Working Tax Credit

Eligibility

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

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

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

Hours you work

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

Circumstance | Hours a week

Aged 25 to 59 | At least 30 hours

Aged 60 or over | At least 16 hours

Disabled | At least 16 hours

Single with 1 or more children | At least 16 hours

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

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

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

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

Exceptions for couples with at least one child

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

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

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

What counts as work

Your work can be:

for someone else, as a worker or employee

as someone who’s self-employed

a mixture of the two

If you’re self-employed

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

This means you may not qualify if you do not:

make a profit or have clear plans to make one

work regularly

keep business records, such as receipts and invoices

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

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

business records

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

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

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

Your pay

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

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

Exceptions

Paid work does not include money paid:

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

for work done while in prison

as a grant for training or studying

as a sports award

Your income

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

What you'll get

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

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

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

Element | Amount

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How you’re paid

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

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

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

If your circumstances change

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

You must report these changes to HM Revenue and Customs.

How to claim

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

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

Leave and gaps in your employment

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

go on maternity leave

get sick pay

are in between jobs

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

If you do not return to work at the end of the period (a certain period of time) contact HM Revenue and Customs.

Circumstance | Period you get tax credits for

You lose or leave your job | For 4 weeks

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

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

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

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

You’re off sick | For the first 28 weeks

You’re on strike | For the first 10 days

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

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

Qualifying rules

To qualify, you must:

have been in paid work

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

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

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

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


Winter Fuel Payment

Overview

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

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

get the State Pension

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

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

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

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

When you’ll be paid

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

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

Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.

Winter Fuel Payments are different to Cold Weather Payments.

Eligibility

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

you were born on or before 5 October 1954

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

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week (the week of 21 to 27 September 2020), you might still get the payment (a Winter Fuel Payment) if both the following apply:

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

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

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

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

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

When you will not qualify

You will not qualify if you:

are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year

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

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

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

How much you'll get

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you get certain benefits

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

Pension Credit

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Income Support

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

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

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

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

When you’ll get paid

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

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

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

How to claim

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

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

you do not get benefits or a State Pension

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

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

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

deferred your State Pension

moved to Switzerland or an EEA country

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

If you need to claim

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

Claim for the first time by phone

Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone.

You will need to know:

your National Insurance number

your bank or building society details

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

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

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

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

in hospital getting free in-patient treatment

in a residential care home or Ilford Park Resettlement Home

in prison

Claim for the first time by post

The claim form you need depends on where you live.

Winter Fuel Payment claim form (The claim form you need) if you live in the UK

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

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

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

If you disagree with a decision

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

Report a change or cancel your payment

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

need to report a change of circumstances

need to change your address or personal details

want to cancel future payments

want to return a payment

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

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

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

did not report a change straight away

gave wrong information

were overpaid by mistake

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


Benefit cap

Benefits affected by the cap

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The benefit cap (the cap) affects:

Universal Credit

Bereavement Allowance

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit

Employment and Support Allowance

Housing Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Income Support

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Maternity Allowance

Severe Disablement Allowance

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

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

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

When you're not affected

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

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

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

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

get Universal Credit because you care for someone with a disability

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

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

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Attendance Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

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

Guardian’s Allowance

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

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

War pensions

War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension

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

When the benefit cap (the cap) affects your Universal Credit payments

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

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

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

you’re now earning less than £617 a month

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

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

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

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

How the 9 month grace period works

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

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

the day after the last day you worked

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

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

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

Help if you're affected by the benefit cap (the cap)

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

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

If you get Universal Credit

Contact DWP (the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) either:

through the journal in your online account

by calling the Universal Credit helpline

If you get any other benefits

Benefit cap amounts

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

you live inside or outside Greater London

you’re single or in a couple

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

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

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

Outside Greater London

The benefit cap outside Greater London is:

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

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

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

Inside Greater London

The benefit cap inside Greater London is:

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

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

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


Benefit overpayments

Overview

Tell the office dealing with your benefit straight away if:

you think you’re being overpaid

your circumstances change

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

There’s a different process for tax credits overpayment.

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

If you’ve been overpaid Universal Credit

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

When the benefit office (the office dealing with your benefit) will contact you

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

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

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

When repayments have to be made

You may have to pay the money (Housing Benefit paid directly to your landlord) back if you’ve been overpaid. For example, if:

the information you gave was wrong

you did not report a change in your circumstances straight away

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

a mistake was made with your payment

Find out how to make repayments.

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

Repayments when someone has died

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

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

had more savings than they (the person who died) declared in their (the person who died) benefit claim

had not declared an income

was in hospital or a nursing home and had not told DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP))

If you’re dealing with the estate (a person’s estate), DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will write to you once probate has been granted to ask for the information they (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) need.

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

What you need to do

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

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

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

If there has been an overpayment

DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will write to you asking for the money back from the estate (a person’s estate). They (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will tell you how any overpayment has been worked out and explain why it happened. They (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will also tell you how to pay.

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

You can also write to them (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)):

If you’re in England and Wales

If you’re in Scotland

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

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

You can do this (ask) if you:

think DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) made an error or missed important evidence

disagree with the reasons for the decision (the overpayment decision)

want to have the decision (the overpayment decision) looked at again

Payments made after death

If the overpayment happened because the payment arrived before DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) were told about the death, DWP Debt Management (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) will contact:

the deceased’s next of kin

the bank the benefit was paid in to

whoever is handling the estate

How to make a repayment

How you pay back the overpayment depends on:

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

whether you still receive benefits

Start making repayments if you’re still receiving benefits

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

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

Start making repayments if you no longer receive benefits

If you no longer receive benefits, you need to pay back the overpayment to DWP Debt Management (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)). You’ll get a letter telling you how much you need to repay.

If you cannot pay the debt in full, contact DWP Debt Management (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) to arrange a payment plan.

Online banking

Use DWP’s (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) bank account details to pay, quoting the reference number shown on your letter or your National Insurance number.

Account name | Sort code | Account number

DWP Debt Management (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) | 60 70 80 | 10025634

Overseas accounts

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

Account name | IBAN | BIC

DWP Debt Management (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) | GB30NWBK60708010025634 | NWBKGB2L

Direct Debit, card, cheques and cash

Contact the DWP Debt Management contact centre to:

set up monthly repayments by Direct Debit

make a payment using a debit card

request a paying-in slip for cheque or cash payments

If you do not pay back the money

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

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

If your case is passed to a debt collector, the letter (a letter to tell you about this) will be from one of the following debt collection agencies:

Advantis

BPO Collections

CCS Collect

Moorcroft

Past Due Credit

Resolve Call

Shakespeare Martineau

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


Pension Credit

Overview

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.

Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension.

You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

This guide covers Pension Credit in England, Scotland and Wales. Find out about Pension Credit in Northern Ireland.

Other help if you get Pension Credit

If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:

Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in

Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in (the property you live)

Council Tax Reduction

a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over

help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments

help with your heating costs

Eligibility

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales (England, Scotland and Wales) and have reached State Pension age to qualify for Pension Credit.

Find out about Pension Credit in Northern Ireland.

If you have a partner

You must include your partner on your application.

You’ll be eligible if either:

you and your partner have both reached State Pension age

one of you is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age

A partner is either:

your husband, wife or civil partner - if you live with them

someone you live with as a couple, without being married or in a civil partnership

Your income

When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together.

Pension Credit tops up:

your weekly income to £177.10 if you’re single

your joint weekly income to £270.30 if you have a partner

If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.

What counts as income

Your income includes:

State Pension

other pensions

earnings from employment and self-employment

most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance

What does not count as income

Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted:

Attendance Allowance

Christmas Bonus

Child Benefit

Disability Living Allowance

Personal Independence Payment

social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance

Housing Benefit

Council Tax Reduction

If you’ve deferred your pension

If you’re entitled to a personal or workplace pension and you have not claimed it yet, the amount you’d expect to get still counts as income.

If you’ve deferred your State Pension, the amount of State Pension you would get is counted as income.

You cannot build up extra amounts for deferring your State Pension if you or your partner are getting Pension Credit.

Your savings and investments

If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit.

If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.

Contact the Pension Service helpline if your circumstances change.

What you'll get

Pension Credit tops up:

You may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs.

The top up and extra amounts are known as ‘Guarantee Credit’.

If you have a severe disability

You could get an extra £67.30 a week if you get any of the following:

Attendance Allowance

the middle or highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Armed Forces Independence Payment

If you care for another adult

You could get an extra £37.70 a week if:

you get Carer’s Allowance

you’ve claimed Carer’s Allowance but are not being paid because you already get another benefit paying a higher amount

If you and your partner have both claimed or are getting Carer’s Allowance, you can both get this extra amount (an extra £37.70 a week).

If you’re responsible for children or young people

You could get an extra £54.60 a week for each child or young person you’re responsible for. This is increased to £65.10 a week for the first child if they were born before 6 April 2017.

The child or young person (the first child) must normally live with you and be under the age of 20.

If they (the first child)’re 16 or over and under 20, they (the first child) must be in (or accepted for):

approved training, such as Foundation Apprenticeships

a course of non-advanced education (for example, they (the first child)’re studying for GCSEs or A levels)

If they (the first child)’re in education, it must be for more than 12 hours a week on average.

If you get Tax Credits, you cannot get this extra amount of Pension Credit for caring for a child. But you might be eligible for Child Tax Credits.

If the child or young person (the first child) is disabled

If the child or young person (the first child) is disabled, you could also get an extra amount of either:

£29.66 a week if they (the first child) get DLA or PIP

£92.54 a week if they (the first child)’re blind or they (the first child) get the highest rate care component of DLA, or the enhanced daily living component of PIP

If you have housing costs

You could get an extra amount to cover your housing costs, such as:

ground rent if your property is a leasehold

some service charges

charges for tents and site rents

The amount you could get depends on your housing costs.

If you get Pension Credit, you could also be eligible for:

Council Tax Reduction

Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in

Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in

If you have savings or a second pension

You could get the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit if both of the following apply:

you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016

you saved some money for retirement, for example a personal or workplace pension

You’ll get up to £14.04 Savings Credit a week if you’re single. If you have a partner, you’ll get up to £15.71 a week.

You might still get some Savings Credit even if you do not get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.

Other help if you get Pension Credit

If you get Pension Credit you’ll automatically get cold weather payments.

You’ll also be eligible to:

get help with NHS costs, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments

apply for a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over

Find out how much you could get

Use the Pension Credit calculator to work out how much you might get.

Contact the Pension Service helpline if you’re not sure whether you’re eligible for extra amounts.

How you’re paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, for example a bank account.

How to claim

You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age.

You can apply any time after you reach State Pension age but your application can only be backdated by 3 months. This means you can get up to 3 months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

Information you’ll need

You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:

National Insurance number

information about any income, savings and investments you have

information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age)

You’ll also need your bank account details if you’re applying by phone or by post.

Apply online

You can use the online service if:

you have already claimed your State Pension

there are no children or young people included in your application

Apply now

Apply by phone

A friend or family member can call for you if you cannot use the phone.

Apply by post

To apply by post, print out and fill in the Pension Credit claim form or call the claim line to request a form.

Send the claim form (the Pension Credit claim form) to the Pension Service, or ask someone to do it (the Pension Credit claim form) for you.

Contact a voluntary organisation like Citizens Advice or Age UK if you need help with the form (the Pension Credit claim form).

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your Pension Credit application. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

Report a change of circumstances

You need to report changes to you and your partner’s personal and financial circumstances.

Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away. Some changes will increase the amount of Pension Credit you could get.

Changes to your personal circumstances

A change of personal circumstances can include:

moving to a new address

starting or stopping living with a partner

the death of a partner who is named on your claim

starting or stopping work

going into hospital or a care home

people moving in or out of your house

changing your name

switching your bank account

changes to your Post Office card account

leaving England, Scotland and Wales for any period (for example, going on holiday)

you start or stop looking after a child or young person under the age of 20

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

Changes to your financial circumstances

You also need to report if your income or expenses change. This can include changes to:

housing costs, for example ground rent or service charges

benefits that anyone living in your home gets - including getting a new benefit or a benefit being stopped

occupational or personal pensions - including if you start to get a new pension or take a lump sum out of your pension pot

other income, for example foreign pensions or Working Tax Credits

savings, investments or property

Call the Pension Credit helpline if you’re not sure if you need to report a change.

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

How to report a change

You can also report by post. The address is on the letters you get about your Pension Credit.

Living with a partner under State Pension age

You will stop getting Pension Credit if you start living with a partner who is under State Pension age. You can start getting it again when your partner reaches State Pension age.

If you were living with a partner under State Pension age before 15 May 2019 and getting Pension Credit, you’ll keep getting it unless you stop being eligible. If this happens, you usually won’t be able to get Pension Credit again until you and your partner are both eligible.

If you cannot get Pension Credit, you might be entitled to Universal Credit instead, but you and your partner (a partner who is under State Pension age) cannot get both at the same time. If one of you starts getting Universal Credit you’ll stop being eligible for Pension Credit.

If you have an Assessed Income Period (AIP)

An AIP is a period of time when you do not have to report changes to your pensions, savings or investments.

If you have an AIP you must still report all other changes to your personal circumstances.

Your Pension Credit award letter will tell you if you have an AIP. You may have one if you’re aged 75 or over and you started getting Pension Credit before 6 April 2016.

Your AIP (an Assessed Income Period (AIP) will end if your household circumstances change, for example if you move into a care home or if you become a member of a couple.

You’ll get a letter saying your AIP (an Assessed Income Period (AIP) has ended. From then on, you must report all changes to your circumstances, including changes to your pensions, savings or investments.

Call the Pension Service helpline if you’re not sure if you need to report a change.

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

did not report a change straight away

gave wrong information

were overpaid by mistake

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


Budgeting Loans

How they work

A Budgeting Loan can help pay for:

furniture or household items (for example, washing machines or other ‘white goods’)

clothes or footwear

rent in advance

costs linked to moving house

maintenance, improvements or security for your home

travelling costs within the UK

costs linked to getting a new job

maternity costs

funeral costs

repaying hire purchase loans

repaying loans taken for the above items

Crisis Loans are not available any more.

You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for 6 months.

You only have to pay back the amount you borrow, and repayments are taken automatically from your benefits.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Check if you're eligible

To get a Budgeting Loan you must have been getting one or more of these benefits (certain benefits) for the past 6 months:

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Pension Credit

If you moved from Universal Credit to Pension Credit, any time spent claiming Universal Credit will count towards the 6 months.

You cannot get a Budgeting Loan if:

you are currently claiming Universal Credit - apply for a Budgeting Advance instead

you’re involved in industrial action (for example, a strike, walkout or lockout)

you owe more than £1,500 in total for Crisis Loans and Budgeting Loans

If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Budgeting Loans in Northern Ireland.

What you could get

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

£348 if you’re single

£464 if you have a partner

£812 if you or your partner claim Child Benefit

How much you could get depends on whether you:

can pay the loan back

have savings of more than £1,000 (£2,000 if you or your partner are 63 or over)

are paying back an existing Budgeting Loan or Crisis Loan

Paying back the loan

A Budgeting Loan is interest free so you only pay back what you borrow.

The repayments will be taken automatically from your benefits. The amount you repay is based on your income - including any benefits you receive - and what you can afford.

After you apply for a Budgeting Loan, you’ll get an email, text or letter telling you if you’ve been offered a loan. This explains how much your weekly repayments will be if you accept the loan.

You normally have to repay the loan (a loan) within 2 years (104 weeks). If you stop getting benefits, you’ll need to arrange another way to repay.

Apply

Check you’re eligible before you apply.

If you get Universal Credit you cannot get a Budgeting Loan. You’ll need to apply for a Budgeting Advance instead.

You can apply online or using the paper form. It’s quicker to apply online.

Apply online

When you apply online, you can choose to get a decision on your loan by either:

email

text message

letter

It’s quicker to get the decision (a decision on your loan) by email or text message and accept it (a decision on your loan) online.

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

Apply online

Apply using the paper form

You will need to fill in form SF500. You can:

download and print the form (form SF500)

phone the Social Fund Enquiry Line and ask for a form to be posted to you - allow 7 days for the form (form SF500) to arrive

Return your completed form by post.

After you apply

After you apply you will be given a decision on your application. You need to accept the decision (a decision on your loan) before you get your money.

If you apply online

You’ll find out if you’ve been offered a loan within:

7 days if you get the decision (a decision on your loan) by text or email

21 days if you get the decision (a decision on your loan) by letter

If you apply by post

You’ll get a letter telling you if you’ve been offered a loan within 21 days.

Accepting the loan (a loan)

How you accept the loan (a loan) depends on how you applied.

Accept online

You can accept the loan offer online by following the instructions in the text or email.

Accept by post

You can accept by signing page 4 of the acceptance letter and returning it in the pre-paid envelope provided. Make sure the reply slip is folded so that the return address is fully visible in the envelope window.

Return it (the reply slip) to the address on the letter (the acceptance letter). Do not send it (the acceptance letter) to your local Jobcentre Plus office as this may delay getting your loan.

Getting your money

You’ll get your money within:

7 days of accepting the loan offer online

21 days of your loan offer acceptance being received by post

The money (your money) will be paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

You’ll get a text message confirming this (paid) has been done.

Questions about your application

Call the Social Fund Enquiry Line if you have a question about the progress of your application.

You should wait:

14 days before phoning if you applied online

21 days before phoning if you applied by post

Your application may not have been processed before then.

Other help you can get

You may be able to get other kinds of support, including:

help from your local council and Jobcentre (Jobcentre Plus) Plus

the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales

a Crisis Grant or Community Care Grant in Scotland

Discretionary Support or a Short-term Benefit Advance in Northern Ireland


Maternity Allowance

Overview

Maternity Allowance is usually paid to you if you do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay.

The amount you can get depends on your eligibility.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You can claim Maternity Allowance as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start 11 weeks before your baby is due.

Any money you get can affect your other benefits.

What you'll get

You could get either:

£151.97 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for 39 weeks

£27 a week for 39 weeks

£27 a week for 14 weeks

Maternity Allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks.

You can claim Maternity Allowance once you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start 11 weeks before your baby is due.

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

How you’re paid

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

Impact on other benefits

Maternity Allowance will not affect your tax credits but it (Maternity Allowance) will affect how much you get for:

Council Tax Reduction

Housing Benefit

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Income Support

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) - this will stop if you get Maternity Allowance

bereavement benefits

Carer’s Allowance

Universal Credit

The benefit cap

The benefit cap limits the total amount of benefit you can get. It (The benefit cap) applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.

Some individual benefits are not affected, but it (The benefit cap) may affect the total amount of benefit you get.

Eligibility

You can use the maternity entitlement calculator to check your eligibility.

Maternity Allowance for 39 weeks

You might get Maternity Allowance for 39 weeks if one of the following applies:

you’re employed, but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay

you’re self-employed

you’ve recently stopped working

In the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you must also have been:

employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks

earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks - the weeks do not have to be together

You may still qualify if you’ve recently stopped working. It does not matter if you had different jobs or periods of unemployment.

If you usually earn £30 or more a week and only earned less in some weeks because you were paid but not working (‘on furlough’) under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, you may still be eligible. You must give details in your claim form.

If you’re self-employed

To get the full amount of Maternity Allowance, you must have paid Class 2 National Insurance for at least 13 of the 66 weeks before your baby’s due.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will check if you’ve paid enough when you make your claim. They’ll write to you if you have not.

If you have not paid enough Class 2 National Insurance to get the full rate (£151.97 a week), you’ll get £27 a week for 39 weeks. You still need to meet all the other eligibility criteria to get this amount (the full amount of Maternity Allowance).

You may be able to get the full rate (the full amount of Maternity Allowance) by making early National Insurance payments. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will send you a letter to tell you how.

You’ll need to pay using the reference number in the letter (a letter) to get the full rate (the full amount of Maternity Allowance), even if you’ve recently made a payment through Self Assessment.

Maternity Allowance for 14 weeks

You might get Maternity Allowance for 14 weeks if for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due:

you’re married or in a civil partnership

you’re not employed or self-employed

you take part in the business of your self-employed spouse or civil partner

the work you do is for the business and unpaid

your spouse or civil partner (your self-employed spouse or civil partner) is registered as self-employed with HMRC (Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) and should pay Class 2 National Insurance

your spouse or civil partner (your self-employed spouse or civil partner) is working as self-employed person

you’re not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay or the higher amount of Maternity Allowance (for the same pregnancy)

If you lose the baby

You may still qualify if the baby is either:

stillborn from the start of the 24th week of pregnancy

born alive at any point during the pregnancy

Change of circumstances

Report any changes to your circumstances to your local Jobcentre Plus as they can affect how much you get. For example, if you go back to work.

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

did not report a change straight away

gave wrong information

were overpaid by mistake

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

How to claim

You’ll need a Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form. You can either:

print it (a Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form) and fill it (a Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form) in

fill it (a Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form) in online and print it (a Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form)

order a form if you cannot print it

The form (a form) has notes to help you fill it (a form) in.

Send it (a form) to the address on the form (a form).

If you’ve arranged to pay your Self Assessment tax and National Insurance bill in instalments because of coronavirus (COVID-19), your application might be rejected. Contact HMRC before applying for Maternity Allowance.

Alternative formats

Call Jobcentre Plus to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

What to send with your claim form

You need to provide:

proof of your income, such as original payslips or a Certificate of Small Earnings Exemption (if applicable for the 2014 to 2015 tax year)

proof of the baby’s due date, such as a letter from the doctor or midwife or your MATB1 certificate

your SMP1 form - only if you were refused Statutory Maternity Pay by your employer

If your proof of income includes times you were paid but not working (‘on furlough’) under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, mention this in the ‘additional information’ section of your form (your claim form). Include the dates that you were on the scheme and how much (as a percentage) of your normal pay you were actually paid.

You may need to give more information about your partner’s self-employed business and what you do if you’re applying for Maternity Allowance for 14 weeks.

When you’ll hear about your claim (your claim form)

You should get a decision on your claim (your claim form) within 20 working days.

If you’re eligible, a form will be sent to you confirming your entitlement and asking you to confirm your last day of employment before leave.

If you disagree with a decision

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


Adoption pay and leave

Overview

When you take time off to adopt a child or have a child through a surrogacy arrangement you might be eligible for:

Statutory Adoption Leave

Statutory Adoption Pay

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

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

Your employment rights when on leave

Your employment rights are protected while on Statutory Adoption Leave. This (Statutory Adoption Leave) includes your right to:

pay rises

build up (accrue) holiday

return to work

Leave

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

26 weeks of Ordinary Adoption Leave

26 weeks of Additional Adoption Leave

Only 1 person in a couple can take adoption leave. The other partner could get paternity leave instead.

If you get adoption leave, you can also get paid time off work to attend 5 adoption appointments after you’ve been matched with a child.

Use the planner to work out the dates for your adoption leave (your paid leave).

Start date

Adoption leave can start:

up to 14 days before the date the child starts living with you (UK adoptions)

when the child arrives in the UK or within 28 days of this date (overseas adoptions)

the day the child’s born or the day after (if you’ve used a surrogate to have a child)

Change your dates

You must tell your employer within 28 days if the date of placement (or UK arrival date for overseas adoptions) changes.

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

Pay

Statutory Adoption Pay is paid for up to 39 weeks. The weekly amount is:

90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks

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

It (Statutory Adoption Pay)’s paid in the same way as your wages (for example monthly or weekly). Tax and National Insurance will be deducted.

Extra pay

You may get more pay if your employer has a company adoption pay scheme. Your employer cannot offer you less than the statutory amount.

Start date

Statutory Adoption Pay starts when you take your adoption leave (your paid leave).

Problems and disputes

If you disagree with the amount of Statutory Adoption Pay you get or your employer cannot pay it, for example because they’re insolvent, contact the Statutory Payment Disputes Team.

Eligibility

There are different eligibility rules for leave and pay.

Adoption leave

To get Statutory Adoption Leave (your paid leave), you must:

be an employee

give the correct notice

give proof of the adoption or surrogacy, if your employer asks you for it

Leave if you’re adopting a child from overseas

You must also sign form SC6 if you’re adopting from overseas with a partner. This confirms you’re not taking paternity leave or pay.

Adoption pay

To get Statutory Adoption Pay, you must:

have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks by the week you were matched with a child

earn on average at least £120 a week (before tax)

give the correct notice

give proof of the adoption or surrogacy

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

Pay if you’re adopting a child from overseas

The requirements are the same if you’re adopting from overseas, except you must have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks when you start getting adoption pay.

Pay if you’re in a surrogacy arrangement

The requirements are the same if you’re in a surrogacy arrangement, except you must have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby’s due.

You must also:

intend to apply for a parental order

expect the order (a parental order) to be granted (for example because you do not have any convictions involving children, and the birth mother or father agree to the arrangement)

If you’re genetically related to the child (the egg or sperm donor), you can choose to get paternity leave and pay instead. You cannot get both.

You’re fostering for adoption

If you’re eligible for adoption pay and leave, you’ll receive them from when the child comes to live with you.

Exceptions

You do not qualify for Statutory Adoption Leave or Pay if you:

arrange a private adoption

become a special guardian or kinship carer

adopt a stepchild

adopt a family member

If you’re not eligible

Your employer must give you form SAP1 explaining why you cannot get Statutory Adoption Pay.

You may get support from your local council instead, if you’re adopting a child.

How to claim

The rules are slightly different if you’re adopting from overseas or you’re having a child through a surrogacy arrangement.

Statutory Adoption Leave

Within 7 days of being matched with a child you must tell your employer:

how much leave you want

your leave start date

the ‘date of placement’ - the date the child (a child) is placed with you

Your employer can ask for this in writing and for proof of the adoption.

Your employer must confirm your leave start and end dates within 28 days.

Use the planner to work out when you must claim your adoption leave.

Statutory Adoption Pay

Tell your employer you want to stop work to adopt a child and when you want your Statutory Adoption Pay (Statutory Adoption Pay) to start. You must give them (your employer) at least 28 days’ notice. They (your employer) can ask for this in writing and for proof of the adoption.

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

If they (your employer) decide you’re not eligible, they (your employer) must give you form SAP1 within 7 days of making their (your employer) decision and explain why.

Proof of adoption

You must give your employer proof of adoption to qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay. Proof is not needed for Statutory Adoption Leave unless they (your employer) request it.

The proof (proof of adoption) must show:

your name and address and that of the agency

the match date - for example the matching certificate

the date of placement - for example a letter from the agency

the relevant UK authority’s ‘official notification’ confirming you’re allowed to adopt (overseas adoptions only)

the date the child arrived in the UK - for example a plane ticket (overseas adoptions only)

Overseas adoptions

Tell your employer the date of your ‘official notification’ and when you expect the child to arrive in the UK. You must usually do this within 28 days of getting the notification.

You can only take longer if you’ve worked for your employer for less than 26 weeks. Tell them (your employer) within 28 days of the Sunday in your 26th week.

You must also tell them (your employer):

the actual date the child arrives in the UK - within 28 days of this date

how much leave you want and your start date - giving your employer 28 days’ notice

Surrogacy arrangements

If you use a surrogate to have a baby, tell your employer the due date and when you want to start your leave at least 15 weeks before the expected week of birth. They (your employer) may ask for this in writing.

Your employer may also ask for a written statement (‘statutory declaration’) to confirm you’ve applied or will apply for a parental order in the 6 months after the child’s (the child) birth. You must sign this in the presence of a legal professional.


Making a child maintenance arrangement

Overview

Child maintenance is an arrangement between you and the other parent of your child. It covers how your child’s living costs will be paid for when one of the parents no longer lives with them. It’s made when you’ve separated from the other parent (or if you’ve never been in a relationship).

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Both parents are responsible for the costs of raising their children, even if they do not see them. Making agreements about access to your children happens separately.

Child maintenance can be either:

a private arrangement between you and the other parent (one of the parents)

made through the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme

You need to have child maintenance arrangements for children under 16 (or under 20 if they (your child’s)’re in approved education or training). If you make a private arrangement you can continue paying after then.

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse or controlling behaviour

Domestic abuse includes controlling behaviour. For example:

emotionally controlling or manipulative behaviour

controlling your finances

controlling the way you look after your children

You can use the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) to arrange child maintenance if you do not want to contact the other parent (one of the parents) yourself. They (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) will contact the other parent (one of the parents) for you and you will not need to pay the application fee if you’re experiencing domestic abuse.

How it affects benefits

Child maintenance payments will not affect any benefits that you and your children get. You will not have to pay tax on them.

Your Council Tax Reduction could be affected. Contact your local council to find out if this applies to you.

Making an arrangement for the first time

Talk to the other parent (one of the parents) about making your own arrangements.

If you cannot agree, or you feel at risk talking to the other parent (one of the parents), contact Child Maintenance Options for help and support.

If you decide to use the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme), they (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme)’ll give you a reference number and explain how to apply.

Arrange child maintenance yourself

You can make arrangements for your children if both parents agree. This might cover their living costs and care.

This is a private arrangement where you and the other parent (one of the parents) organise everything yourselves. No one else has to be involved. It’s flexible and can be changed if your circumstances change. For example, you could both agree that one parent:

does school or nursery pick ups

looks after the children in the holidays

pays a proportion of their income to the parent with day to day care

pays for things like housing, school uniform, trips or after school clubs

pays a regular set amount directly to the parent with care (the parent with day to day care)

Working out payments

If you agree to make regular payments, you can use the child maintenance calculator to help you decide how much payments should be.

Get help to make an arrangement

You can search for a local mediator to help you reach agreement about an arrangement.

You can read guidance on:

working out the cost of raising your children

having a conversation about child maintenance

recording your agreement

You can contact Child Maintenance Options for support.

There are different contact details if you live in Northern Ireland.

If your private arrangement stops working

You can search for a local mediator to help you work out child maintenance arrangements.

If you later decide to switch to using the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) you may have to pay an application fee. You will not need to pay the fee if you’ve experienced domestic abuse, you’re under 19 years old or you live in Northern Ireland.

Using the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme)

The Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) is for parents who have not been able to make a private arrangement about how their child’s living costs will be paid. The payments are a fixed amount on a schedule.

Once the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) calculates the maintenance amount, payments are usually managed between parents. The payments are fixed amounts paid on a schedule.

If you use the service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) to collect and transfer payments, you’ll pay a fee each time you make or receive a payment.

The Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) can:

work out child maintenance payment amounts (you can do this yourself with the calculator (the child maintenance calculator))

arrange for the other parent to pay child maintenance and take action if payments are not made

help find the other parent (they (the other parent)’ll need information from you and will not be able to set up a case if they (the other parent) cannot be found)

sort out disagreements about parentage

look at the payments if changes in parents’ circumstances are reported

You can switch to arranging child maintenance yourself later on.

If you’ve experienced domestic abuse or controlling behaviour from your child’s other parent

If you’re worried about your child’s other parent contacting you, tell the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme). You do not need to be in contact with the other parent (your child’s other parent).

Tell the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) if it’s not safe for the other parent (your child’s other parent) to know your location or personal information, for example if you’ve changed your name.

Getting payments without sharing your location

There are ways to get payments from your child’s other parent without sharing your location.

You can ask your bank to set up a ‘non-geographical’ bank account if you do not want the other parent (your child’s other parent) to know your address. Ask the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) to give you a letter to explain why you need it.

You can also set up a pre-payment card which is not connected to a bank account. The paying parent can set up a standing order to your pre-payment card.

Eligibility

Your child needs to be under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training).

You need to live in the UK as your main home and have the right to live here.

You can apply if you’re:

either parent (you do not need to live with the child (your child’s))

a grandparent or other guardian of the child (your child’s)

a child over 12 living in Scotland

If you’re in prison or a full-time student with no income, you do not have to pay child maintenance - there’s no need to apply.

You cannot use this service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) if you have an existing consent order approved by a court that is either less than a year old or made before 3 March 2003.

If one of the parents lives outside the UK

You cannot apply if the child (your child’s) and the parent with main day-to-day care live outside the UK.

The service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) can only help if the paying parent works outside the UK for a British organisation.

Fees

The application fee is £20.

You will not have to pay this (The application fee) if you:

have experienced domestic abuse

are under 19 years old

live in Northern Ireland

How to apply

Contact Child Maintenance Options before you apply.

They (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme)’ll discuss your maintenance arrangements with you, give you a reference number and explain how to apply.

What you’ll need to provide

You’ll need to give information about you and your family, for example:

details about the child you’re applying for - including the full names of their (your child’s) parents

your National Insurance number

your bank account details (tell the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) if it’s not safe to tell the other parent your name, if you’ve changed it, or location)

How your information is used

Your information is used to set up and manage child maintenance payments, and sometimes to try to find the paying parent.

The Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) will share your name and your child’s name with the other parent. They (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) will not share your address.

They (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) may share your contact details with other government organisations, debt collection agencies or the courts. They (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) will not share details of your case.

If the Child Maintenance Service (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) cannot get the information from either parent, they (the Child Maintenance Service - a government scheme) might ask others, for example:

the paying parent’s employer

government organisations like Jobcentre Plus

prison services or local councils

the paying parent’s bank or building society


Childcare Grant

Overview

You may be eligible for help with your childcare costs if you:

are a full-time higher education student

have children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs

The grant:

does not have to be paid back

is paid on top of your other student finance

You must be eligible for student finance to apply for a Childcare Grant.

What you'll get

The amount you’ll get depends on:

your household income

the number of children who are dependent on you

2021 to 2022 academic year

You can get 85% of your childcare costs or a fixed maximum amount, whichever is less.

The maximum you can get is:

up to £179.62 a week for 1 child

up to £307.95 a week for 2 or more children

You have to pay for any remaining costs.

2020 to 2021 academic year

The maximum you can get is:

up to £174.22 a week for 1 child

up to £298.69 a week for 2 or more children

How you’re paid

Your grant will be paid into a Childcare Grant Payment Service (CCGPS) account. You’ll get an email telling you how to set one up.

Your childcare provider will send requests for payment to the CCGPS (Childcare Grant Payment Service), which you can approve through your account (a Childcare Grant Payment Service (CCGPS) account). Your provider will be paid directly from the money in your account (a Childcare Grant Payment Service (CCGPS) account).

Any money that’s left over at the end of the academic year will be returned to Student Finance England.

Income-related, unemployment and housing benefits are not affected by a Childcare Grant.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Childcare Grant all the following must apply:

you’re a full-time student

your child must be under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs

you get undergraduate student finance based on your household income, or are eligible to

you’re not getting a Postgraduate Loan

you’re a permanent resident in England

the children in your grant application are financially dependent on you

your childcare provider is on the Ofsted Early Years Register or General Childcare Register - check with your provider

if your child is cared for at home, the carer cannot be a relative and must be registered with an appropriate body - check with Student Finance England

neither you or your partner are claiming Tax-Free Childcare, the childcare element of working Tax Credit or Universal Credit

neither you or your partner receive help with childcare costs from the National Health Service (NHS)

Childcare Grant isn’t the same as 15 or 30 hours free childcare. You can’t use it (a Childcare Grant) to pay for those hours.

How to apply

To apply for a Childcare Grant follow these steps:

Apply online as part of your main student finance application.

Send in evidence. You’ll be told what evidence you need to provide when you apply.

You’ll be sent a letter telling you how much Childcare Grant you’ll get.

Create an online account with the Childcare Grant Payment Service (CCGPS). You’ll get an email telling you how to set one up. Your grant will be paid into this account.

Use the paper form instead if you:

have already applied for student finance but didn’t apply for a childcare grant at the same time

want to apply for another child

You can download the form (the paper form) from the student finance form finder.

Use your online account (this account) to send the form (the paper form) to Student Finance England, or send it (the paper form) by post.


Parents' Learning Allowance

Overview

You may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you’re a full-time student with children. This is called Parents’ Learning Allowance.

How much you get depends on your household income.

The allowance (Parents’ Learning Allowance):

does not have to be paid back

will not affect your benefits or tax credit

What you'll get

Depending on your household income, in the 2021 to 2022 academic year you could get between £50 and £1,821 a year.

It (Parents’ Learning Allowance)’s usually paid in 3 instalments direct to your bank account, one at the start of each term.

Parents’ Learning Allowance is paid on top of your other student finance and does not have to be paid back.

2020 to 2021 academic year

Full-time students could get up to  £1,766 a year.

Eligibility

If you’re a student from England with dependent children you may qualify if you’re taking:

a full-time undergraduate course

an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course

You do not need to be paying for childcare to qualify.

How to apply

You can apply for the Parents’ Learning Allowance (Parents’ Learning Allowance) when you apply for student finance.

After you apply

After you apply you’ll get a letter telling you how much you can get.


Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Overview

You might get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if you became ill or are disabled because of an accident or disease either:

at work

on an approved employment training scheme or course

The amount you may get depends on your individual circumstances.

Your carer could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.

What you'll get

The level of your disability will affect the amount of benefit you may get. This will be assessed by a ‘medical advisor’ on a scale of 1 to 100%.

Normally you must be assessed as 14% disabled or more to get the benefit (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)).

All amounts are a guide only.

Assessed level of disablement (The level of your disability) | Weekly amount

100% | £182.90

90% | £164.61

80% | £146.32

70% | £128.03

60% | £109.74

50% | £91.45

40% | £73.16

30% | £54.87

20% | £36.58

Eligibility

Accidents

You may be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if:

you were employed when the accident or event happened

you were on an approved employment training scheme or course when the accident or event happened

the work accident or event that caused your illness or disability happened in England, Scotland or Wales

There are some exceptions you can ask your regional Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre about.

Diseases

You can claim IIDB (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)) if you were employed in a job or were on an approved employment training scheme or course that caused your disease. The scheme covers more than 70 diseases, including:

asthma

chronic bronchitis or emphysema - also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

deafness

pneumoconiosis (including silicosis and asbestosis)

osteoarthritis of the knee in coal miners

prescribed disease A11 (previously known as vibration white finger)

Dupuytren’s contracture

The scheme also covers asbestos related diseases including:

pneumoconiosis (asbestosis)

diffuse mesothelioma

primary carcinoma of the lung with asbestosis

primary carcinoma of the lung without asbestosis but where there has been extensive occupational exposure to asbestos in specified occupations

unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening

You can get a full list of illnesses from your regional Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit centre.

You cannot claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you were self-employed.

How to claim

You’ll need to fill in and post a claim form.

The form (a claim form) comes with notes that:

help you fill it (a claim form) in

tell you where to send it (a claim form)

Download and print a claim form

To claim for:

accidents caused by work, use form BI100A

diseases caused by work, use form BI100PD

Request a claim form by phone

You can also ask Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) Centre (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit) to send you a claim form.

Alternative formats

Call to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

After you send your form (a claim form)

Your claim will be assessed using the information provided in your claim form (a claim form), or at a face to face medical assessment.

The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) will contact you if you need a face to face medical assessment. They’ll send you information about what to expect at the appointment. Read the guidance on how to attend your face to face assessment safely because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

You will not need to attend a face to face assessment if you’re terminally ill or you have any of the following diseases:

diffuse mesothelioma

angiosarcoma of the liver due to exposure to vinyl chloride monomer

primary carcinoma of the bronchus or lung through exposure to arsenic

primary carcinoma of the bronchus or lung through exposure to Nickel/Nickel compounds

primary carcinoma of the lung where there is accompanying evidence of asbestosis

primary carcinoma of the lung, through exposure to asbestos

primary carcinoma of the lung, linked to tin and other specified chemicals or work with coke ovens

primary carcinoma of the lung where there is accompanying silicosis

The assessment of your claim may be delayed because of coronavirus (coronavirus (COVID-19)). When your claim is considered, your IIDB payments will be backdated to the date DWP (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit) received your claim form (a claim form).

If you disagree with a decision

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

If your IIDB payments are reviewed

If your IIDB payments were due to be reviewed, they (your IIDB payments) will automatically be extended for 6 months because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You will not have to pay back any IIDB you get.

DWP (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit) will write to you to tell you that your payments (your IIDB payments) are being extended.

If you were given a ‘final award’ and your payments (your IIDB payments) are for a limited time, they (your IIDB payments) will not be extended. If the condition for which you’re getting IIDB has changed, you should report the change to DWP (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit).

Illnesses that may still be reviewed

Your payments (your IIDB payments) may still be reviewed if you are terminally ill or you have any of the following:

diffuse mesothelioma

DWP (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit) will write to you to tell you if your payments (your IIDB payments) will be reviewed.

Report a change in circumstances

You, or the person who claims on your behalf, must tell the office that deals with your payments about any changes to your circumstances or personal details. Let them know straight away if:

the condition for which you’re getting benefit (the condition for which you’re getting IIDB) improves or gets worse

you change your name or gender

you get married or form a civil partnership

you change your address

you leave the country

you go into prison

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

You must also report these if you receive Unemployability Supplement, which topped up Industrial Disablement Supplement until 1987.

There will be a delay in assessing your change of circumstances because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Any changes to your payments will be backdated to when you reported the change.

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

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centres

Barrow IIDB Centre

Barnsley IIDB Centre

Bradford IIDB Centre

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

did not report a change straight away

gave wrong information

were overpaid by mistake

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

Further information

Other benefits you may be able to get

Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA)

You can claim CAA (Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA)) for accidents where your disability is assessed at 100% and you need daily care and attention.

The CAA rate you’re paid is based on an assessment of your needs.

Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance

You can claim £73.20 paid in addition to the CAA (Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA)) rates, if you’re assessed at one of the top 2 rates of CAA (Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA)) and need permanent, constant care and attention.

Reduced Earnings Allowance (REA)

You may get REA (Reduced Earnings Allowance (REA)) if:

you cannot do your usual job or other work with similar pay because of an accident or disease caused by work

you have a disability or injury which began before 1 October 1990

Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979

Jobcentre Plus may pay you a lump sum if you have one of the following diseases:

pneumoconiosis

byssinosis

diffuse mesothelioma

bilateral diffuse pleural thickening

primary carcinoma of the lung when accompanied by asbestosis or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening

To get a payment you must meet all the following conditions:

your dust-related disease must have been caused by your employment

you’re getting Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for one of the listed diseases

you must claim within 12 months of the decision awarding Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for one of the listed diseases)

you cannot or have not taken civil action because your former employer has stopped trading

you have not brought a court action or received compensation from an employer in respect of the disease (one of the listed diseases)

You may be able to make a claim if you’re the dependant of someone who suffered from a dust-related disease but who has died. A dependant claim must be made within 12 months of the death of the sufferer.

Diffuse mesothelioma payment

You may still be able to get a payment for an asbestos-related illness if you are not eligible for compensation under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979.

You can claim for the ‘2008 scheme’ if you came into contact with asbestos:

while you were self employed

through a family member, for example by washing their clothes

There’s a different payment scheme if you were diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma on or after 25 July 2012. You can apply for this even if you’ve claimed compensation under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979.

Effects on other benefits

You can still get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if you’re claiming:

contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

Incapacity Benefit

contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

State Pension

IIDB will affect the following benefits if you or your partner are claiming them:

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Pension Credit

Housing Benefit

Working Tax Credit

Universal Credit

It (Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)) may also affect Council Tax Reduction - contact your local council for more information.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centres

Barrow IIDB Centre

Barnsley IIDB Centre

Bradford IIDB Centre


Blind Person's Allowance

Overview

Blind Person’s Allowance is an extra amount of tax-free allowance.

It (Blind Person’s Allowance) means you can earn more before you start paying Income Tax.

What you'll get

Blind Person’s Allowance is added to your yearly Personal Allowance - the amount of money you can earn before you start paying Income Tax.

Tax year | Blind Person’s Allowance

2021 to 2022 | £2,520

2020 to 2021 | £2,500

If you and your spouse or civil partner are both eligible, you’ll each get an allowance.

You can transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance) to your spouse or civil partner if you do not pay tax or earn enough to use all of your allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance).

Previous tax years

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes tables with tax rates that include Blind Person’s Allowance for current and past tax years.

Eligibility

England and Wales

You can claim Blind Person’s Allowance if both of the following apply:

you’re registered with your local council as blind or severely sight impaired

you have a certificate that says you’re blind or severely sight impaired (or a similar document from your doctor)

Scotland and Northern Ireland

you cannot do work for which eyesight is essential

How to claim

Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to claim.

Transfer your allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance)

You can transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance) to your spouse or civil partner if you do not pay tax or cannot use all of it (Blind Person’s Allowance).

You can do this:

if you’re married or in a civil partnership

if you’re living with your spouse or civil partner

whether or not your spouse or civil partner is blind

You can still transfer your allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance) if you’re unable to live with your spouse or civil partner because of:

illness or old age, for example where your spouse or partner is in residential care

working away from home

an armed forces posting

being in prison

training or education

How to transfer your allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance)

To transfer your allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance) to a spouse or civil partner, use form 575 or call HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

You’ll also get the option to transfer any Married Couple’s Allowance.

If you’re making a claim to get tax back on savings and investment interest using form R40 you can also ask for a copy of form 575 by ticking the appropriate box.

Get the form in another format

Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you need the form in a different format, for example Braille.


Carer's Credit

Overview

You could get Carer’s Credit if you’re caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week.

Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record. Your State Pension is based on your National Insurance record.

Your income, savings or investments will not affect eligibility for Carer’s Credit.

What you'll get

If you’re eligible for Carer’s Credit, you can get credits to help fill gaps in your National Insurance record.

This (get) means you can take on caring responsibilities without affecting your ability to qualify for the State Pension (Your State Pension).

Eligibility

To get Carer’s Credit you must be:

aged 16 or over

under State Pension age

looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours a week

The person you’re looking after (someone) must get one of the following:

Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate

Attendance Allowance

Constant Attendance Allowance

Personal Independence Payment - daily living component, at the standard or enhanced rate

Armed Forces Independence Payment

If the person you’re caring for (someone) does not get one of these benefits, you may still be able to get Carer’s Credit. When you apply, fill in the ‘Care Certificate’ part of the application form and get a health or social care professional to sign it.

Carers who do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance may qualify for Carer’s Credit.

Breaks in caring and eligibility

You can still get Carer’s Credit even if you have breaks from caring (up to 12 weeks in a row).

For example, you’ll still get Carer’s Credit for 12 weeks if:

you take a short holiday

someone you look after (someone) goes into hospital

you go into hospital

Keep the Carer’s Allowance Unit updated if you have a break in caring of more than 12 weeks in a row.

How to claim

Before you start

You do not need to apply for Carer’s Credit if you:

get Carer’s Allowance - you’ll automatically get credits

get Child Benefit for a child under the age of 12 - you’ll automatically get credits

are a foster carer - you can apply for National Insurance credits instead

Apply using a form

Download the Carer’s Credit claim form.

The form includes a Care Certificate - ask a health or social care professional to sign it for you.

You can also get the form by calling the Carer’s Allowance Unit.

Alternative formats

Call the Carer’s Allowance Unit to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

Where to send your form

If you disagree with a decision

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


Warm Home Discount Scheme

Overview

You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2021 to 2022 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The scheme opens on 18 October 2021.

The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October (18 October 2021) and March.

You may be able to get the discount (The money) on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out.

The discount (The money) will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

Eligibility

There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:

you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’

you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme (the Warm Home Discount Scheme) - known as the ‘broader group’

How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount (The money).

Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters

You can still qualify for the discount (The money) if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.

Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount (The money) if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

Park (mobile) homes

You apply a different way if you live in a park home.

Park home applications for winter 2021 to 2022 will open in autumn 2021.

Fill in the Park Homes Warm Home Discount contact form to be told when the scheme (the Warm Home Discount Scheme) reopens.

Contact Charis Grants for more information about the scheme (the Warm Home Discount Scheme).

If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit

You qualify for the discount (The money) if on 4 July 2021 all of the following apply:

your energy supplier is part of the scheme (the Warm Home Discount Scheme)

your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill

you or your partner are getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well)

This is known as being in the ‘core group’ (the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit).

How to apply

You’ll receive a letter between October and December 2021 telling you how to get the discount (The money) if you qualify.

Your letter will say if you need to call a helpline by 28 February 2022 to confirm your details.

Your electricity supplier will apply the discount (The money) to your bill (the bill) by 31 March 2022.

If you do not get a letter

Contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if you do not get the letter (Your letter) by 31 December (December 2021) and you think you’re eligible for the ‘core group’ (the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit).

Do not contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if you’re not eligible for the ‘core group’ (the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit).

Check if you’re eligible to apply another way.

If you’re on a low income

You may be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier for help if you do not get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit but:

you’re on a low income

you get certain means-tested benefits

This (get) is known as being in the ‘broader group’.

To get the discount (The money) you’ll need to stay with your supplier until it (The money)’s paid.

How to apply

Your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount (The money).

The number of discounts suppliers can give is limited. Check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and how to apply.

Check with them (your supplier) even if you were eligible for a discount last year.

Your electricity supplier will apply the discount (The money) to your bill by 31 March 2022.

Energy suppliers

The following suppliers were part of the scheme (the Warm Home Discount Scheme) in winter 2020 to 2021:

Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy

Atlantic – see SSE

Avro Energy

Boost

Bristol Energy - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’ (the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit)

British Gas

British Gas Evolve (formerly British Gas X)

Bulb Energy

Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy

E (Gas and Electricity)

E.ON

Ecotricity - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’

EDF Energy

Green Energy UK (GEUK) - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’

Green Network Energy

Green Star Energy - see Shell Energy

iSupply Energy - see EDF Energy

London Power – see Octopus Energy

Lumo - see OVO

M&S Energy – see Octopus Energy

npower

nPower Select - see E.ON Next

Octopus Energy

OVO

Powershop

Pure Planet

Qwest Energy - see Octopus Energy

Roar Power - see Octopus Energy

Sainsbury’s Energy

Scottish Hydro – see SSE

ScottishPower

Shell Energy

So Energy

Southern Electric – see SSE

Spark

SSE

Swalec – see SSE

Symbio Energy

Tonik Energy -  see ScottishPower

Utilita

Utility Point - only if you’re eligible for the core group

Utility Warehouse