Additional State Pension

Overview

The Additional State Pension is an extra amount of money you could get on top of your basic State Pension if you’re:

a man born before 6 April 1951

a woman born before 6 April 1953

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You get the new State Pension (The Additional State Pension) if you were born on or after this date. You will not qualify for the Additional State Pension, but you might still be able to inherit Additional State Pension from your partner.

You get the Additional State Pension automatically if you’re eligible for it (The Additional State Pension), unless you’ve contracted out of it (The Additional State Pension).

The Additional State Pension is paid with your basic State Pension.

What you'll get

There is no fixed amount for the Additional State Pension.

How much you get depends on:

how many years you paid National Insurance for

your earnings

whether you’ve contracted out of the scheme

whether you topped up your basic State Pension (this was only possible between 12 October 2015 and 5 April 2017)

How you’re paid

The Additional State Pension is paid with your basic State Pension into your bank account.

Eligibility

You reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016

You will not get the Additional State Pension if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. You’ll get the new State Pension (The Additional State Pension).

You reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and started claiming the basic State Pension (your basic State Pension), you’ll automatically get any Additional State Pension you’re eligible for. There is no need to make a separate claim.

You may not get any Additional State Pension for periods when you were contracted out of it.

When you have contributed to the Additional State Pension

The Additional State Pension is made up of 3 schemes. You might have contributed to more than one, depending on:

how long you’ve been working

whether you chose to top up your State Pension

Time | Scheme | You contributed if

2002 to 2016 | State Second Pension | You were employed or claiming certain benefits

1978 to 2002 | State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) | You were employed

12 October 2015 to 5 April 2017 | State Pension top up | You reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and opted in

The State Second Pension (State Second Pension) since 2002

You contributed through your National Insurance contributions if at any time between 6 April 2002 and 5 April 2016 (6 April 2016) you were:

employed and earning at least the lower earnings limit - this was £5,824 in the 2015 to 2016 tax year

looking after children under 12 and claiming Child Benefit

caring for a sick or disabled person more than 20 hours a week and claiming Carer’s Credit

working as a registered foster carer and claiming Carer’s Credit

receiving certain other benefits due to illness or disability

Contracting out

You could only contract out of the Additional State Pension if your employer ran a contracted-out pension scheme. Check with them.

While you were a member of a contracted-out workplace pension you did not contribute to the Additional State Pension. In some cases, you could get the Second State Pension (The Additional State Pension) even if you did not contribute, for example if your earnings were low.

You cannot contract out after 6 April 2016. If you were contracted out, your National Insurance contributions increased to your standard rate after this date (6 April 2016).

The extra pension you get from a contracted-out pension scheme is usually the same as, or more than, the Additional State Pension you would have got if you did not contract out.

Check if you were contracted out

You can find out if you were contracted out by:

checking an old payslip

calling your pension provider

The Pension Tracing Service might be able to find your pension providers’ contact details if you’ve lost contact with them.

National Insurance while contracting out

You paid lower National Insurance contributions while you were contracted out if:

you earned between £155 and £770 a week

you were under State Pension age

you did not pay reduced rate National Insurance

What happens when you retire

You’ll get a pension from your employer’s workplace pension scheme.

How to claim

You do not have to do anything to claim the Additional State Pension.

If you’re eligible for an Additional State Pension, you’ll automatically get it when you claim your State Pension.

After you claim, the Pension Service (The Pension Tracing Service) will write to you and tell you how much you’re getting.

Inheriting Additional State Pension

If your spouse or civil partner dies, you may be able to inherit part of their Additional State Pension. Contact the Pension Service (The Pension Tracing Service) to check what you can claim and how.

Maximum State Second Pension you can inherit

You can inherit up to 50% of your spouse or civil partner’s State Second Pension.

Maximum SERPS pension and State Pension top up you can inherit

The maximum you can inherit depends on when your spouse or civil partner died.

If they (your spouse or civil partner) died before 6 October 2002, you can inherit up to 100% of their (your spouse or civil partner) SERPS pension.

If they (your spouse or civil partner) died on or after 6 October 2002, the maximum SERPS pension and State Pension top up you can inherit depends on their (your spouse or civil partner) date of birth.

Man’s date of birth | Woman’s date of birth | Maximum % of SERPS and State Pension top up you can inherit

5 October 1937 or before | 5 October 1942 or before | 100%

6 October 1937 to 5 October 1939 | 6 October 1942 to 5 October 1944 | 90%

6 October 1939 to 5 October 1941 | 6 October 1944 to 5 October 1946 | 80%

6 October 1941 to 5 October 1943 | 6 October 1946 to 5 October 1948 | 70%

6 October 1943 to 5 October 1945 | 6 October 1948 to 5 July 1950 | 60%

6 October 1945 and after | 6 July 1950 (5 July 1950) and after | 50%

If your spouse or civil partner died within 90 days of topping up their State Pension, the top up should have been refunded to their estate (their total property, money and possessions), minus any payments they received before they died. This means you will not inherit the top up as part of their Additional State Pension.

How it’s paid

Any Additional State Pension you inherit will be paid on top of your State Pension when you reach State Pension age.

If you get your own Additional State Pension

The maximum amount of Additional State Pension you can get is £180.31 per week. The limit does not include State Pension top up.

If you get Widowed Parent’s Allowance

You may inherit Additional State Pension before you reach State Pension age. You’ll stop receiving it if your Widowed Parent’s (Widowed Parent’s) Allowance (Widowed Parent’s Allowance) ends.

You may receive it (Additional State Pension) again when you reach State Pension age if you were over 45 when you were entitled to Widowed Parent’s Allowance.

If your Widowed Parent’s Allowance or Bereavement Allowance ended before you were 55, you’ll receive less Additional State Pension.

When you cannot inherit Additional State Pension

You cannot inherit your spouse or civil partner’s Additional State Pension if you remarry or form another civil partnership before you reach State Pension age.

The date you reach State Pension age also affects whether you can inherit Additional State Pension.

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2010

You cannot inherit your spouse or civil partner’s Additional State Pension if they died before they reached their State Pension age and after you reached yours (State Pension age).

This does not apply if you’re a woman who was married to:

a man

a woman who legally changed their gender from male to female during your marriage

If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016

You cannot inherit your spouse or civil partner’s Additional State Pension if either:

your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2016 and reached (or would have reached) State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016

you started your marriage or civil partnership on or after 6 April 2016

If you get divorced

If you get divorced or your civil partnership is dissolved the court can decide that your Additional State Pension should be shared as part of the financial settlement.

You’ll have to fill in form BR20 to give details of your Additional State Pension.


Personal pensions

Overview

Personal pensions are pensions that you arrange yourself. They’re sometimes known as defined contribution or ‘money purchase’ pensions. You’ll usually get a pension that’s based on how much was paid in.

Some employers offer personal pensions as workplace pensions.

The money you pay into a personal pension is put into investments (such as shares) by the pension provider.  The money you’ll get from a personal pension usually depends on:

how much has been paid in

how the fund’s investments have performed - they can go up or down

how you decide to take your money

Types of personal pension

There are different types of personal pension. They include:

stakeholder pensions - these must meet specific government requirements, for example limits on charges

self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) - these allow you to control the specific investments that make up your pension fund

You should check that your provider is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or the Pensions Regulator if it’s a stakeholder pension.

Paying into a personal pension

You can either make regular or individual lump sum payments to a pension provider. They will send you annual statements, telling you how much your fund is worth.

You usually get tax relief on money you pay into a pension. Check with your provider that your pension scheme is registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - if it’s not registered, you won’t get tax relief.

Choosing a personal pension

Citizens Advice has information about choosing a personal pension.

Independent financial advice

You can find an independent financial adviser:

from Unbiased

from the Personal Finance Society

You’ll usually have to pay for this advice (Independent financial advice).

How you can take your pension

Most personal pensions set an age when you can start taking money from them. It’s not normally before 55. Contact your pension provider (your provider) if you’re not sure when you can take your pension.

You can take up to 25% of the money built up in your pension as a tax-free lump sum. You’ll then have 6 months to start taking the remaining 75%, which you’ll usually pay tax on.

The options you have for taking the rest of your pension pot include:

taking all or some of it (the rest of your pension pot) as cash

buying a product that gives give you a guaranteed income (sometimes known as an ‘annuity’) for life

investing it (your pension) to get a regular, adjustable income (sometimes known as ‘flexi-access drawdown’)

Ask your pension provider (your provider) which options they (your provider) offer (they (your provider) may not offer all of them). If you don’t want to take any of their (your provider) options, you can transfer your pension pot to a different provider.

Taxes and charges

Your pension provider (your provider) will take off any tax you owe before you get money from your pension pot.

You might have to pay a higher rate of tax if you take large amounts from your pension pot (your pension). You could also owe extra tax at the end of the tax year.

Your pension provider (your provider) might charge you for withdrawing cash from your pension pot (your pension) - check with them (your provider) about this.

Get regular payments from an annuity

You might be able to buy an annuity from an insurance company that gives you regular payments for life. You can ask your pension provider (your provider) to pay for it out of your pension pot.

The amount you get can vary. It depends on how long the insurance company (an insurance company that gives you regular payments for life) expects you to live and how many years they (an insurance company that gives you regular payments for life)’ll have to pay you. When they (an insurance company that gives you regular payments for life) calculate the amount they (an insurance company that gives you regular payments for life) should take into account:

your age and gender

the size of your pension pot

interest rates

your health (sometimes)

There are different kinds of annuities. Some are for a fixed time (for example, payments for 10 years instead of your lifetime) and some continue paying your spouse or partner after you die.

You don’t have to buy your annuity from your pension provider (your provider).

Invest the money in a drawdown fund

You may be able to ask your pension provider (your provider) to invest your pension pot in a flexi-access drawdown fund.

From a flexi-access drawdown fund you can:

make withdrawals

buy a short-term annuity - this will give you regular payments for up to 5 years

pay in - but you’ll pay tax on contributions over £4,000 a year

Keeping your capped drawdown fund

If you have a ‘capped drawdown’ fund and want to keep it, your money will stay invested.

You can keep withdrawing and paying in. Your pension provider (your provider) sets a maximum amount you can take out every year. This limit will be reviewed every 3 years until you turn 75, then every year after that.

Withdraw cash from your pension pot

You may be able to take cash directly from your pension pot. You could:

withdraw your whole pension pot

withdraw smaller cash sums

When you can’t withdraw cash

You can’t take smaller cash sums if any of the following apply:

you’ve already saved £1,073,100 in pension schemes over your lifetime (your lifetime allowance)

you have some type of lifetime allowance protection

you’re under 75, and the sums you want to withdraw are bigger than the amount of lifetime allowance you have left

Get help

Contact your pension provider first if you need help with a personal pension.

If they (your pension provider) can’t help, you can get free and impartial information from The Pensions Advisory Service (they don’t provide financial advice).

Financial advice

You can find a financial adviser if you want advice. You’ll usually have to pay for their services.

If you’re over 50

Pension Wise has information about your pension options. If you’re over 50 you can book a free appointment to talk about your options. Pension Wise doesn’t cover the State Pension, ‘final salary’ or ‘career average’ pensions.

State Pension

For help with your State Pension contact the Pension Service.

Complaints

If you have a complaint about how your pension scheme is run, talk to your pension provider first. They have to respond within 8 weeks.

You can also contact the Pensions Ombudsman if you’re concerned about how a pension scheme is run.

Complain about marketing

You can get help from the Pensions Advisory Service or complain to the Financial Ombudsman’s Service about how a pension scheme has been marketed to you.

If your provider has broken the law

If you think your pension provider has broken the law, you can complain to:

the Pensions Regulator for workplace pensions

If your provider goes bust

If the pension provider (your provider) was authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (the Financial Conduct Authority for personal and stakeholder pensions) and can’t pay, you might get compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).


Changing an employment contract

Getting agreement

Usually, the employer and employee both need to agree to any contract changes. But an employee can insist on a change if they have a legal right to it.

Employers

You must get an employee’s agreement if you want to make changes to their contract.

You should:

consult or negotiate with employees or their representatives (for example from a trade union or staff association)

explain the reasons for changes

listen to alternative ideas from employees

You may also want to talk with workers, asking them about their future plans. With older employees this can include talking about their thoughts on retirement and their options for staying in the job, for example changes to their role, hours or working pattern.

Employees

Explain to your employer why you want to make the changes. You can insist on a change if it’s covered by a statutory right - for example not working on a Sunday.

Making changes

Once employers have agreed on changes with their staff, they need to:

update the terms of their (employers) employees’ ‘written statement’ of employment conditions

write to their (employers) employees within a month to tell them (workers) exactly what has changed

If an employer changes terms and conditions that are not in the written statement (their (employers) employees’ ‘written statement’ of employment conditions) (for example the right to sick leave), they (employers) should tell their (employers) employees where to find information about the change. This could be in a company handbook, noticeboard or intranet site.

Collective agreements

Employers must write to their staff to let them know about any changes to collective agreements with trade unions or staff associations.

These changes might affect the terms of employees’ written statements, including pay and working hours, whether or not they (their staff)’re a member of the union or staff association.

Flexibility clauses

Flexibility clauses are terms in a contract that give employers the right to change some conditions of employment, for example relocation.

Employers can only use flexibility clauses to make reasonable changes.

Changes of employer

If someone starts working for a different employer, they’ll normally have to be given a new written statement within 2 months.

However, if the name of a business changes or there’s a new employer but no other changes in terms and conditions, the employer does not need to issue a new written statement. They still need to write to their staff about the changes within a month.

Disciplinary measures

Sometimes changes to an employee’s terms and conditions, like a demotion, can happen as a result of a disciplinary measure.

Employers should make sure the staff handbook or intranet site contains information about how this (Disciplinary measures) could happen in the section dealing with disciplinary procedures.

Dealing with problems

Problems can arise if:

an employer tries to change a contract without agreement, or re-employs someone on new terms and conditions

there is a breach of contract where one of the terms in a contract is broken (for example an employer does not pay agreed wages or employees do not work agreed hours)

Solving disputes

Employers and their staff should try to solve disputes about contract changes by talking informally or through mediation.

Employees can also get advice from their trade union representative (if they’re a member of a union), Citizen’s Advice or Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service). In Northern Ireland, they can get advice from the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) .

If the problem cannot be solved, employers or employees may have the right to take legal action. It’s important to get advice first because legal action can be expensive. Trade union members may be able to get legal advice from their union.

Making a change without agreement

If an employer makes a change to a contract without getting agreement (including by using flexibility clauses unreasonably), employees may:

have the right to refuse to work under the new conditions

say that they (employees)’re working any new terms under protest, and are treating the change (change) as a breach of contract

resign and claim constructive dismissal

be able to take a case to an employment tribunal

In Northern Ireland an employment tribunal is known as an ‘industrial tribunal’.

If an employee disagrees with new terms and conditions but does not say or do anything, this may count as agreeing to the changes.

Re-employment on new terms and conditions

Employers may, as a last resort, end a contract and re-employ someone on new terms and conditions.

Employers who are dismissing employees must follow the legally required:

redundancy procedure in England, Wales and Scotland

statutory minimum dismissal in Northern Ireland

If an employer does dismiss and re-employ someone, they may be able to take a case to a tribunal and claim:

breach of contract

unfair dismissal

Breach of contract claims

If an employee claims breach of contract and they cannot solve things informally with their employer, they may be able to take their case to a civil court or an employment tribunal (or an industrial tribunal in Northern Ireland).

Their (an employee) employer may be able to make a counter-claim.

Claims and counter-claims can only go to a tribunal if they:

are related to an employment contract issue

still have not been solved when the employee ends their employment

The claim or counter-claim (Claims and counter-claims) cannot be related to a personal injury, or certain types of contract term like intellectual property rights.

Time limits

Usually, employees must make a claim to a tribunal within 3 months of ending their employment. The employer gets 6 weeks from receiving a copy of the claim to decide whether to make a counter-claim.

Compensation limits

If the tribunal (a tribunal) agrees with the employee’s (employees) claim (a claim), they (a tribunal) may award compensation. This can only be for financial loss (for example, non-payment of wages) up to a maximum of £25,000.


Joining a trade union

Joining a trade union

A trade union is an organisation with members who are usually workers or employees. It looks after their interests at work by doing things like:

negotiating agreements with employers on pay and conditions

discussing big changes like large scale redundancy

discussing members’ concerns with employers

going with members to disciplinary and grievance meetings

Find a union to join

If there’s a union at work, you can ask the trade union representative (‘rep’) about joining. Their contact details may be in your company handbook, intranet site or on the union noticeboard.

The union rep (the trade union representative (‘rep’)) will tell you if you’re eligible to join and give you a membership form to fill in.

Trade union contact details

You can search a list of unions and their contact details put together by the Certification Officer, the independent organisation responsible for the legal regulation of unions.

You can also use the TUC’s interactive tool to help you find a trade union in your workplace, or one which covers your type of job.

Trade union membership subscriptions

Your union will charge a union membership fee (‘membership sub’) to finance the work of the union. This can be the same amount for all employees or based on how much you’re paid.

Paying your membership subs (Trade union membership subscriptions)

You can pay your subs (Trade union membership subscriptions) by:

having the amount taken by your employer from your pay and sent to the union (Your union) (otherwise known as ‘check-off’)

direct debit

cash

cheque

Paying by check-off

Your employer does not have to take union membership subs from your pay and send it to the union (Your union). They (your employer) can stop sending your membership subs unless your employment contract says they (your employer) have to.

Your employer cannot take union membership subs from your pay without your written permission. Many trade unions will get your agreement to pay by check-off when you join, and forward it to your employer.

You can also ask your employer in writing to stop taking money from your pay for check-off whenever you want. They (your employer) must then stop taking subs from your pay as soon as it’s possible.

Your employer is responsible for making sure that any check-off payments they (your employer) make are legal.

What to do if you have a problem

If you have a problem with your check-off payments, try to discuss the issue with your employer and your trade union (Your union) first.

If your trade union subscriptions are taken from your pay without your consent, you could make a complaint to an employment tribunal against your employer.

If your complaint is successful the employment tribunal (an employment tribunal) can order your employer to pay you the value of the unauthorised payments.

Trade union membership: your employment rights

You have the right to:

choose to join or not join a union

decide to leave or remain a member of a union

belong to the union you choose, even if it’s not the one your employer negotiates with on pay, terms and conditions

belong to more than one union

Your employer is not allowed to:

offer you a benefit to leave a trade union

threaten to treat you unfairly if you do not leave a union

Refusing to employ you for trade union membership reasons

An employer or employment agency is not allowed to insist that you:

join or leave a trade union

leave one union for another

Dismissal for trade union membership reasons

Your employer is not allowed to dismiss you or choose you for redundancy because you:

are or want to be a union member

are not or do not want to be a union member

took part or wanted to take part in union activities

Other unfavourable treatment

Your employer must not treat you unfavourably (for example refusing you promotion or training opportunities) if you:

join a union

take part in its (a union) meetings

leave a union

What to do if you have a problem

You may be able to use a grievance procedure or go to an employment tribunal  if you think your employer has treated you unfairly because of your trade union membership.

Contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) if you have any questions about trade union membership.

Role of your trade union rep

A trade union representative (‘rep’) is a union member who represents and gives advice to colleagues when they have problems at work.

Trade union reps are not paid but they do get paid time off to do their work as a rep.

What do union reps do?

Reps are there to:

discuss any concerns you have about your employer

go with (‘accompany’) you to disciplinary or grievance hearings with management

represent you in negotiations (‘collective bargaining’) over your pay and terms and conditions of employment

meet with your employer to find solutions to workplace issues

develop the best possible health and safety procedures with your employer

Employers must consult with union reps if:

there is going to be a business transfer or takeover

they (Employers) are planning to make 20 or more people redundant within 90 days

Your right to be accompanied

You have the right to be accompanied by your union rep to some meetings with management - for example, if:

you’re facing a disciplinary charge

you wish to raise a grievance with your employer

If your union rep cannot attend, you may be able to rearrange the meeting or ask a work colleague to go with you.

Becoming a union rep

If you want to become a union rep, ask another rep in the workplace or contact your union through its website. Depending on union rules, you may be appointed or elected.

If you become a union rep, find out what rights you have.

Union negotiations with your employer

When an employer and a union agree to negotiate on pay, terms and conditions, this agreement is called ‘recognition’ of the union. The negotiations are called ‘collective bargaining’.

How collective bargaining works

Your employer and trade union must agree on how collective bargaining will be done including:

which union, rep or official will represent a group of workers or employees (this group is called a ‘bargaining unit’)

who is included in the bargaining unit

how often meetings will take place

what issues they’ll discuss

how disagreements will be handled

how collective bargaining will work if more than one union is recognised

Collective agreements

Agreements reached through collective bargaining are called collective agreements and they often mean a change in your employment terms and conditions.

Collective agreements can cover all staff - not just union members.

Your employment contract may say which collective agreements cover you if:

your employer recognises more than one trade union

1 union is recognised to negotiate for more than 1 bargaining unit


Manage your Child Maintenance Service case

Overview

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

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

can manage your case (a Child Maintenance Service (The Child Maintenance Service) case) online

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Making and getting payments

Child maintenance can be paid:

between parents

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

by Direct Debit

by reducing the paying parent’s benefits

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

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

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

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

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse or controlling behaviour

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

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

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

Making payments yourself

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

This (make) is called Direct Pay.

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

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

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

Arranging payments for you

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

This (make) is called Collect and Pay.

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

Collection fees

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

20% (which is added to the payment (a regular child maintenance payment)) for paying parents

4% (which is taken off the payment (a regular child maintenance payment)) for receiving parents

You cannot avoid collection fees by making payments in advance.

You will not have to pay:

any fees if you choose a private arrangement

collection fees if you use Direct Pay

When you’ll pay or receive the money

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

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

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

If a parent does not pay

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

Enforcement charges

Action taken by the Child Maintenance Service | Charge

Liability order | £300

Lump sum deduction order | £200

Regular deduction order | £50

Deduction from earnings request or order | £50

What action is taken

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

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

Disagreements about parentage

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

ask them (someone) for evidence proving they (someone)’re not the parent

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

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

ask both parents to take a DNA test

ask the courts to make a decision

Assumed parentage

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

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

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

has taken a DNA test that shows they (the person named as the parent)’re the parent

has legally adopted the child (a child)

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

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

Paying child maintenance during a disagreement

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

When the amount (a child maintenance amount) has not been worked out, the service managing the case (The Child Maintenance Service) will not work it out or ask for payment until the disagreement has been sorted out.

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

Named person (the person named as the parent) proves they (the person named as the parent)’re not the parent (the parent of a child)

When this (proves) happens, the Child Maintenance Service may:

refund any payments made after the date they (the person named as the parent) first denied they (the person named as the parent) were the parent (the parent of a child), or offset the amount against maintenance for another child

refund the cost of any DNA tests arranged through the service (The Child Maintenance Service)

They (The Child Maintenance Service) may also ask the other parent to pay back any child maintenance.

Refunds depend on the circumstances of each case.

Changes you need to report

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

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

Either parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if:

a parent or a child has died

one of the parents is adopting a child

you want to close your case

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

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

Paying parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if you:

start or stop working for an employer

start or stop being self-employed

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

want to restart your payments

have received notification of a court or tribunal date

have received notification of a deduction order from a bank

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

change your phone number (including mobile number)

have an income change of 25% or more

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

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

the date you left your last job

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

how much you expect to earn

your new payroll number (if any)

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

any changes to the number of children living with you

if any child living with you reaches the age of 20

Receiving parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if:

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

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

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

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

you find out that the paying parent is coming off benefits

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

your phone number (including mobile number) changes

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

When you report a change

You might need to provide:

employers’ details or payslips

benefits information

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

If you do not give the right information

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

do not give the information you are asked for

give information that you know is false

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

employers

accountants

either parent

When changes could affect your payments

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

You can find out how child maintenance is worked out.

Complaints and appeals

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

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

Independent Case Examiner

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

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

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

If your complaint is valid

The Child Maintenance Service will:

apologise and explain what went wrong

make any changes needed to put it right

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

Appeals

You can appeal a child maintenance decision about payment amounts.

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

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

Appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal

Appeal to the tribunal (the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal) within one month of getting the mandatory reconsideration decision (a child maintenance decision about payment amounts). If you submit your appeal after a month you’ll have to explain why you did not do it earlier.

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

You’ll need to choose whether you want to go to the tribunal hearing to explain your case. If you do not attend, your appeal will be decided on your appeal form (form SSCS2) and any supporting evidence.

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

It usually takes around 6 months for your appeal to be heard by the tribunal (the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal).

Contact

Report changes online

Report changes to your circumstances through your online account.

Call the Child Maintenance Service

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

Watch a video to check you can use the service.

Go to the video relay service (the service).

Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm

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

Contact the Child Maintenance Service by post

You can also write to the Child Maintenance Service.


Christmas Bonus

Overview

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

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

What you'll get

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

It (The Christmas Bonus) will not affect any other benefits you get.

How you’re paid

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

Eligibility

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

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

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

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Attendance Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

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

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

Disability Living Allowance

Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate

Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)

Mobility Supplement

Pension Credit - the guarantee element

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)

Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)

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

War Disablement Pension at State Pension age

War Widow’s Pension

Widowed Mother’s Allowance

Widowed Parent’s Allowance

Widow’s Pension

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

How to claim

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

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

Further information

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

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

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

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

and either:

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

the only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit


Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You can do this (ask) if any of the following apply:

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

you disagree with the reasons for the decision (a decision about benefits, tax credits or child maintenance)

you want to have the decision (a decision about benefits, tax credits or child maintenance) looked at again

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

You need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision (a decision about benefits, tax credits or child maintenance).

Benefits this (ask) applies to

You can ask for mandatory reconsideration for benefits including:

Attendance Allowance

Bereavement Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Carer’s Credit

child maintenance (sometimes known as ‘child support’)

Compensation Recovery Scheme (including NHS recovery claims)

Diffuse Mesotheliomia Payment Scheme

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Funeral Expenses Payment

Income Support

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Maternity Allowance

Pension Credit

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Sure Start Maternity Grant

Universal Credit (including advance payments)

Winter Fuel Payment

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

How to ask for mandatory reconsideration

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

by phone

by letter

by filling in and returning a form

The contact details are on your decision letter.

You need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter (the date of the decision (a decision about benefits, tax credits or child maintenance)). If you’re writing, the letter or form must arrive by then.

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

If you get Universal Credit

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

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

writing to the address on your decision letter

filling in and returning a form

calling the Universal Credit helpline

Before you ask for mandatory reconsideration

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

You can still ask for mandatory reconsideration after you’ve spoken to your benefits office (the benefits office dealing with your claim).

If you want an explanation in writing

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

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

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

Applying after one month

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

Call the phone number on your decision letter first.

What you need to provide

You need to give:

the date of the original benefit decision (your benefit decision)

your name and address

your date of birth

your National Insurance number

Explain what part of the decision (your benefit decision) is wrong and why.

If you want to send evidence

This (evidence) needs to shows why the decision (your benefit decision) was wrong. It (evidence) could, for example, be:

new medical evidence

reports or care plans from specialists, therapists or nurses

bank statements or payslips

Only include evidence you have not already sent.

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

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

It will not help your claim to include:

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

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

letters about tests that you’re due to have

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

What happens next

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

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

If you disagree with the outcome

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

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

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


Tax credits overpayments

Overview

You might be overpaid tax credits if:

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

you or the Tax Credit Office make a mistake

you do not renew your tax credits on time

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

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

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

How to repay your tax credits

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

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

Call the helpline if you:

think the Tax Credit Office made a mistake

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

If you still get tax credits

HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) will automatically reduce your future tax credit payments until you’ve paid back the money you owe.

The amount they (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC))’ll reduce your tax credit payments by usually depends on how much you currently get and your household income.

Household income | Reduction

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

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

More than £20,000 | 50%

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

If you’ve moved to Universal Credit

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

If you do not get tax credits or Universal Credit

HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) will send you a ‘notice to pay’ which you should pay within 30 days.

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

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

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

There are several ways to repay.

Direct Debit

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

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

It takes up to 5 working days to set up.  Payments appear on your statements as ‘HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) NDDS’.

Online and telephone banking (Faster Payments)

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

Sort code | Account number | Account name

08 32 10 | 12001039 | HMRC Cumbernauld (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC))

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

If you’re paying from an overseas account, you can pay HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) in sterling or another currency.

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

GB62BARC20114770297690 | BARCGB22 | HMRC Cumbernauld (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC))

HMRC’s (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) bank address is:

At your bank or building society

Pay at your branch by cash or cheque.

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

HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) will accept your payment on the date you make it and not the date it reaches HMRC’s (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) account.

By cheque through the post

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

You do not need to include a street name, city name or PO box with this address (HMRC’s (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) bank address).

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

Do not fold your cheque.

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

Include a note with:

your name, address and phone number

your tax credit reference number

how much you’re paying

the period you’re paying for

You can ask for a receipt if you want one.

If you cannot afford your repayments

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

You may be asked about:

any savings and income you have - including benefits and pensions

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

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

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

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

If you still get tax credits

If HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) has reduced your tax credits to pay back an overpayment, you can ask them (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) to reconsider:

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

by phone

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

You will usually receive a decision within 14 working days.

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

If you have moved to Universal Credit

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

If you do not get tax credits or Universal Credit

Call the tax credits payments helpline to ask HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) to reconsider.

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

If you get Universal Credit

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

The letter (a ‘TC1131’ letter) may come a few months after you’ve moved to Universal Credit.

If you are already paying a ‘notice to pay’, keep making payments until you get the letter (a ‘TC1131’ letter).

After you get the letter (a ‘TC1131’ letter), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will reduce your Universal Credit payments until you pay back the money you owe. You do not have to do anything to set this up.

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

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

If you cannot afford your repayments

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

If you have an existing payment plan

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

You must cancel any standing orders you’ve set up to repay the debt (your tax credits debt). HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) will cancel any Direct Debits.

If you claimed tax credits as a couple

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

Contact HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) if you think your share is wrong.

If you do not get Universal Credit any more

If you get the letter from HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) after you’ve stopped receiving Universal Credit, you must repay DWP (the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) directly.

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

If you do not repay HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC))

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

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

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

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

You do not need to do anything - DWP (the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) or DfC (the Department for Communities (DfC)) will arrange the most suitable method of recovery with you.  This might be by:

reducing your other benefits

agreeing a repayment plan with you

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

asking a debt collection agency to collect the money (all the money you owe)

If you start getting Universal Credit

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


Help with moving from benefits to work

Overview

Get support from Jobcentre Plus to help you prepare for, find and stay in work, including:

training, guidance and work placement programmes

work experience, volunteering and job trialling schemes

help with starting your own business

help combining work with looking after children or caring responsibilities

extra help for specific problems

You may also be able to keep getting some benefits once you start working.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Support for disabled people

Speak to your local Jobcentre Plus (Jobcentre Plus) if you’re disabled or have a long-term health condition. They (Support for disabled people) can help you find a job or gain new skills, and tell you about specific programmes to help you back into work.

You might be able to get an Access to Work grant to pay for:

special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings

help getting to and from work

mental health support

communication support at a job interview (for example, a British Sign Language interpreter or a lipspeaker)

Job search programmes

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach can give you more information about programmes that can help you prepare for, find and stay in work.

If you live in Scotland, you can also get help from Fair Start Scotland.

Work Programme

The Work Programme stopped taking new participants on 1 April 2017. If you’re already taking part, you can continue to do so for up to 2 years from the date you joined.

You’ll have to attend an assessment interview with Jobcentre Plus if you’ve been on the Work Programme for 2 years. The interview will help you plan, prepare and find work.

Help for specific types of work

Sector-based work academies offer training and work experience for up to 6 weeks in a particular industry or area of work.

Most academies also offer a guaranteed interview for a job or an apprenticeship.

They (Most academies)’re available to you if you’re claiming any of the following because you’re unemployed:

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (if you’re in the Work-Related Activity Group)

Universal Credit

Work clubs

Anyone who’s unemployed can join a Work Club. They’re run by local organisations like employers and community groups, and give you the chance to share knowledge, experience and job hunting tips.

Work experience and volunteering

Contact Jobcentre Plus to find out about opportunities that can improve your chances of finding work, including work experience, volunteering and work trials.

You might be able to get help with costs like childcare and travel.

Work experience

If you’re getting Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Universal Credit, you can get work experience through Jobcentre Plus.

Work experience can last between 2 and 8 weeks, and you’ll normally be expected to work between 25 and 30 hours a week. You’ll carry on getting your JSA (Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)) or Universal Credit payment as long as you continue to look for work.

You may also be able to get help from Jobcentre Plus for costs related to work experience, for example for travel or childcare.

Work Together (volunteering)

If you’re unemployed and looking for work, you can volunteer with a local organisation through the Work Together programme. Your Jobcentre Plus work coach will help you to find a volunteering opportunity.

Work trials

A work trial gives you the chance to try out a job and keep getting benefits. It can last up to 30 working days, and you might get offered a job at the end.

Work trials are voluntary, and your benefits will not be affected if you finish early or turn down a job you’re offered.

Your Jobcentre Plus (Jobcentre Plus) can arrange a work trial for you, or you can ask them (Jobcentre Plus) about how to do this yourself.

Employment on Trial

Employment on Trial allows you to leave a job and start claiming JSA (Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)) again without this affecting your benefit (unless you’re sacked or leave because of misconduct).

You must have worked more than 16 hours a week for between 4 and 12 weeks before leaving the job (a job).

Starting or running your own business

You may be able to get New Enterprise Allowance to help you:

start your own business

develop your business, if you’re already self-employed

Starting your own business

You could get mentoring and an allowance to help you start your own business through New Enterprise Allowance.

You may be eligible if you’re over 18 and either:

you or your partner get Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance or  Employment and Support Allowance

you get Income Support and you’re a lone parent, sick or disabled

What you’ll get

You’ll get a mentor who’ll give you advice and support to help you set up your business and start to trade.

Once you’ve made a business plan that your mentor has approved, you:

may get a weekly allowance worth up to £1,274 over 26 weeks

can apply for a loan to help with start-up costs

How to get New Enterprise Allowance

Talk to your Jobcentre Plus work coach.  They’ll check your business idea and help you if you’re eligible.

Developing your business

If you’re self-employed and getting Universal Credit, you may be able to:

get a mentor who’ll give you advice and support to help you develop your business

apply for a start-up loan if your business is less than 2 years old

To find out if you’re eligible for New Enterprise Allowance, contact your work coach by signing in to your Universal Credit account.

If you’re disabled or you have a health condition

You may be able to get extra support through an Access to Work grant.

Help for parents and carers

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach can tell you about support you can get to help you combine work with looking after children or caring responsibilities.

Help for parents

Parents can get help with childcare costs when moving from benefits to work.

Help for carers

Work Preparation Support for Carers provides help and support for you to make a successful move into work, including access to training and advice on job hunting and applications.

You might be able to get help with the cost of replacement care while you take part in training or attend interviews.

Help with drug and alcohol problems

You may be able to get extra support if you have drug or alcohol problems that are stopping you working.

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach can tell you about the help available from specialist drugs or alcohol treatment professionals in your area, and refer you to their services if you want.

This help (Help with drug and alcohol problems) is available to anyone getting benefits.

Support when you start working

Going back to work does not mean giving up all your benefits. Some benefits may carry on, and others may be available once you’re working.

Contact Jobcentre Plus (Your Jobcentre Plus work coach) if you’ve found a job and you or your partner have been getting:

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Income Support

Universal Credit

Your Jobcentre Plus work coach will help you to manage your move into work, and sort out changes to your other benefits, including tax credits. What you can get will depend on how long you were claiming these benefits without a break.

You do not have to fill in any forms, but make sure you have details of your income, savings and any rent payments to hand.

Use a benefits calculator to see how starting a job or increasing your working hours affects your benefits.

Help with housing

Depending on how long you have been claiming benefits, you may be able to get:

Mortgage Interest Run On

Extended Payment of Housing Benefit

These payments provide help for up to 4 weeks when you start a new job and begin earning a wage. You may also be able to get extended reductions on your Council Tax.


Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Overview

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

You may also be able to get ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) if you were unable to work while self-isolating or ‘shielding’ because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) gives you:

money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work

support to get back into work if you’re able to

You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Eligibility

You can apply for ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you’re under State Pension age and you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

You also need to have both:

worked as an employee or have been self-employed

paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years - National Insurance credits also count

Check your National Insurance record for gaps.

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of ‘new style’ ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)). Universal Credit can help with, for example, your housing and childcare costs.

You cannot get ‘new style’ ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) if you:

claim Jobseeker’s Allowance

claim Statutory Sick Pay

If your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is due to end

You can apply for ‘new style’ ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) up to 3 months before your SSP (your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)) ends. You’ll start getting ‘new style’ ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) as soon as your SSP (your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)) ends.

If you’re working

You can apply whether you’re in or out of work. There are conditions to working while claiming ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)).

If you’ve been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)

You can apply for ‘new style’ ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) if you’re unable to claim Statutory Sick Pay and one of the following applies:

you or your child might have COVID-19 or you’re recovering from it (coronavirus (COVID-19))

you or your child are self-isolating because you came into contact with someone who might have COVID-19

you were advised to ‘shield’ because you’re clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19

Shielding in England, Scotland and Wales has stopped. You can still apply for ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) if you were shielding in England or shielding in Wales before 1 April 2021, or if you were shielding in Scotland before 26 April 2021.

If you’re claiming ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) because of COVID-19, you’ll need to give evidence to support your claim.

Proof if you’re self-isolating because of COVID-19

If you or your child are self-isolating and you cannot work because of COVID-19, you can get an ‘isolation note’ online from NHS 111 if you’ve been off work for 7 or more days. You do not have to go to your doctor or a hospital.

If you’ve been notified by the NHS or public health authorities that you’ve come into contact with someone with COVID-19, your notification is proof.

If you’ve been advised by your doctor or healthcare professional to self-isolate before going into hospital for surgery, your letter confirming the date of your procedure is proof.

Proof if you were advised to shield because of COVID-19

Your doctor or health authority should have sent you a letter advising you or your child to ‘shield’ because you’re clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

The letter will have included the period to shield for. It is proof of your eligibility for ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)) for days away from work in that period.

You may have more than one letter covering more than one shielding period.

Contact your doctor if you do not have a letter but think you should have one.

What you'll get

How much you get will depend on what stage your application is at, as well as things like your age and whether you’re able to get back into work.

If you get ‘new style’ ESA you’ll earn Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and some benefits in the future.

What might affect how much you get paid

You cannot make a new claim for income-related ESA. You’ll continue to get payments while you’re eligible until your claim ends.

Neither your or your partner’s savings or income will affect how much ‘new style’ ESA you’re paid. But a private pension worth more than £85 per week may affect how much you can get.

If you get income-related ESA, your household income and savings worth £6,000 or more may affect how much you can get.

While your claim is being assessed

You’ll normally get the ‘assessment rate’ for 13 weeks while your claim is being assessed.

This (income-related ESA) will be:

up to £59.20 a week if you’re aged under 25

up to £74.70 a week if you’re aged 25 or over

If it takes longer than 13 weeks to assess your claim, you’ll continue getting the ‘assessment rate’ (income-related ESA) until you get a decision or until your ESA is due to end. Your ESA will be backdated if you’re owed any money after 13 weeks.

After you’re assessed

You’ll be placed into one of 2 groups if you’re entitled to ESA. If you’re able to get back into work in the future, you’ll be put into the work-related activity group. Otherwise, you’ll be put into the support group.

You’ll get:

up to £74.70 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group

up to £114.10 a week if you’re in the support group

If you’re in the support group

If you’re in the support group and on income-related ESA, you’re also entitled to the enhanced disability premium.

You may also qualify for the severe disability premium.

Find out how to apply for a disability premium.

How you’re paid

You’ll get paid ESA every 2 weeks.

All benefits are paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Other benefits you can claim

Universal Credit can help with, for example, your housing and childcare costs. You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of ‘new style’ ESA.

Use a benefits calculator to find out what other benefits you could get, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you have a long-term health condition or disability.

The benefit cap may affect the total amount of benefit you can get. The cap will not affect you if you’re in the support group.

If you’re moving to Universal Credit from income-related ESA

If your income-related ESA claim is ending because you’re making a new claim for Universal Credit, you’ll automatically continue to get the amount of ESA you currently receive, as long as you’re still eligible. You’ll normally get this (Universal Credit) for 2 weeks, starting from the date of your new claim.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will write to you telling you how this works.

You do not need to pay this money back, and it will not affect the amount of Universal Credit you get.

Budgeting Loan

You can apply for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on income-related ESA for at least 6 months.

Advice on money and debt

You can get help and advice from your Jobcentre Plus work coach or:

Citizens Advice

Money Advice Service

National Debtline

Shelter

Working while you claim

You can usually work while you are claiming ESA if both of the following apply:

you work less than 16 hours a week

you do not earn more than £143 a week

Tell Jobcentre Plus (your Jobcentre Plus work coach) about your work when you make a claim.

Send this form to Jobcentre Plus (your Jobcentre Plus work coach) if you’re already claiming ESA and you want to start work.

When you can work 16 hours or more a week

You can work more than 16 hours a week if the work is either voluntary or ‘supported permitted work’.

Supported permitted work

The work (work) must be either:

supervised by someone from a local council or voluntary organisation who arranges work for disabled people

part of a treatment programme under medical supervision

You can still earn no more than £143 a week.

How to claim

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of ‘new style’ ESA.
Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.

There’s a different way to apply in Northern Ireland.

What you need to apply

You’ll need:

your National Insurance number

your bank or building society account number and sort code (you can use a friend or family member’s account if you do not have one)

your doctor’s name, address and telephone number

details of your income if you’re working

the date your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) ends if you’re claiming it

You cannot get ‘new style’ ESA if you’re getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from an employer. You can apply for ‘new style’ ESA up to 3 months before your SSP (your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)) ends.

If you’re applying because of COVID-19, you’ll also need:

an ‘isolation note’ if you’re unable to work because of COVID-19

your notification from the NHS or public health authorities if you’ve been told to self-isolate because you’ve come into contact with someone with COVID-19

a letter confirming the date of your procedure if you’ve been advised to self-isolate before going into hospital for surgery

a letter from your doctor or a health authority advising you or your child to shield (take extra precautions to reduce contact with others) because you’re at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19

Shielding in England, Scotland and Wales has stopped. You can still apply for ESA if you were shielding in England or shielding in Wales before 1 April 2021, or if you were shielding in Scotland before 26 April 2021.

Once you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted by phone and told when to give the evidence and where to send it.

Apply now

When you can apply by phone

Call the Universal Credit helpline if:

you cannot make an application online

you’re an appointee for someone

After you apply

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will contact you within 10 working days of applying.

If you’re eligible

DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will contact you within 10 working days to schedule an appointment that you must attend. It will normally be over the phone with a work coach from your local Jobcentre Plus office.

Your work coach (a work coach from your local Jobcentre Plus office) will explain what you need to do to get ‘new style’ ESA. They (a work coach from your local Jobcentre Plus office) will create an agreement with you called a ‘Claimant Commitment’.

You must agree to your Claimant Commitment (an agreement with you called a ‘Claimant Commitment’) before you can get ‘new style’ ESA (ESA).

At the appointment (an appointment that you must attend), you’ll be asked to:

explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work

provide medical evidence

agree to tell your local Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change

If you’re not eligible

DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will send you a letter within 10 working days of applying to explain why you’re not eligible for ESA.

If you disagree with a decision

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

Reapplying for ESA

You may be able to reapply after your ‘new style’ ESA (your claim) ends. You may qualify again depending on:

what National Insurance contributions you paid in the last 2 full tax years before the tax year you’re claiming in

whether you’re placed in the support group because you developed a new condition or your health deteriorated

Your ESA claim (your claim)

After you’ve made your claim, you’ll be told if you need to have a ‘Work Capability Assessment’ and what group you’ll be put in.

Work Capability Assessment

A Work Capability Assessment is used to find out if your illness or disability affects how much you can work.

You might not need one, for example if you’re in hospital or you have a terminal illness.

If you need a Work Capability Assessment you’ll get a letter telling you to fill in the ‘Capability for work questionnaire’ and send it to the Health Assessment Advisory Service. The address is on the form. The questionnaire is different in Northern Ireland.

You’ll be told what happens next, for example if you need an appointment to understand your health condition better.

If you’re claiming both Universal Credit and ‘new style’ ESA, you’ll only have one Work Capability Assessment.

You can ask for your assessment (one Work Capability Assessment) to be recorded. If you would like this, tell the Health Assessment Advisory Service using the contact details in your appointment invite letter.

How the assessment happens

Assessments can be in person, by video call or on the phone. You’ll be told how your assessment (one Work Capability Assessment) will take place.

If you’re asked to attend in person you’ll be told how to do this safely because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You can bring one adult from your household with you.

If your assessment is by phone or video call, you can have someone else with you, for example a friend or support worker. You can ask the assessor to call them if they’re not with you when the assessment starts.

You’ll stay on the ‘assessment rate’ until a decision can be made on your Work Capability Assessment.

After your claim is assessed

If you’re entitled to ESA you’ll be placed in one of 2 groups:

a work-related activity group (you cannot work now, but can prepare to work in the future, for example by writing a CV)

a support group (you cannot work now and you’re not expected to prepare for work in the future)

If you’re in the work-related activity group

You must attend regular interviews with a work coach. They can help you improve your skills or write a CV to help you get back into work.

If you’re in the support group

You’re usually in this group (the support group) if your illness or disability severely limits what you can do. You do not have to go to interviews. You can tell your work coach if you’d like to take part in work-related activities.

How long you’ll get ESA for

‘New style’ and contribution-based ESA last for 365 days if you’re in the work-related activity group.

There’s no time limit if you’re in the support group, or if you’re getting income-related ESA.

To keep getting ESA you must report any change in your circumstances. You may also need to send fit notes regularly.

If you get a sanction

Your ESA can be reduced if you do not attend interviews or do work-related activity as agreed with your work coach in your ‘Claimant Commitment’. This reduction can continue for up to 4 weeks after you restart work-related activities.

You’ll get a letter to say you may be sanctioned. Tell your work coach if you have a good reason for not doing what was agreed in your Claimant Commitment (your ‘Claimant Commitment’).

You’ll get another letter if the decision is made to give you a sanction. Your benefit will only be affected once a decision has been made.

You should contact your local council immediately if you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. They’ll tell you what to do to continue getting support.

If you get a sanction you can:

ask for the decision to be looked at again

ask for a hardship payment

You will not get a sanction if you’re in the support group.

Hardship payments

If you get income-related ESA, you may be able to get a hardship payment if your benefit has been reduced because of a sanction or a penalty due to suspected benefit fraud.

A hardship payment is a reduced amount of your ESA. You do not have to pay it back.

You can get a hardship payment if you cannot pay for rent, heating, food or other basic needs for you or your family. You must be 18 or over.

Speak to your Jobcentre Plus adviser or work coach to find out how to claim a hardship payment.

Report a change of circumstances

You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away.

A change of circumstance (a change of circumstances) can include:

starting or stopping work, education, training or an apprenticeship

moving house

changing your name

people moving into or out of the place you live (for example your partner or a child)

changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets

changes to your pension, savings, investments or property

changes to other money you get (for example student loans or grants, sick pay or money you get from a charity)

changing your doctor

any changes to your medical condition or disability

going into hospital or a care home or sheltered accommodation

going abroad for any length of time

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

Call Jobcentre Plus if you’re not sure whether you need to report a change.

You may be prosecuted or have to pay a £50 penalty if you give wrong or incomplete information.

If you’ve been paid too much

If you give wrong or incomplete information or do not report a change straight away, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back.

How to report

You can report a change of circumstances by:

calling Jobcentre Plus

writing to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your ESA - the address is on the letters you get about your ESA

If you get Universal Credit at the same time as ‘new style’ ESA, you must also report the changes of circumstances in your Universal Credit account.

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

Watch a video to check you can use the service (British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service)

Go to the video relay service (British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service)

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

If you’re in Northern Ireland contact the ESA Centre.


Sure Start Maternity Grant

Overview

You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This is known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

If you live in Scotland you cannot get a Sure Start Maternity Grant. You can apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead.

You usually qualify for the grant (a Sure Start Maternity Grant) if both of the following apply:

you’re expecting your first child, or you’re expecting a multiple birth (such as twins) and have children already

you or your partner already get certain benefits

You must claim the grant (a Sure Start Maternity Grant) within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within 6 months after the baby’s birth.

You do not have to pay the grant (a Sure Start Maternity Grant) back and it (a Sure Start Maternity Grant) will not affect your other benefits or tax credits.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

What you'll get

A Sure Start Maternity Grant is £500 and you do not have to pay it back.

You may not get a grant if you already have children.

If you already have children under 16

You can only get a grant if at least one of the following applies:

you’ve been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection and you have a child or children from before you arrived in the UK

Children under 16 | Grant if you have twins | Grant if you have triplets

You have 1 or more (and none of them are from multiple births) | £500 | £1,000

You’ve already had twins | £0 | £500

You’ve already had triplets | £0 | £0

How you’re paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Eligibility

Usually, to qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant there must be no other children in your family. You or your partner must also get one of these benefits:

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element

Universal Credit

You may also qualify if you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

If you already have children under 16

You may still be able to get a grant if any of the following apply:

the child you’re caring for is someone else’s (but not your partner’s) and the child was over 12 months old when the arrangement started

You must claim by the deadline.

If you’re not giving birth

You may also be able to get a grant if you’re adopting or becoming a surrogate parent.

The baby (the child you’re caring for) must be less than 1 year old on the date you claim. You must be receiving one of the benefits above and one of the following must also apply:

you’ve become responsible for the baby (the child you’re caring for) and you’re not the mother

the baby (the child you’re caring for) has been placed with you for adoption

you’ve got permission to adopt a baby from abroad

you’ve got a parental order for a surrogate birth

you’ve been appointed as guardian

you’ve an adoption or a residence order

How to claim

You can claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due. The latest you can claim is 6 months after your baby is born.

If you’re becoming responsible for a child, you must claim within 6 months of this happening.

Claim by post

Print out and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.

Get a health professional such as a doctor or midwife to fill in the statement on page 10 of the form (the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form). You can send your form (the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form) without this statement if necessary to meet the deadline. If you do this, you’ll be contacted about arranging the statement at a later date.

Post the form (the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form) to ‘Freepost DWP SSMG’ - you do not need a postcode or a stamp.

There’s a different form and postal address if you live in Northern Ireland.

You’ll get a letter telling you if your claim was successful.

If you get Universal Credit, you will not get a decision on your claim until after your next payment.

Get help with your claim

Call the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline.

You can also contact Jobcentre Plus.

Alternative formats

Call the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

If you disagree with a decision

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


Unpaid parental leave

Overview

Eligible employees can take unpaid parental leave to look after their child’s welfare, for example to:

spend more time with their children

look at new schools

settle children into new childcare arrangements

spend more time with family, such as visiting grandparents

Their employment rights (like the right to pay, holidays and returning to a job) are protected during parental leave.

Entitlement

Parental leave is unpaid. You’re entitled to 18 weeks’ leave for each child and adopted child, up to their 18th birthday.

The limit on how much parental leave each parent can take in a year is 4 weeks for each child (unless the employer agrees otherwise).

You must take parental leave as whole weeks (eg 1 week or 2 weeks) rather than individual days, unless your employer agrees otherwise or if your child is disabled. You don’t have to take all the leave at once.

A ‘week’ equals the length of time an employee normally works over 7 days.

Carrying leave over from a previous job

Parental leave applies to each child not to an individual’s job.

Eligibility

Employees qualify if all of these apply:

they’ve been in the company for more than a year

they’re named on the child’s birth or adoption certificate or they have or expect to have parental responsibility

they’re not self-employed or a ‘worker’, eg an agency worker or contractor

they’re not a foster parent (unless they’ve secured parental responsibility through the courts)

the child is under 18

Employers can ask for proof (like a birth certificate) as long as it’s reasonable to do so, eg they can’t ask for proof each time an employee requests leave.

Employers can extend parental leave to those groups who aren’t eligible. Employees can check this in their staff handbook.

Notice period

Employees must give 21 days’ notice before their intended start date. If they or their partner are having a baby or adopting, it’s 21 days before the week the baby or child is expected.

Employees must confirm the start and end dates in their notice. Unless an employer requests it, this doesn’t have to be in writing.

Delaying leave

Leave can’t be postponed (delayed) if:

the employer (an employer) doesn’t have a ‘significant reason’, eg it would cause serious disruption to the business

it’s being taken by the father or partner immediately after the birth or adoption of a child

it means an employee would no longer qualify for parental leave, eg postponing it until after the child’s (the child) 18th birthday

If it’s postponed, the employer:

must write explaining why within 7 days of the original request

suggest a new start date - this must be within 6 months of the requested start date (their intended start date)

can’t change the amount of leave being requested