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 (all 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 (the ‘child element’ of Child Tax Credit) for up to 2 children. You might get the child element (the ‘child element’ of Child Tax Credit) 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 (the ‘child element’ of Child Tax Credit))

For each severely disabled child | Up to £1,390 (on top of the child element (the ‘child element’ of Child Tax Credit) 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 (the ‘child element’ of Child Tax Credit) for them if they’re the second child you’re claiming for.

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

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 (the ‘child element’ of Child Tax Credit) 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) (the family element).

Element | Yearly amount

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

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

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 (a child) live with you all the time

they (a child) normally live with you and you’re the main carer

they (a child) keep their (a child) toys and clothes at your home

you pay for their (a child) meals and give them (a child) pocket money

they (a child) 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 (a child).

If you share responsibility for a child and you cannot agree who should claim you can both apply. HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (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 (HM Revenue and Customs (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 (a disabled child) goes into hospital.


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

You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get income-related ESA (Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (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.


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 (a 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 (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 (your child) 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 (your child) 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 (Pension Credit or Income Support) 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.


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 (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) made a mistake.

Fewer than 1 in 10 tax credit disputes are successful.

How to dispute

Tell HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) online or by post.

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

HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) will continue to reclaim overpayments while they (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) 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

You can only send it (your dispute form) after the deadline (the ‘decision date’ on your Annual Review notice) 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 (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) new information

ask them (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) to review the information you sent (new information)

You need to do this (ask) 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 (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) will continue to reclaim overpayments while they (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) review your information (new 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 (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) 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 (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) do not change it (an overpayment decision) or you still think it (an overpayment decision)’s wrong

You can ask for the decision (an overpayment 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 (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)).

You need to do this (This process) 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 (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) to review their (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) response and send you a final decision.

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

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


Universal Credit

What Universal Credit is

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It (Universal Credit)’s paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland.

You may be able to get it (Universal Credit) if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland.

Sign in

Sign in to your Universal Credit account if you already have one.

If you already get other benefits

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits:

Child Tax Credit

Housing Benefit

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Working Tax Credit

If you currently get any of these benefits, you do not need to do anything unless:

you have a change of circumstances you need to report

the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contacts you about moving to Universal Credit

If you get tax credits, they (the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will stop when you or your partner applies for Universal Credit. Check how tax credits and Universal Credit affect each other.

Eligibility

You may be able to get Universal Credit if:

you’re on a low income or out of work

you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)

you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)

you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you

you live in the UK

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get Universal Credit. The deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 June 2021.

The number of children you have does not affect your eligibility for Universal Credit, but it may affect how much you get.

Use a benefits calculator to check what benefits you could get if you’re not eligible for Universal Credit.

If you live with your partner

Your partner’s income and savings will be taken into account, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit.

If you’re 18 or over and in training or studying full-time

You can make a new claim for Universal Credit if any of the following apply:

you live with your partner and they’re eligible for Universal Credit

you’re responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple

you’re in further education, are 21 or under and do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you’re not under local authority care

If you’re moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can make a new claim for Universal Credit if you’re in full-time education and all of the following apply:

you’re entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

you’ve already been assessed as having limited capability for work

you make a new claim before your ESA (Support Allowance (ESA)) ends or as soon as you’re notified that your ESA claim (Support Allowance (ESA)) has ended

If you’re 16 or 17

you have medical evidence and are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment

you’re caring for a severely disabled person

you’re responsible for a child

you’re in a couple with responsibility for at least one child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit

you’re pregnant and it’s 11 weeks or less before your expected week of childbirth

you’ve had a child in the last 15 weeks

you do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you’re not under local authority care

If you’re studying full-time

You can also make a claim if you’re in full-time further education and any of the following apply:

you do not have parental support and you’re not under local authority care

you have limited capability for work and you’re entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

you’re responsible for a child

you’re in a couple with responsibility for a child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit

If you’re in a couple and one of you is State Pension age

You and your partner can claim Universal Credit as a couple if one of you is under State Pension age and eligible for Universal Credit.

When you both (You and your partner) reach State Pension age your (You and your partner) Universal Credit claim will stop.

You may be able to apply for Pension Credit or other benefits as a couple when your (You and your partner) Universal Credit (your (You and your partner) Universal Credit claim) stops. Ask your Jobcentre Plus work coach what else you could be eligible for.

What you'll get

Your Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that apply to you, for example if you:

have children

have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working

need help paying your rent

Use a benefits calculator to see how much you could get.

How much Universal Credit you get will depend on your earnings.

Your circumstances are assessed every month. Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you’re paid for the whole assessment period - not just from the date you report them.

The benefit cap may limit the total amount of benefit you receive.

Standard allowance

Your circumstances | Monthly standard allowance

Single and under 25 | £344

Single and 25 or over | £411.51

In a couple and you’re both under 25 | £490.60 (for you both)

In a couple and either of you are 25 or over | £596.58 (for you both)

Extra amounts

You may get more money on top of your standard allowance if you’re eligible.

If you have children

If you have 1 or 2 children, you’ll get an extra amount for each child.

If you have 3 or more children, you’ll get an extra amount for at least 2 children. You can only get an extra amount for more children if any of the following are true:

your children were born before 6 April 2017

you were already claiming for 3 or more children before 6 April 2017

other exceptions apply

You’ll get an extra amount for any disabled or severely disabled child - no matter how many children you have or when they were born.

How much you’ll get | Extra monthly amount

For your first child | £282.50 (born before 6 April 2017)  £237.08 (born on or after 6 April 2017)

For your second child and any other eligible children | £237.08 per child

If you have a disabled or severely disabled child | £128.89 or £402.41

If you need help with childcare costs | up to 85% of your costs (up to £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for 2 or more children)

You might get the extra amount (an extra amount) if you start caring for another child, depending on when they were born and how many children you have.

If you have a disability or health condition

If you have limited capability for work and work-related activity | £343.63

If you have limited capability for work and you started your health-related Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim before 3 April 2017 | £128.89

If you get the severe disability premium you may also be entitled to an extra ‘transitional protection’ payment if you’re moving to Universal Credit.

If you care for a severely disabled person

If you provide care for at least 35 hours a week for a severely disabled person who receives a disability-related benefit | £163.73

This (Extra monthly amount) is on top of any extra amount you get if you have a disabled child.

Housing costs

You could get money to help pay your housing costs. How much you get depends on your age and circumstances.

The payment can cover rent and some service charges.

If you’re a homeowner, you might be able to get a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage or other loans you’ve taken out for your home.

Other support you could get

If you receive Universal Credit you may also be able to get other financial support depending on your circumstances.

How your earnings affect your payments

If you’re employed, how much Universal Credit you get will depend on your earnings. Your Universal Credit payment will reduce gradually as you earn more - for every £1 you earn your payment reduces by 63p.

There’s no limit to how many hours you can work.

Use a benefits calculator to see how increasing your hours or starting a new job could affect what you get.

The work allowance

You can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit is reduced if you or your partner are either:

responsible for a child or young person

living with a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work

This is called a ‘work allowance’. Your work allowance is lower if you get help with housing costs.

Your circumstances | Monthly work allowance

You get help with housing costs | £293

You do not get help with housing costs | £515

If your employer has put you on temporary leave (‘furlough’)

If you’re on furlough because your employer has no work for you, you can get up to 80% of your wages paid through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, up to a monthly limit of £2,500. Your employer takes care of this.

You can check if your employer can use the scheme (the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme).

If your payment stops because your earnings increased

As your income increases, your payment will reduce until you’re earning enough to no longer claim Universal Credit. Your payment will then be stopped. You’ll be told when this happens.

If your earnings decrease after this, you can claim Universal Credit again.

If you received your last payment 6 months ago or less, you can restart your old claim by signing in to your Universal Credit account. You’ll need to report any changes in your circumstances. If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, your payments will restart with the same monthly assessment period you had previously.

If you received your last payment more than 6 months ago, you’ll need to make a new claim for Universal Credit. You can make a new claim by signing in to your Universal Credit account. You will not be paid on the same date as your previous claim (your old claim). It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment.

Surplus earnings

If your monthly earnings are more than £2,500 over the amount where your payment stopped, this becomes ‘surplus earnings’.

Your surplus earnings will be carried forward to the following month, where they count towards your earnings. If your earnings (including your surplus earnings) are then still over the amount where your payment stops (the amount where your payment stopped), you will not get a Universal Credit payment.

If your earnings fall below the amount where your payment stopped, your surplus will decrease. Once your surplus has gone, you’ll be able to get a Universal Credit payment again.

You’ll need to reclaim Universal Credit every month until your earnings have reduced enough to get another payment.

You can talk to your work coach for more information about surplus earnings.

The statement in your online journal will show your work allowance and when the surplus reduces.

If you separate from your partner

If you’re part of a couple that claims Universal Credit together, any surplus earnings will be divided equally between you if you separate.

You’ll then need to re-apply individually, with your part of the surplus earnings counting towards your earnings.

If you’re a victim of domestic abuse you do not take on any surplus earnings from your partner. Talk to your work coach to make sure your partner’s surplus earnings are not divided between you.

If you’re self-employed

You can carry over a loss (as well as a surplus) to the following month. A loss will be deducted from your next month’s earnings.

How you're paid

Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Your payment can include an amount for housing, which you’ll usually need to pay to your landlord.

If you’re not able to open a bank, building society or credit union account, call the Universal Credit helpline to arrange a different way of getting paid.

Find out how you’ll be paid if you’re in Northern Ireland.

Your first payment

It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment.

If you need help with your living costs while you wait for your first payment, you can apply for an advance.

The wait before your first payment is made up of a one month assessment period and up to 7 days for the payment (your first payment) to reach your account.

Payment dates

After the first payment (your first payment), you’ll be paid on the same date of every month.

If your payment date is on a weekend, you’ll be paid on the working day before.

You’ll get a monthly statement that tells you how much Universal Credit you’re going to get.

Call the helpline (the Universal Credit helpline) straight away if your payment does not arrive on time.

If you live in Scotland

You can get paid once or twice a month.

If you’re making a new claim, you’ll get a notification about how often you want to be paid. You get this after your first payment.

If you’re already getting Universal Credit and have not had a notification, you can ask your work coach to be paid twice a month.

When you’re paid twice a month your first payment will be for a full month. You’ll get the first half of your second month’s payment a month after this. The second half will be paid 15 days later. This means there will be about a month and a half between your first payment and the full amount for your second month.

After this (about a month and a half), you’ll be paid twice a month.

If you live with a partner

If you both claim Universal Credit, you’ll get one payment each month for your household.

If you live in Scotland and you’ve chosen to be paid twice monthly, you’ll receive 2 payments each month for your household.

Phone the Universal Credit helpline if you’re worried about getting access to this money.

How often you’re paid can affect your Universal Credit

If you’re paid once a month on the same date and nothing changes in your earnings, then your Universal Credit amount should stay the same.

Your Universal Credit can be affected if you receive no wages or more than one set of wages during some assessment periods. This could happen if:

you’re paid weekly, every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks

your monthly payment date changes, for example you get paid on the last working day of each month

If your monthly payment date changes

You’ll need to sign into your online account to check how much your next monthly payment will be. If it looks like you’ll get paid too much or too little Universal Credit, ask your work coach to move your wages into another assessment period.

If you’re paid weekly, every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks

You’ll be told if your earnings are too high and whether you’ll need to reapply to continue to get Universal Credit.

How often you’re paid by your employer | The impact

Every 4 weeks | Once a year, you’ll get 2 sets of wages in one assessment period

Every 2 weeks | Twice a year, you’ll get 3 sets of wages in one assessment period

Every week | Four times a year, you’ll get 5 sets of wages in one assessment period

How to claim

Apply for Universal Credit online.

You have to apply as a couple if you and your partner live together. You do not need to be married.

The Universal Credit team might phone you after you’ve sent your application if they need more information or if you cannot verify your identity online.

You cannot claim Universal Credit and tax credits at the same time. If you get tax credits, they will stop when you or your partner applies for Universal Credit. Check how tax credits and Universal Credit affect each other.

What you need to apply

You’ll need:

your bank, building society or credit union account details (call the Universal Credit helpline if you do not have one)

an email address

information about your housing, for example how much rent you pay

details of your income, for example payslips

details of savings and any investments, like shares or a property that you rent out

details of how much you pay for childcare if you’re applying for help with childcare costs

If you do not provide the right information when you apply it might affect when you get paid or how much you get.

You also have to verify your identity online. You’ll need some proof of identity for this, for example your:

driving licence

passport

debit or credit card

Apply for Universal Credit online

Apply now

If you cannot verify your identity online

The Universal Credit team will phone you to help you verify your identity.

Help with your application

If you need help with your application, ask straight away - the sooner you apply for Universal Credit, the sooner you get your first payment.

There are 2 ways to get help with your Universal Credit application (your application).

Universal Credit helpline (the Universal Credit helpline)

Contact the Universal Credit helpline if:

you cannot use digital services at all - this might be because of disability or your circumstances

you have a question about your claim and cannot access your online claim

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

You can use the BSL video relay service (the Universal Credit helpline) to make a claim.

Find out what you need to do to use the service (the Universal Credit helpline).

The service (the Universal Credit helpline) is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Help to Claim

Help to Claim can support you in the early stages of your Universal Credit claim, from the online application, through to support with your application before your first full payment.

It (Help to Claim)’s a free, independent, confidential and impartial service provided by trained advisers from Citizens Advice. They can help with things like how to gather evidence for your application or how to prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment.

Get Help to Claim:

if you live in England or Wales

if you live in Scotland

After you apply

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make an appointment to talk to you, either over the phone or face-to-face.

If you have a disability or illness that affects your work

You may need a Work Capability Assessment to see how your disability or health condition affects your ability to work.

Depending on the outcome of your assessment you may be eligible for an extra amount on top of your standard allowance.

Terminal illness

If you’re terminally ill, you may get extra money for Universal Credit.

If you’re making a new claim, you can declare this during your application. If you’ve already made a claim, you’ll need to report this as a change of circumstances.

If you’ve claimed Universal Credit before

You can sign in to your account to make a new claim if you’ve claimed Universal Credit at any time during the last 6 months.

If you stopped claiming more than 6 months ago, you’ll need to reapply for Universal Credit.

If you disagree with a decision

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

Get an advance on your first payment

If you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs while you wait for your first Universal Credit payment, you can apply to get an advance.

The most you can get as an advance is the amount of your first estimated payment.

How to apply

You can apply for an advance payment in your online account or through your Jobcentre Plus work coach.

You’ll need to:

explain why you need an advance

verify your identity (you’ll do this when you apply online or on the phone with a work coach)

provide bank account details for the advance (an advance) (talk to your work coach if you cannot open an account)

You’ll usually find out the same day if you can get an advance.

If you need help

Call the Universal Credit helpline if you need help applying for an advance payment.

How you pay back your advance

You start paying it (your advance) back out of your first payment.

You can choose how many months you pay the advance (an advance) back over, within the time limit. You must usually pay back the advance (an advance) within:

24 months if you apply on or after 12 April 2021

12 months if you applied before 12 April 2021

You do not pay interest on it (an advance) - the total amount you pay back is the same.

Read more about getting a Universal Credit advance.

Your responsibilities

You’ll make an agreement called a ‘Claimant Commitment’ with your work coach.

What you need to do depends on your situation. You might need to do activities such as:

write a CV

look and apply for jobs

go on training courses

You’ll also need to do things like:

pay your own rent and other housing costs

report any changes in your circumstances

If you’re claiming with your partner, you’ll each have a Claimant Commitment and set of responsibilities.

If you have children

If you’re a single parent or the lead carer in a couple, your responsibilities will change as your youngest child gets older and will be tailored to your personal circumstances.

Age of your youngest child | Your responsibilities

Under 1 | You do not need to look for work

Aged 1 | You do not need to look for work. You need to have phone appointments with your work coach to discuss plans for moving into work in the future

Aged 2 | You do not need to look for work. You need to have regular phone appointments with your work coach and do work preparation activities (for example, writing your CV)

Aged 3 or 4 | Work a maximum of 16 hours a week (or spend 16 hours a week looking for work)

Aged between 5 and 12 | Work a maximum of 25 hours a week (or spend 25 hours a week looking for work)

13 or older | Work a maximum of 35 hours a week (or spend 35 hours a week looking for work)

If you get support with childcare costs

You must:

report your childcare costs (childcare costs) when you pay them (childcare costs)

prove you’ve paid your childcare provider

You’ll need to show proof of:

your childcare provider for each child, for example an invoice or contract that includes the provider’s (your childcare provider) registration number and full contact details

the amount you paid and when you paid it, for example a receipt or bank statement

You can report childcare costs and provide proof that you’ve paid by signing in to your Universal Credit account.

You’ll usually get the childcare amount in your next Universal Credit payment.

If you pay for childcare after it’s been provided, you can claim up to 3 months of past costs at a time. There may be a limit to how much you get back if you claim for more than one month’s fees at a time. Talk to your work coach for advice.

If you pay for childcare in advance, you can claim up to 3 months of advance costs at a time. You’ll be paid back in your monthly Universal Credit payments during the months the childcare is for.

If your payment is stopped or reduced

If you do not meet your responsibilities or what you’ve agreed in your Claimant Commitment, your Universal Credit could be stopped or reduced. This is called a sanction.

There are different levels of sanctions and they’re decided based on what you did and how often.

You’ll get half a sanction if you apply with a partner and only one of you does not meet their responsibilities.

You can appeal a sanction if you think it’s wrong. Citizens Advice can help with challenging a sanction.

Help if your payment is stopped or reduced

You can ask for a hardship payment if you cannot pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs because you got a sanction. You’ll repay it through your Universal Credit payments - they’ll be lower until you pay it back.

You must be 18 or over.

You’ll have to show that you’ve tried to:

find the money from somewhere else

only spend money on essentials

Call the Universal Credit helpline to ask for a hardship payment.

Report a change of circumstances

You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount each month.

Changes can include:

finding or finishing a job

having a child

moving in with your partner

starting to care for a child or disabled person

changing your mobile number or email address

moving to a new address

changing your bank details

your rent going up or down

changes to your health condition

becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach

changes to your earnings (only if you’re self-employed)

changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have

changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen

You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.

How to report

You can report a change of circumstances by signing in to your Universal Credit account.

If you get a job or increase the hours you work

Use a benefits calculator or speak with your work coach to find out how getting a job or an increase in your earnings might affect your Universal Credit claim.

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.

If you have a terminal illness

You may get extra money if you’re terminally ill.

If your life expectancy is more than 6 months

You’ll need to report this (a change of circumstances) in the same way as any other change of circumstance.

If your life expectancy is less than 6 months

Report the change (a change of circumstances) online through your Universal Credit account. You’ll be contacted about what to do next.

You can also get someone else to report the change (a change of circumstances) for you. They’ll need to ask a doctor or healthcare professional to fill in form DS1500 (the doctor will have the form already). Either the doctor or your representative can send it to:

If you’ve already sent form DS1500 for Personal Independence Payment or Employment and Support Allowance, you do not need to send it (form DS1500) again.

You will not need to have a Work Capability Assessment.

Other financial support

If you’re in financial difficulties, you can get help and advice from the government, local councils and other organisations.

Advance and hardship payments

If you do not have enough to live on while you wait for your first payment you can ask for an advance payment after you’ve made a claim.

You can also ask for a hardship payment if you cannot pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs because you got a sanction.

You need to pay it (a sanction) back through your Universal Credit payments - they’ll be lower until you pay it (a sanction) back.

Alternative Payment Arrangements

If you’re having financial difficulties or you’re behind on your rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA).

Depending on your circumstances, you could get an APA to:

get your rent paid directly to your landlord

get paid more frequently than once a month

receive split payments, if you’re part of a couple

Speak to your work coach to apply for an APA.

Budgeting Advance

You might be able to get a Budgeting Advance to help with:

emergency household costs such as replacing a broken cooker

getting a job or staying in work

funeral costs

You’ll repay it (a sanction) through your regular Universal Credit payments - these will be lower until you pay it (a sanction) back. If you stop getting Universal Credit, you’ll have to repay the money in another way.

How much you can borrow

The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to:

£348 if you’re single

£464 if you’re part of a couple

£812 if you have children

What you get depends on whether you have savings of over £1,000 and can pay the loan back.

Eligibility

To get a Budgeting Advance, all of the following must apply:

you’ve been getting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for 6 months or more, unless you need the money to help you start a new job or stay in work

you’ve earned less than £2,600 (£3,600 together for couples) in the past 6 months

you’ve paid off any previous Budgeting Advance loans

How to apply

Sign into your Universal Credit account and contact your work coach. They (your work coach) can tell you how to apply.

Other benefits you can claim

If you want to claim a benefit without your savings, your partner’s savings or their income being taken into account, you can apply for either:

‘new style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Use a benefits calculator to find out what other benefits you could get, for example Personal Independence Payment if you’re disabled.

Other financial support you might get

If you receive Universal Credit you may be able to get other payments too.

The support you could get might be different in Scotland or Wales.

Help with housing costs and bills

You might be able to get:

BT Basic (or KCOM Flex Packages for the East Riding or Hull City Council local authority areas) if you have no income

a Cold Weather Payment

Disabled Facilities Grants

Discretionary Housing Payments if your Universal Credit payment is not enough to pay your rent

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Affordable Warmth

a reduction in your Council Tax

WaterSure to cap your bills if you have a water meter

You can get advice on reducing your energy bills from:

Simple Energy Advice - in England and Wales

Energy Savings Trust Scotland - in Scotland

Bryson Energy - in Northern Ireland

Help if you’re pregnant or have a child

You might be able to get:

free early education for 2 year olds

free school meals

Healthy Start vouchers (in England and Wales) if you’re pregnant or have a child under 4 years old

Best Start Foods and a Best Start Grant (in Scotland) if you’re pregnant or have a child under 4 years old

a Sure Start Maternity Grant in England and Wales

a Pregnancy and Baby payment in Scotland

Help with legal costs

You might be able to get:

help with prison visiting costs

help with the costs of using courts or tribunals

legal aid

Help with other costs

You might be able to get:

help with health costs, including prescriptions and dental treatment

a Funeral Expenses Payment

help with building up savings through Help to Save

Advice on money and debt

You can get help and advice from:

your Jobcentre Plus work coach

Citizens Advice

Money Advice Trust

the Money Manager tool from Money Advice Service

My Money Steps

National Debtline

Shelter for help with housing and homelessness

StepChange

Contact Universal Credit

You can contact Universal Credit:

through your online account

by calling the Universal Credit helpline

If your query is about claiming ‘new style’ benefits with Universal Credit

You could get ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or ‘new style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) at the same time or instead of Universal Credit.

Apply for ‘new style’ ESA (new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for ‘new style’ ESA (new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) online or contact the Universal Credit helpline.

Apply for ’new style’ JSA

You can apply for ‘new style’ JSA online or contact the Jobcentre Plus helpline (the Universal Credit helpline).

If you have a query about an existing claim for ‘new style’ ESA (new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or JSA

Contact the Jobcentre Plus helpline (the Universal Credit helpline).


Get help with savings if you’re on a low income (Help to Save)

How it works

Help to Save is a type of savings account. It allows certain people entitled to Working Tax Credit or receiving Universal Credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over 4 years.

Help to Save is backed by the government so all savings in the scheme (Help to Save) are secure.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How payments work

You can save between £1 and £50 each calendar month. You do not have to pay money in every month.

You can pay money into your Help to Save account (Help to Save) by debit card, standing order or bank transfer.

You can pay in as many times as you like, but the most you can pay in each calendar month is £50. For example, if you have saved £50 by 8 January you will not be able to pay in again until 1 February.

You can only withdraw money from your Help to Save account (Help to Save) to your bank account.

How bonuses work

You get bonuses at the end of the second and fourth years. They’re based on how much you’ve saved.

What happens after 4 years

Your Help to Save account (Help to Save) will close 4 years after you open it (Help to Save). You will not be able to reopen it (Help to Save) or open another Help to Save account. You’ll be able to keep the money from your account (Help to Save).

You can close your account (Help to Save) at any time. If you close your account (Help to Save) early you’ll miss your next bonus and you will not be able to open another one.

Sign in

Sign in to your Help to Save account if you already have one.

What you’ll get

You can earn 2 tax-free bonuses over 4 years. You’ll get any bonuses you’ve earned even if you withdraw money.

After your first 2 years, you’ll get a first bonus if you’ve been using your account (Help to Save) to save. This bonus will be 50% of the highest balance you’ve saved.

After 4 years, you’ll get a final bonus if you continue to save. This bonus will be 50% of the difference between 2 amounts:

the highest balance saved in the first 2 years (years 1 and 2)

the highest balance saved in the last 2 years (years 3 and 4)

If your highest balance does not increase, you will not earn a final bonus.

The most you can pay into your account (Help to Save) each calendar month is £50, which is £2,400 over 4 years. The most you can earn from your savings in 4 years is £1,200 in bonus money.

Your bonus is paid into your bank account, not your Help to Save account.

What happens if you withdraw money

If you withdraw money it will be harder for you to:

grow your highest balance

earn the largest possible bonuses

Withdrawing money could mean you are not able to earn a final bonus - depending on how much you withdraw and when.

Eligibility

You can open a Help to Save account if you’re any of the following:

receiving Working Tax Credit

entitled to Working Tax Credit and receiving Child Tax Credit

claiming Universal Credit and you (with your partner if it’s a joint claim) earned £617.73 or more from paid work in your last monthly assessment period

If you get payments as a couple, you and your partner can apply for your own Help to Save accounts. You need to apply separately.

You also need to be living in the UK. If you live overseas, you can apply for an account if you’re either a:

Crown servant or their spouse or civil partner

member of the British armed forces or their spouse or civil partner

If you stop claiming benefits

You can keep using your Help to Save account.

How it will affect your benefits

Saving money though a Help to Save account could affect your eligibility for certain benefits and how much you get.

Universal Credit

If you or your partner have £6,000 or less in personal savings this will not affect how much Universal Credit you get. This includes any savings in your Help to Save account.

Your Help to Save bonuses will not affect your Universal Credit payments.

Working Tax Credit

Any savings or bonuses you earn through Help to Save will not affect how much Working Tax Credit you get.

Housing Benefit

If you or your partner have £6,000 or less in personal savings this will not affect how much Housing Benefit you get. This includes any savings in your Help to Save account.

Your Help to Save bonuses will not affect your Housing Benefit payments.

How to apply

You need a Government Gateway user ID and password to apply. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you apply.

You’ll be asked to provide your UK bank details when you apply.

Apply now

Sign in


Maternity pay and leave

Overview

When you take time off to have a baby you might be eligible for:

Statutory Maternity Leave

Statutory Maternity Pay

paid time off for antenatal care

extra help from the government

There are rules on when and how to claim your paid leave and if you want to change your dates.

You can work out your maternity pay and leave online.

You may also be eligible to get Shared Parental Leave and Pay.

Employment rights when on leave

Your employment rights are protected while on Statutory Maternity Leave. This (Employment rights when on leave) includes your right to:

pay rises

build up (accrue) holiday

return to work

Leave

Statutory Maternity Leave is 52 weeks. It (Statutory Maternity Leave)’s made up of:

Ordinary Maternity Leave - first 26 weeks

Additional Maternity Leave - last 26 weeks

You do not have to take 52 weeks but you must take 2 weeks’ leave after your baby is born (or 4 weeks if you work in a factory).

Use the maternity planner to work out the dates for your ordinary and additional leave.

You may be entitled to take some of your leave as Shared Parental Leave.

Start date and early births

Usually, the earliest you can start your leave is 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.

Leave will also start:

the day after the birth if the baby is early

Use the maternity planner to work out the earliest date your maternity leave (Statutory Maternity Leave) can start.

Change your date for returning to work

You must give your employer at least 8 weeks’ notice if you want to change your return to work date.

Pay

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks. You get:

90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks

£151.97or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks

SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) is paid in the same way as your wages (for example monthly or weekly). Tax and National Insurance will be deducted.

Use the maternity pay calculator to work out how much you could get.

If you take Shared Parental Leave you’ll get Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). ShPP is £151.97 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

Start date

SMP usually starts when you take your maternity leave (Statutory Maternity Leave).

It (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) starts automatically if you’re off work for a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the week (Sunday to Saturday) that your baby is due.

Problems and disputes

Ask your employer to explain your SMP if you think it’s not right. If you disagree about the amount or your employer cannot pay (for example because they’re insolvent), contact the Statutory Payment Disputes Team.

Eligibility

Statutory Maternity Leave

You qualify for Statutory Maternity Leave if:

you’re an employee not a ‘worker’

you give your employer the correct notice

It does not matter how long you’ve been with your employer, how many hours you work or how much you get paid.

You cannot get Statutory Maternity Leave if you have a child through surrogacy - you could get Statutory Adoption Leave and Pay instead.

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

To qualify for SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) you must:

earn on average at least £120 a week

give the correct notice

give proof you’re pregnant

have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the ‘qualifying week’ - the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth

If you usually earn an average of £120 or more a week, and you only earned less in some weeks because you were paid but not working (‘on furlough’) under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, you may still be eligible.

You cannot get SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) if you go into police custody during your maternity pay period. It will not restart when you’re discharged.

Early births or you lose your baby

You can still get Statutory Maternity Leave and SMP if your baby:

is born early

is stillborn after the start of your 24th week of pregnancy

dies after being born

If you’re not eligible for SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP))

Your employer must give you form SMP1 explaining why you cannot get SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) within 7 days of making their (your employer) decision. You may be eligible for Maternity Allowance instead.

How to claim

Statutory Maternity Leave

At least 15 weeks before your due date, tell your employer when the baby is due and when you want to start your maternity leave (Statutory Maternity Leave). Your employer can ask for this in writing.

Your employer must write to you within 28 days confirming your start and end dates.

Use the maternity planner to work out when you must claim your maternity leave (Statutory Maternity Leave).

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

Tell your employer you want to stop work to have a baby and the day you want your SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) to start. You must give them at least 28 days’ notice (in writing if they ask for it) and proof that you’re pregnant.

Your employer must confirm within 28 days how much SMP you’ll get and when it (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) will start and stop.

If they (your employer) decide you’re not eligible, they (your employer) must give you form SMP1 within 7 days of making their (your employer) decision and explain why.

Proof you’re pregnant

You need to give your employer proof of the pregnancy to get SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)). You do not need it (proof that you’re pregnant) for maternity leave.

Within 21 days of your SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)) start date (or as soon as possible if the baby’s born early) give your employer either:

a letter from your doctor or midwife

your MATB1 certificate - doctors and midwives will give you this no more than 20 weeks before the due date

You will not get SMP if you do not give your employer proof that the baby is due.

Extra help

Maternity benefits

Use a benefits calculator to see what help you can get from:

Universal Credit

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit - this can continue for 39 weeks after you go on maternity leave

Income Support - you may get this while you’re not working

You could get a £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant (usually if it’s your first child).

If you’re not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay, you could get Maternity Allowance from the government.

Company maternity schemes

You might get more than the statutory amount of leave and pay if your employer has a company maternity scheme. They cannot offer you less than the statutory amount.

Extra leave

You could get 18 weeks’ unpaid parental leave after the birth - this may be restricted to 4 weeks per year.


Shared Parental Leave and Pay

How it works

You and your partner may be able to get Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) if you’re:

having a baby

using a surrogate to have a baby

adopting a child

You can share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between you (You and your partner).

You need to share the pay and leave in the first year after your child is born or placed with your family.

You can use SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) to take leave in blocks separated by periods of work, or take it all in one go. You can also choose to be off work together or to stagger the leave and pay.

To get SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (the pay and leave) (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), you and your partner need to:

meet the eligibility criteria - there’s different criteria for birth parents and criteria for adoptive parents or parents using a surrogate

give notice to your employers

Eligibility for birth parents

To be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), both parents must:

share responsibility for the child (a child) at birth

meet work and pay criteria - these are different depending on which parent wants to use the shared parental leave and pay

You’re not eligible if you started sharing responsibility for the child (a child) after it (a child) was born.

The eligibility criteria are different if you’re adoptive parents or parents using a surrogate.

You can check if you can get SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (the pay and leave) (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). You’ll need to know:

your child’s due date or birth date

your and your partner’s employment status and earnings

if you and your partner (your partner’s) can get Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Paternity Pay

If both parents want to share the SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (the pay and leave) (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

To be eligible for SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (the pay and leave) (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), you and your partner must:

have been employed continuously by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the due date

stay with the same employer until you start your (You and your partner) SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL))

To be eligible for SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)), you (You and your partner) must be ‘employees’ (not ‘workers’) - check your employment status. If either of you is a ‘worker’, you might be able to share ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) but not SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)).

To be eligible for ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), you must each earn on average at least £120 a week. If you usually earn an average of £120 or more a week each, and you only earned less in some weeks because you were on furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), you may still be eligible.

If the mother’s partner wants to take the SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (the pay and leave) (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

For the mother’s partner to take SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (the pay and leave), both the mother (the mother’s) and the mother’s partner (You and your partner) must meet some eligibility requirements.

The mother (the mother’s) must:

have been working for at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before the week the baby’s due (the 26 weeks do not need to be in a row)

have earned at least £390 in total across any 13 of the 66 weeks

The mother’s partner must:

stay with the same employer until they start their SPL (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

To be eligible for SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)), the partner (the mother’s partner) must be an ‘employee’ (not a ‘worker’) - check their (the mother’s partner) employment status. If the partner (the mother’s partner) is a ‘worker’, they (the mother’s partner) might be able to get ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) but not SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)).

To be eligible for ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), the partner (the mother’s partner) must earn on average at least £120 a week. If either person earned less than the amount needed because they were on furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)), they may still be eligible.

If the mother (the mother’s) wants to take the SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (the pay and leave)

For the mother (the mother’s) to take SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP, both the mother’s partner and the mother (You and your partner) (the mother’s) must meet some eligibility criteria.

The mother’s partner must:

have been working for at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before the week the baby’s due (the 26 weeks (the 66 weeks before the week the baby’s due) do not need to be in a row)

have earned at least £390 in total in 13 of the 66 weeks (add up the highest paying weeks, they do not need to be in a row)

The mother (the mother’s) must:

To be eligible for SPL (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), the mother (the mother’s) must be an ‘employee’ (not a ‘worker’) - check their employment status. If the mother (the mother’s) is a ‘worker’, they might be able to get ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) but not SPL.

To be eligible for ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), the mother (the mother’s) must earn on average at least £120 a week. If either person earned less than the amount needed because they (either person) were on furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)), they (either person) may still be eligible.

Eligibility for adopters or parents using a surrogate

To be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), both adoptive parents or both parents using a surrogate must:

share responsibility for the child on the child’s due date or birth date if you’re using a surrogate, or the date they’re placed with you if you’re adopting

meet the work and earnings criteria - these are different depending on which one of you wants to use the shared parental leave and pay

The eligibility criteria are different if you’re birth parents.

You can check if you can get SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). You’ll need to know:

your child’s (the child) due date or birth date if you’re using a surrogate, or the match date if you’re adopting

your and your partner’s employment status and earnings

if you and your partner (your and your partner’s) (your partner’s) can get Statutory Adoption Pay or Statutory Paternity Pay

If both parents want to share the SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)) (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

To be eligible for SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP, you and your partner (your and your partner’s) must:

have been employed continuously by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the week your child was placed with your family

stay with the same employer until you (your and your partner’s) start your (your and your partner’s) SPL

To be eligible for SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)), you (your and your partner’s) must be ‘employees’ (not ‘workers’) - check your (your and your partner’s) employment status. If either of you is a ‘worker’, you might be able to share ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) but not SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)).

If only one of the parents wants to take the SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))

Both parents (the parents) must meet some eligibility criteria.

The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)) must:

stay with the same employer until they (The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))) start their (The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))) SPL (your (your and your partner’s) SPL)

To be eligible for SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)), they (The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))) must be an ‘employee’ (not a ‘worker’) - check their (The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))) employment status. If they (The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))) are a ‘worker’, they (The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))) might be able to get ShPP but not SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)).

To be eligible for ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), they (The parent who wants to take the leave and pay (SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) and ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP))) must earn on average at least £120 each a week.

The other parent must:

have been working for at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before the week the child was placed with you (the 26 weeks do not need to be in a row)

If either parent earned less than the amount needed because they were on furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they may still be eligible.

What you'll get

If you’re eligible and you or your partner end maternity or adoption leave and pay (or Maternity Allowance) early, then you can:

take the rest of the 52 weeks of maternity or adoption leave as Shared Parental Leave (SPL)

take the rest of the 39 weeks of maternity or adoption pay (or Maternity Allowance) as Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

You can check when you and your partner can take your leave and how much statutory pay you’ll get using the Shared Parental Leave and Pay planning tool.

How much pay you’ll get

ShPP (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) is paid at the rate of £151.97 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

This (Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) is the same as Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) except that during the first 6 weeks SMP is paid at 90% of whatever you earn (with no maximum).

When you can start

You can only start Shared Parental Leave (SPL) or Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) once the child has been born or placed for adoption.

You can check when you and your partner can start your (you and your partner) leave using the Shared Parental Leave and Pay planning tool.

For SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) to start

The mother (or the person getting adoption leave) must either:

return to work, which ends any maternity or adoption leave

give their (The mother (or the person getting adoption leave)) employer ‘binding notice’ of the date when they (The mother (or the person getting adoption leave)) plan to end their (The mother (or the person getting adoption leave)) leave (you cannot normally change the date you give in binding notice)

You can start SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL) while your partner is still on maternity or adoption leave as long as they (you and your partner)’ve given binding notice to end it.

You can give binding notice and say when you plan to take your SPL at the same time.

A mother cannot return to work before the end of the compulsory 2 weeks of maternity leave following the birth (4 weeks if they (The mother (or the person getting adoption leave)) work in a factory). If you’re adopting, the person claiming adoption pay must take at least 2 weeks of adoption leave.

If the mother or adopter does not get maternity or adoption leave

The mother or adopter must end any maternity pay, adoption pay or Maternity Allowance so that they (the mother or adopter) or their (the mother or adopter) partner can get SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)).

For ShPP to start

The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay)) must give their employer binding notice of the date when they plan to end any maternity or adoption pay.

If they (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) get Maternity Allowance, they (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) must give notice to Jobcentre Plus instead.

They (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) cannot restart maternity pay, Maternity Allowance or adoption pay once it (any maternity or adoption leave)’s ended.

You can start ShPP while your partner is still on maternity pay, adoption pay or Maternity Allowance as long as they (the mother or adopter)’ve given binding notice to end it.

You can give binding notice and say when you plan to take your ShPP at the same time.

Change the decision to end maternity or adoption leave

The mother or adopter (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) may be able to change their (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) decision to end maternity or adoption leave early. They (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) must let their (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) employer know.

They (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) can only change the decision (the decision to end maternity or adoption leave) if both:

the planned end date has not passed

they (The mother (or the person getting adoption pay (the person claiming adoption pay))) have not already returned to work

One of the following must also apply:

you find out during the 8-week notice period that neither of you is eligible for SPL (Shared Parental Leave (SPL)) or ShPP

the mother or adopter’s partner has died

the mother tells their employer less than 6 weeks after the birth (and they gave their employer notice before the birth)

Booking blocks of leave

You can book up to 3 separate blocks of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) instead of taking it all in one go, even if you are not sharing the leave (maternity or adoption leave) with your partner.

If your partner is also eligible for SPL, you can take up to 3 blocks of leave each. You can take leave at different times or both at the same time.

You must tell your employer about your plans for leave when you apply for SPL. You can change these plans later but you must give your employer at least 8 weeks’ notice before you want to begin a block of leave.

You can check when you and your partner can take your leave using the Shared Parental Leave and Pay planning tool.

Splitting blocks of leave

If your employer agrees, you can split blocks into shorter periods of at least a week.

Shared Parental Leave in touch (SPLIT) days

You and your partner can each work up to 20 days while you’re taking SPL. These are called ‘Shared Parental Leave in touch’ (or SPLIT) days.

These days (up to 20 days) are in addition to the 10 ‘keeping in touch’ (or KIT) days available to those on maternity or adoption leave.

KIT and SPLIT days are optional - both you and your employer must agree to them.

Applying for leave and pay

To get Shared Parental Leave (SPL) or Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) you must:

follow the rules for starting SPL and ShPP

give your employer at least 8 weeks’ written notice of your leave dates

If the mother (or person taking adoption leave) plans to take SPL or ShPP (SPL and ShPP), they must apply to their employer.

If the partner plans to take SPL or ShPP (SPL and ShPP), both the partner and the mother (or person taking adoption leave) must apply to their employers.

You can use Shared Parental Leave forms and templates created by Acas to:

give your employer notice that you plan to take SPL and ShPP

give your employer notice of when the mother or adopter (the mother (or person taking adoption leave)) is going to end their (the mother (or person taking adoption leave)) maternity or adoption leave, and when they (the mother (or person taking adoption leave))’ll stop getting maternity or adoption pay

book your leave dates

If your employer has their (your employer) own forms you can use those instead.

You can change your mind later about how much SPL or ShPP you plan to take and when you want to take it. You must give notice of any changes at least 8 weeks before the start of any leave.

You might not get SPL or ShPP if you do not include all the required information.

Giving more information

Your employer can ask you for more information within 14 days of you applying for SPL or ShPP. They (your employer) can ask for:

a copy of the birth certificate

a declaration of the place and date of birth (if the birth has not been registered yet)

the name and address of your partner’s employer or a declaration that your partner has no employer

If you’re adopting, your employer can ask for the:

name and address of the adoption agency

date you were matched with the child

date the child will start to live with you

name and address of your partner’s employer or a declaration that your partner has no employer

You must give this information within 14 days of being asked for it.


High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge

Overview

You may have to pay a tax charge, known as the ‘High Income Child Benefit Charge’, if you have an individual income over £50,000 and either:

you or your partner get Child Benefit

someone else gets Child Benefit for a child living with you and they contribute at least an equal amount towards the child’s upkeep

It does not matter if the child living with you (a child living with you) is not your own child.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

What counts as income

To work out if your income is over the threshold, you’ll need to work out your ‘adjusted net income’.

Your adjusted net income (your ‘adjusted net income’) is your total taxable income before any personal allowances and less things like Gift Aid.

Use the Child Benefit tax calculator to get an estimate of your adjusted net income.

Who pays the tax charge

If your individual income is over £50,000 and so is your partner’s, then whoever has the higher income is responsible for paying the tax charge.

‘Partner’ means someone you’re not permanently separated from who you’re married to, in a civil partnership with or living with as if you were.

If your income is over the threshold

You can choose to either:

get Child Benefit payments, and pay any tax charge at the end of each tax year

not get Child Benefit payments, and not pay the tax charge (any tax charge)

If you choose to not get Child Benefit

You can still fill in the Child Benefit claim form. You need to state on the form that you do not want to get payments.

You need to fill in the claim form (the Child Benefit claim form) if you want to:

get National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension

ensure your child gets their National Insurance number automatically before they’re 16 - otherwise they need to apply for one themselves

Already getting Child Benefit

You can choose to either:

stop getting Child Benefit - sometimes known as ‘opting out’

carry on getting Child Benefit and pay any tax charge at the end of each tax year

Pay the tax charge (any tax charge)

To pay the tax charge (any tax charge), you must:

register for Self Assessment

fill in a Self Assessment tax return each tax year and pay what you owe

Register for Self Assessment

If you do not usually send a tax return, you need to register by 5 October following the tax year you need to pay the tax charge (any tax charge).

You can get a penalty if you do not register for Self Assessment or do not declare child benefit on your Self Assessment tax return.

You’ll get a letter telling you what to do next after you’ve registered.

Register now

If you cannot get information from your partner or ex-partner

You can write to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to ask whether your partner or ex-partner gets Child Benefit or has a higher adjusted net income than you. HMRC will reply ‘yes’ or ‘no’ - they will not give you any financial information.

You can only ask for this information if you and your partner either live together, or separated within the tax year you want information for.

Write to HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC))

You need to tell HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) the tax year you’re asking about (the tax year you want information for), as well as your:

name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number

Unique Taxpayer Reference, if you have one

adjusted net income

partner or ex-partner’s name

If you can, include your partner or ex-partner’s:

address

date of birth

National Insurance number, if you know it (National Insurance number)

Unique Taxpayer Reference, if they (your partner or ex-partner’s) have one

Send your letter to:

Stop your Child Benefit

To stop your Child Benefit you can either:

fill in an online form

contact the Child Benefit Office by phone or post

You need a Government Gateway user ID and password to fill in the online form (an online form). If you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you fill in the form (an online form).

You cannot use the online form (an online form) if you’re an appointee or authorised agent.

You cannot stop your Child Benefit if you’re using it (your Child Benefit) to pay back an overpayment (or to pay back certain other benefits from another country).

Responsibilities after your Child Benefit stops

You must pay any tax charge owed for each tax year up to the date your Child Benefit stops.

Use the Child Benefit tax calculator to get an estimate of how much you may owe each tax year.

Even after your payments stop, you must report any changes in your family life that affect your entitlement to Child Benefit.

Restart your Child Benefit

You can restart your Child Benefit if:

you’ve previously stopped it (your Child Benefit) because of the tax charge

you still qualify for Child Benefit

To restart your Child Benefit, either:

fill in an online form

contact the Child Benefit Office

Payments usually start again the Monday after your request is received. The Child Benefit Office will write telling you how much backdated Child Benefit you’ll get (if any).

Responsibilities after your Child Benefit restarts

You (or your partner) will have to pay any tax charge on the benefit received from the restart date (your Child Benefit) if your income is over £50,000.

Use the Child Benefit tax calculator to get an estimate of your income and tax deductions to see if you may be affected by the tax charge.

You must report any changes to your family life that affect your Child Benefit.

If your circumstances change

Your income changes

You will not have to pay the tax charge if your income for the whole of a tax year is less than £50,000.

You can choose to stop or restart your Child Benefit at any time. Use the Child Benefit tax calculator to get an estimate of your income changes to see if they may affect the tax charge.

You have a new child

Claiming Child Benefit (your Child Benefit) helps you qualify for:

National Insurance credits, which protect your right to the State Pension

other benefits like Guardian’s Allowance

Child Benefit proves you (or your partner) support another child. You may pay less child maintenance for children not living with you.

You can make a new claim or just protect your entitlement to the above by:

sending a Child Benefit claim form

ticking the option to ‘not have the benefit (your Child Benefit) paid’

A partner moves in or out

Your situation may change if your income is more than £50,000 and you move in or split up with someone who’s getting Child Benefit (your Child Benefit).

You’ll have to pay the tax charge if your income is more than £50,000 and higher than your new partner’s income. Your partner pays it (the tax charge) if their income is higher.

The tax charge applies from the date you move in together to either the date you permanently separate or the Child Benefit (your Child Benefit) stops - for example because the child is too old to qualify for it (your Child Benefit).

Short periods apart do not count as separation, for example a hospital stay or working away from home.


Disabled Facilities Grants

Overview

You could get a grant from your council if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home, for example to:

widen doors and install ramps

improve access to rooms and facilities - eg stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom

provide a heating system suitable for your needs

adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

A Disabled Facilities Grant won’t affect any benefits you get.

What you'll get

How much you get depends on your:

household income

household savings over £6,000

Country | Grant

England | Up to £30,000

Wales | Up to £36,000

Northern Ireland | Up to £25,000

Scotland | Disabled Facilities Grants are not available - find out about support for equipment and adaptations

Depending on your income, you may need to pay towards the cost of the work to the property.

Disabled children under 18 can get a grant without their parents’ income being taken into account. Contact your local council for more information.

You might not get any grant if you start work on your property before the council (your council) approves your application.

How you’ll be paid

You’ll be paid either:

in instalments - as the work progresses

in full - when the work is finished

The council (your council) may pay the contractor directly or give you a cheque to pass on to them. They (your council)’ll agree this with you when they (your council) approve your application.

When you’ll be paid

You’ll be paid either:

when the council (your council) is happy with the finished work

when you give the council (your council) the invoice, demand or receipt for payment from the contractor

Normally, if you (or a relative) does the work the council (your council) will only accept invoices for materials or services you’ve bought.

Eligibility

You or someone living in your property must be disabled. Either you or the person you’re applying for must:

own the property (your property) or be a tenant

intend to live in the property (your property) during the grant period (which is currently 5 years)

You can also apply for a grant if you’re a landlord and have a disabled tenant.

The council (your council) needs to be happy that the work is:

necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person’s needs

reasonable and can be done - depending on the age and condition of the property (your property)

Planning and building regulations approval

You need to apply separately for any planning permission or building regulations approval.

The council (your council) may ask you to employ a qualified architect or surveyor to plan and oversee the work. If you get a grant, you can use it towards the cost of their fees.

How to apply

Apply through your local council.

The council (your council) may send an occupational therapist round to see you. They’ll check your circumstances and see what changes you need.

Appeals

You can appeal to your council if you’re unhappy with their (your council) decision.

If you appeal and you’re still not happy, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.


Guardian's Allowance

Overview

You could get Guardian’s Allowance if you’re bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may also be eligible if there’s one surviving parent.

The Guardian’s Allowance rate is £18 a week. You get it (Guardian’s Allowance) on top of Child Benefit and it (Guardian’s Allowance)’s tax-free.

You must tell the Guardian’s Allowance Unit about certain changes to your circumstances.

What you'll get

The Guardian Allowance rate (The Guardian’s Allowance rate) is:

£18 a week per child

tax-free

paid on top of your Child Benefit payments

How the money is paid

Usually, the money is paid into a bank account every 4 weeks. It (the money) can be paid weekly if you’re a single parent or getting certain other benefits, such as Income Support.

You can get the money paid into any account, apart from a Nationwide Building Society account in someone else’s name.

Effect on other benefits

Guardian’s Allowance does not count as income if you’re claiming tax credits, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

Guardian’s Allowance is not affected by the High Income Child Benefit charge. If you decide not to be paid Child Benefit your Guardian’s Allowance (Guardian’s Allowance) can continue.

Guardian’s Allowance does not count towards the benefit cap.

Use a benefits calculator to work out what benefits you can get.

Eligibility

To get Guardian’s Allowance all of the following must apply:

you’re bringing up someone else’s child

the child’s (someone else’s child) parents are dead (see conditions for one surviving parent below)

you qualify for Child Benefit

one of the parents (the child’s (someone else’s child) parents) was born in the UK (or was living in the UK since the age of 16 for at least 52 weeks in any 2-year period)

If you adopt a child you may still get Guardian’s Allowance as long as you were getting it (Guardian’s Allowance) before you adopted the child.

If there is one surviving parent

You could get Guardian’s Allowance if one of the following is true:

you do not know where the surviving parent (one surviving parent) is

the parents (the child’s (someone else’s child) parents) were divorced or their (the child’s (someone else’s child) parents) civil partnership had dissolved, the surviving parent (one surviving parent) does not have custody and is not maintaining the child (someone else’s child) and there is not a court order in place saying they should

the parents (the child’s (someone else’s child) parents) were not married, the mother has died and the father is unknown

the surviving parent (one surviving parent) will be in prison for at least 2 years from the date of death of the other parent

the surviving parent (one surviving parent) is in a hospital by court order

Use a benefits calculator to check the benefits you’re entitled to.

How to claim

To avoid losing money, claim Guardian’s Allowance as soon as the child (someone else’s child) comes to live with you.

Fill in the claim form (BG1).

Send it (the claim form (BG1)) to the Guardian’s Allowance Unit (Guardian’s Allowance) with the child’s (someone else’s child) full birth certificate and the parents’ (the child’s (someone else’s child) parents) death certificates (or certificate if one parent has died) - send originals.

You should also claim Child Benefit as soon as possible.

Guardian’s Allowance can be backdated for up to 3 months.

You can also call the Guardian’s Allowance Unit (Guardian’s Allowance) and ask for a claim pack.

If you disagree with a decision

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

Changes to your circumstances

If your circumstances change, your entitlement to Guardian’s Allowance could be affected or your payments could stop.

You must report changes straight away. You can do this online if:

the child (someone else’s child) goes to live with someone else

you go abroad, either temporarily (for more than 8 weeks), or permanently (for more than 1 year)

the child (someone else’s child) leaves full-time education or approved training

your bank or contact details change

you find out where the surviving parent is

the surviving parent comes out of hospital or prison (or has their (the surviving parent) sentence shortened)

the surviving parent makes a payment towards their (the surviving parent) child’s (someone else’s child) upkeep

You can also report a change of circumstance by phone or post.