responsible for an overpayment. You may have to repay if it was your fault.

When repayments have to be made

You may have to pay the money back if you’ve been overpaid. For example, if:

the information you gave was wrong

you did not report a change in your circumstances straight away

you gave the wrong information when you reported a change of circumstances

a mistake was made with your payment

Find out how to make repayments.

There’s a different system if the person overpaid has died.

Repayments when someone has died

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can recover benefit overpayments from a person’s estate.

An overpayment could have happened because, for example, the person who died:

had more savings than they declared in their benefit claim

had not declared an income

was in hospital or a nursing home and had not told DWP

If you’re dealing with the estate, DWP will write to you once probate has been granted to ask for the information they need.

You should not distribute the estate until you know what needs to be repaid. If you do, you may have to pay back the money yourself.

What you need to do

You’ll be asked to provide information to help work out if anything needs to be repaid.

You may need bank statements, building society passbooks or other information about the dead person’s assets.

If you do not provide the information asked for, the overpayment will be calculated based on the probate figure before any deductions (that is, the whole estate).

If there has been an overpayment

DWP will write to you asking for the money back from the estate. They will tell you how any overpayment has been worked out and explain why it happened. They will also tell you how to pay.

If you need to discuss your payment, or setting up a repayment plan, call DWP’s Debt Management Recovery from Estates. The number is on the letter.

You can also write to them:

If you’re in England and Wales

If you’re in Scotland

If you’re in Northern Ireland, contact the Department for Communities Debt Management service.

If you disagree with the overpayment decision, you can ask for the decision to be looked at again - this is called a ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

You can do this if you:

think DWP made an error or missed important evidence

disagree with the reasons for the decision

want to have the decision looked at again

Payments made after death

If the overpayment happened because the payment arrived before DWP were told about the death, DWP Debt Management will contact:

the deceased’s next of kin

the bank the benefit was paid in to

whoever is handling the estate

How to make a repayment

How you pay back the overpayment depends on:

whether you’re making repayments for the first time or restarting them

whether you still receive benefits

Start making repayments if you’re still receiving benefits

If you’re still receiving benefits, the regular amount you get will be reduced until you’ve paid back the money.

Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Debt Management contact centre if you think too much has been taken for a repayment.

Start making repayments if you no longer receive benefits

If you no longer receive benefits, you need to pay back the overpayment to DWP Debt Management. You’ll get a letter telling you how much you need to repay.

If you cannot pay the debt in full, contact DWP Debt Management to arrange a payment plan.

Online banking

Use DWP’s bank account details to pay, quoting the reference number shown on your letter or your National Insurance number.

Account name | Sort code | Account number

DWP Debt Management | 60 70 80 | 10025634

Overseas accounts

Use the following details if you’re paying from an overseas account.

Account name | IBAN | BIC

DWP Debt Management | GB30NWBK60708010025634 | NWBKGB2L

Direct Debit, card, cheques and cash

Contact the DWP Debt Management contact centre to:

set up monthly repayments by Direct Debit

make a payment using a debit card

request a paying-in slip for cheque or cash payments

If you do not pay back the money

If you do not pay back the money or contact the DWP Debt Management contact centre, they may pass your case to an independent debt collector.

You’ll get a letter to tell you about this.

If your case is passed to a debt collector, the letter will be from one of the following debt collection agencies:

Advantis

BPO Collections

CCS Collect

Moorcroft

Past Due Credit

Resolve Call

Shakespeare Martineau

You should deal directly with the debt collector to arrange repayment.


Tax credits overpayments

Overview

You might be overpaid tax credits if:

there’s a change in your circumstances - even if you report the change on time

you or the Tax Credit Office make a mistake

you do not renew your tax credits on time

The Tax Credit Office will write to tell you what you owe and how to repay the money. If you think they made a mistake, call the helpline.

If you still get tax credits or are now getting Universal Credit, the money you owe will usually be taken from your future payments.

If you no longer get tax credits and you do not get Universal Credit, you’ll have to pay HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) directly. The money may be recovered from you in another way if you do not repay HMRC in time.

How to repay your tax credits

The Tax Credit Office will write to tell you what you owe and how to repay.

How you repay depends on whether you still get tax credits, Universal Credit or neither.

Call the helpline if you:

think the Tax Credit Office made a mistake

already have a repayment plan but you get another letter - you may need to set up a new plan

If you still get tax credits

HMRC will automatically reduce your future tax credit payments until you’ve paid back the money you owe.

The amount they’ll reduce your tax credit payments by usually depends on how much you currently get and your household income.

Household income | Reduction

£20,000 or less and you get maximum tax credits | 10%

£20,000 or less and you get less than the maximum tax credits | 25%

More than £20,000 | 50%

If you only get the family element of Child Tax Credit, your payments will be reduced by 100% whatever your income is.

If you’ve moved to Universal Credit

Your future payments will be reduced until you’ve paid back the money you owe.

If you do not get tax credits or Universal Credit

HMRC will send you a ‘notice to pay’ which you should pay within 30 days.

It’s your responsibility to make sure payments reach HMRC on time. Check your bank’s transaction limits and processing times.

If you do not pay in time, the money you owe will be recovered from you in another way.

Call the helpline if you want to make extra payments to clear the debt more quickly.

There are several ways to repay.

Direct Debit

You can call the helpline to set up a Direct Debit.

You’ll need your tax credit reference number - you’ll find it on your notice to pay.

It takes up to 5 working days to set up.  Payments appear on your statements as ‘HMRC NDDS’.

Online and telephone banking (Faster Payments)

Pay to HMRC’s account and use your tax credit reference number (found on your notice to pay) as the payment reference.

Sort code | Account number | Account name

08 32 10 | 12001039 | HMRC Cumbernauld

Payments made by Faster Payments will usually reach HMRC on the same or next day, including weekends and bank holidays.

If you’re paying from an overseas account, you can pay HMRC in sterling or another currency.

Account number (IBAN) | Bank identifier code (BIC) | Account name

GB62BARC20114770297690 | BARCGB22 | HMRC Cumbernauld

HMRC’s bank address is:

At your bank or building society

Pay at your branch by cash or cheque.

Make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’. Write your tax credit reference number on the back of the cheque. You’ll find this on your notice to pay.

HMRC will accept your payment on the date you make it and not the date it reaches HMRC’s account.

By cheque through the post

You can send a cheque by post to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Allow 3 working days for your payment to reach HMRC.

You do not need to include a street name, city name or PO box with this address.

Do not fold your cheque.

Your payment may be delayed if you do not fill in your cheque properly.

Include a note with:

your name, address and phone number

your tax credit reference number

how much you’re paying

the period you’re paying for

You can ask for a receipt if you want one.

If you cannot afford your repayments

You can ask to repay what you owe over a longer period of time if you’re having financial difficulty. This will mean you pay less each week or month.

You may be asked about:

any savings and income you have - including benefits and pensions

your living expenses - including rent, mortgage or childcare payments and household costs

any other repayments you have to make - including loans, credit cards and utility bill repayments

How you ask for your repayments to be reconsidered depends on whether you still get tax credits, Universal Credit or neither.

HMRC is offering further help and support during the COVID-19 crisis. If you are in temporary financial difficulty, and you are unable to pay or to keep up repayment of your existing debts, you should contact HMRC so we can work with you to ensure your arrangement remains affordable until you return to a more stable footing. If you need it, hardship arrangements can offer flexibility if you have previous overpayments being recovered from your tax credits award.

If you still get tax credits

If HMRC has reduced your tax credits to pay back an overpayment, you can ask them to reconsider:

online - you need your Government Gateway user ID and password - if you do not have one, you can create one when you use this service

by phone

If HMRC give you more time to pay back what you owe, this will mean they take less money from your tax credits each week or month.

You will usually receive a decision within 14 working days.

If you are still having financial difficulty at the end of the financial year (5 April), you will need to ask HMRC to reconsider your payments again.

If you have moved to Universal Credit

Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Debt Management centre if you cannot afford your repayments.

If you do not get tax credits or Universal Credit

Call the tax credits payments helpline to ask HMRC to reconsider.

If you’ve received a ‘TC1131’ letter, this means your debt has passed to DWP. Call the DWP Debt Management contact centre to discuss your options. Call DfC Debt Management if you’re in Northern Ireland.

If you get Universal Credit

After you start getting Universal Credit you’ll get a letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) telling you how much you owe. The letter is called a ‘TC1131 (UC)’.

The letter may come a few months after you’ve moved to Universal Credit.

If you are already paying a ‘notice to pay’, keep making payments until you get the letter.

After you get the letter, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will reduce your Universal Credit payments until you pay back the money you owe. You do not have to do anything to set this up.

If you’re in Northern Ireland this will be handled by the Department for Communities.

If you are repaying tax credits overpayments from different years, you may get more than one letter - you must repay each of these debts.

If you cannot afford your repayments

Contact DWP Debt Management if you cannot afford your repayments.

If you have an existing payment plan

If you have a repayment plan for your tax credits debt (also known as a ‘Time to Pay’ arrangement), it will end after you get the letter from HMRC. This applies whether the plan is with HMRC or an independent debt collector.

You must cancel any standing orders you’ve set up to repay the debt. HMRC will cancel any Direct Debits.

If you claimed tax credits as a couple

The debt will be split in half between you. Each of you will receive a letter with details of your half of the debt. You must each pay your half.

Contact HMRC if you think your share is wrong.

If you do not get Universal Credit any more

If you get the letter from HMRC after you’ve stopped receiving Universal Credit, you must repay DWP directly.

If you’re in Northern Ireland, you must repay the Department for Communities.

If you do not repay HMRC

If you get a ‘notice to pay’ you must repay HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within 30 days. If you asked for more time to pay you should repay within the agreed time.

HMRC will take ‘enforcement action’ if you do not pay all the money you owe in the agreed time. For example, they might ask a debt collection agency to collect any remaining money.

Your debt may be passed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if HMRC cannot get the money you owe. You’ll get a letter called a ‘TC1131 (non-UC)’ when this happens.

Your debt will be passed to the Department for Communities (DfC) if you’re in Northern Ireland.

You do not need to do anything - DWP or DfC will arrange the most suitable method of recovery with you.  This might be by:

reducing your other benefits

agreeing a repayment plan with you

asking your employer to take money from your earnings (‘Direct Earnings Attachment’)

asking a debt collection agency to collect the money

If you start getting Universal Credit

If you start getting Universal Credit before all your debt has been recovered, DWP will usually start to take repayments from your Universal Credit to collect the remaining money.