Manage your Child Maintenance Service case

Overview

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

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

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

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Making and getting payments

Child maintenance can be paid:

between parents

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

by Direct Debit

by reducing the paying parent’s benefits

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

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

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

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

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse or controlling behaviour

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

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

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

Making payments yourself

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

This (make) is called Direct Pay.

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

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

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

Arranging payments for you

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

This (make) is called Collect and Pay.

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

Collection fees

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

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

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

You cannot avoid collection fees by making payments in advance.

You will not have to pay:

any fees if you choose a private arrangement

collection fees if you use Direct Pay

When you’ll pay or receive the money

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

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

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

If a parent does not pay

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

Enforcement charges

Action taken by the Child Maintenance Service | Charge

Liability order | £300

Lump sum deduction order | £200

Regular deduction order | £50

Deduction from earnings request or order | £50

What action is taken

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

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

Disagreements about parentage

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

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

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

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

ask both parents to take a DNA test

ask the courts to make a decision

Assumed parentage

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

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

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

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

has legally adopted the child (a child)

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

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

Paying child maintenance during a disagreement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Refunds depend on the circumstances of each case.

Changes you need to report

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

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

Either parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if:

a parent or a child has died

one of the parents is adopting a child

you want to close your case

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

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

Paying parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if you:

start or stop working for an employer

start or stop being self-employed

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

want to restart your payments

have received notification of a court or tribunal date

have received notification of a deduction order from a bank

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

change your phone number (including mobile number)

have an income change of 25% or more

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

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

the date you left your last job

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

how much you expect to earn

your new payroll number (if any)

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

any changes to the number of children living with you

if any child living with you reaches the age of 20

Receiving parent

Tell the Child Maintenance Service if:

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

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

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

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

you find out that the paying parent is coming off benefits

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

your phone number (including mobile number) changes

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

When you report a change

You might need to provide:

employers’ details or payslips

benefits information

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

If you do not give the right information

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

do not give the information you are asked for

give information that you know is false

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

employers

accountants

either parent

When changes could affect your payments

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

You can find out how child maintenance is worked out.

Complaints and appeals

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

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

Independent Case Examiner

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

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

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

If your complaint is valid

The Child Maintenance Service will:

apologise and explain what went wrong

make any changes needed to put it right

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

Appeals

You can appeal a child maintenance decision about payment amounts.

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

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

Appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal

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

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

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

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

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

Contact

Report changes online

Report changes to your circumstances through your online account.

Call the Child Maintenance Service

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

Watch a video to check you can use the service.

Go to the video relay service (the service).

Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm

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

Contact the Child Maintenance Service by post

You can also write to the Child Maintenance Service.


Christmas Bonus

Overview

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

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

What you'll get

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

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

How you’re paid

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

Eligibility

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

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

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

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Attendance Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

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

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

Disability Living Allowance

Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate

Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)

Mobility Supplement

Pension Credit - the guarantee element

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)

Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)

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

War Disablement Pension at State Pension age

War Widow’s Pension

Widowed Mother’s Allowance

Widowed Parent’s Allowance

Widow’s Pension

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

How to claim

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

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

Further information

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

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

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

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

and either:

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

the only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit


Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Benefits this (ask) applies to

You can ask for mandatory reconsideration for benefits including:

Attendance Allowance

Bereavement Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Carer’s Credit

child maintenance (sometimes known as ‘child support’)

Compensation Recovery Scheme (including NHS recovery claims)

Diffuse Mesotheliomia Payment Scheme

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Funeral Expenses Payment

Income Support

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Maternity Allowance

Pension Credit

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Sure Start Maternity Grant

Universal Credit (including advance payments)

Winter Fuel Payment

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

How to ask for mandatory reconsideration

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

by phone

by letter

by filling in and returning a form

The contact details are on your decision letter.

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

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

If you get Universal Credit

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

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

writing to the address on your decision letter

filling in and returning a form

calling the Universal Credit helpline

Before you ask for mandatory reconsideration

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

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

If you want an explanation in writing

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

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

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

Applying after one month

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

Call the phone number on your decision letter first.

What you need to provide

You need to give:

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

your name and address

your date of birth

your National Insurance number

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

If you want to send evidence

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

new medical evidence

reports or care plans from specialists, therapists or nurses

bank statements or payslips

Only include evidence you have not already sent.

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

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

It will not help your claim to include:

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

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

letters about tests that you’re due to have

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

What happens next

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

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

If you disagree with the outcome

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

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

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


Tax credits overpayments

Overview

You might be overpaid tax credits if:

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

you or the Tax Credit Office make a mistake

you do not renew your tax credits on time

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

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

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

How to repay your tax credits

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

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

Call the helpline if you:

think the Tax Credit Office made a mistake

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

If you still get tax credits

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

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

Household income | Reduction

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

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

More than £20,000 | 50%

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

If you’ve moved to Universal Credit

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

If you do not get tax credits or Universal Credit

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

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

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

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

There are several ways to repay.

Direct Debit

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

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

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

Online and telephone banking (Faster Payments)

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

Sort code | Account number | Account name

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

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

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

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

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

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

At your bank or building society

Pay at your branch by cash or cheque.

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

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

By cheque through the post

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

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

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

Do not fold your cheque.

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

Include a note with:

your name, address and phone number

your tax credit reference number

how much you’re paying

the period you’re paying for

You can ask for a receipt if you want one.

If you cannot afford your repayments

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

You may be asked about:

any savings and income you have - including benefits and pensions

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

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

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

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

If you still get tax credits

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

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

by phone

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

You will usually receive a decision within 14 working days.

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

If you have moved to Universal Credit

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

If you do not get tax credits or Universal Credit

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

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

If you get Universal Credit

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you cannot afford your repayments

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

If you have an existing payment plan

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

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

If you claimed tax credits as a couple

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

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

If you do not get Universal Credit any more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

reducing your other benefits

agreeing a repayment plan with you

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

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

If you start getting Universal Credit

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


Help with moving from benefits to work

Overview

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

training, guidance and work placement programmes

work experience, volunteering and job trialling schemes

help with starting your own business

help combining work with looking after children or caring responsibilities

extra help for specific problems

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Support for disabled people

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

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

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

help getting to and from work

mental health support

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

Job search programmes

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

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

Work Programme

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

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

Help for specific types of work

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

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

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

Jobseeker’s Allowance

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

Universal Credit

Work clubs

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

Work experience and volunteering

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

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

Work experience

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

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

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

Work Together (volunteering)

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

Work trials

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

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

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

Employment on Trial

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

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

Starting or running your own business

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

start your own business

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

Starting your own business

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

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

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

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

What you’ll get

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

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

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

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

How to get New Enterprise Allowance

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

Developing your business

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

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

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

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

If you’re disabled or you have a health condition

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

Help for parents and carers

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

Help for parents

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

Help for carers

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

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

Help with drug and alcohol problems

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

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

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

Support when you start working

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

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

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Income Support

Universal Credit

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

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

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

Help with housing

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

Mortgage Interest Run On

Extended Payment of Housing Benefit

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


Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Eligibility

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

You also need to have both:

worked as an employee or have been self-employed

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

Check your National Insurance record for gaps.

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

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

claim Jobseeker’s Allowance

claim Statutory Sick Pay

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

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

If you’re working

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you'll get

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

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

What might affect how much you get paid

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

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

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

While your claim is being assessed

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

This (income-related ESA) will be:

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

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

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

After you’re assessed

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

You’ll get:

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

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

If you’re in the support group

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

You may also qualify for the severe disability premium.

Find out how to apply for a disability premium.

How you’re paid

You’ll get paid ESA every 2 weeks.

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

Other benefits you can claim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Budgeting Loan

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

Advice on money and debt

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

Citizens Advice

Money Advice Service

National Debtline

Shelter

Working while you claim

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

you work less than 16 hours a week

you do not earn more than £143 a week

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

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

When you can work 16 hours or more a week

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

Supported permitted work

The work (work) must be either:

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

part of a treatment programme under medical supervision

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

How to claim

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

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

What you need to apply

You’ll need:

your National Insurance number

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

your doctor’s name, address and telephone number

details of your income if you’re working

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Apply now

When you can apply by phone

Call the Universal Credit helpline if:

you cannot make an application online

you’re an appointee for someone

After you apply

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

If you’re eligible

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

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

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

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

explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work

provide medical evidence

agree to tell your local Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change

If you’re not eligible

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

If you disagree with a decision

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

Reapplying for ESA

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

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

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

Your ESA claim (your claim)

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

Work Capability Assessment

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

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

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

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

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

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

How the assessment happens

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

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

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

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

After your claim is assessed

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

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

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

If you’re in the work-related activity group

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

If you’re in the support group

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

How long you’ll get ESA for

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

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

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

If you get a sanction

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

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

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

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

If you get a sanction you can:

ask for the decision to be looked at again

ask for a hardship payment

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

Hardship payments

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

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

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

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

Report a change of circumstances

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

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

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

starting or stopping work, education, training or an apprenticeship

moving house

changing your name

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

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

changes to your pension, savings, investments or property

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

changing your doctor

any changes to your medical condition or disability

going into hospital or a care home or sheltered accommodation

going abroad for any length of time

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

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

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

If you’ve been paid too much

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

How to report

You can report a change of circumstances by:

calling Jobcentre Plus

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

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

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

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

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

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

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


Sure Start Maternity Grant

Overview

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

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

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

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

you or your partner already get certain benefits

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

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

What you'll get

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

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

If you already have children under 16

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

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

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

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

You’ve already had twins | £0 | £500

You’ve already had triplets | £0 | £0

How you’re paid

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

Eligibility

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

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element

Universal Credit

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

If you already have children under 16

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

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

You must claim by the deadline.

If you’re not giving birth

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

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

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

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

you’ve got permission to adopt a baby from abroad

you’ve got a parental order for a surrogate birth

you’ve been appointed as guardian

you’ve an adoption or a residence order

How to claim

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

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

Claim by post

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get help with your claim

Call the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline.

You can also contact Jobcentre Plus.

Alternative formats

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

If you disagree with a decision

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


Unpaid parental leave

Overview

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

spend more time with their children

look at new schools

settle children into new childcare arrangements

spend more time with family, such as visiting grandparents

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

Entitlement

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

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

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

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

Carrying leave over from a previous job

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

Eligibility

Employees qualify if all of these apply:

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

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

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

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

the child is under 18

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

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

Notice period

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

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

Delaying leave

Leave can’t be postponed (delayed) if:

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

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

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

If it’s postponed, the employer:

must write explaining why within 7 days of the original request

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

can’t change the amount of leave being requested


Overview

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

is under 16

has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.

The DLA rate is between £23.70 and £152.15 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs.

DLA rates for children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children (DLA) is a tax-free benefit made up of 2 components (parts). The child might qualify for one or both components.

Care component

Care component | Weekly rate

Lowest | £23.70

Middle | £60.00

Highest | £89.60

Mobility component

Mobility component | Weekly rate

Lower | £23.70

Higher | £62.55

How DLA for children (DLA) is paid

DLA is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Tuesday.

If your payment date is on a bank holiday, you will usually be paid before the bank holiday. After that you’ll continue to get paid as normal.

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

Extra help

You might qualify for Carer’s Allowance if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a child who gets the middle or highest care rate of DLA.

Eligibility

Usually, to qualify for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children (DLA) the child must:

be under 16 - anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

need extra looking after or have walking difﬁculties

be in Great Britain, a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as family members of the Armed Forces

have lived in Great Britain for at least 6 of the last 12 months, if over 3 years old

be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

not be subject to immigration control

The process is  different in Northern Ireland.

There are some exceptions to these conditions if the child is living in or coming from an EEA country or Switzerland.

You can claim DLA for children (DLA) if you’re in or out of work.

Children under 3

A child under 6 months must have lived in Great Britain for at least 13 weeks.

A child aged between 6 months and 3 years must have lived in Great Britain for at least 26 of the last 156 weeks.

The rules on residence do not normally apply if a child is terminally ill.

The child’s (a child) disability or health condition must mean at least one of the following apply:

they (a child) need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

they (a child) have difficulty getting about

They (a child) must have had these difficulties for at least 3 months and expect them to last for at least 6 months. If they (a child)’re terminally ill (that is, not expected to live more than 6 months), they (a child) do not need to have had these difficulties for 3 months.

Care component

The rate the child (a child) gets depends on the level of looking after they (a child) need, for example:

lowest rate - help for some of the day

middle rate - frequent help or constant supervision during the day, supervision at night or someone to help while they (a child)’re on dialysis

highest rate - help or supervision throughout both day and night, or they (a child)’re terminally ill

Mobility component

The rate the child gets depends on the level of help they need getting about, for example:

lowest rate - they (the child) can walk but need help and or supervision when outdoors

highest rate -  they (the child) cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, could become very ill if they (the child) try to walk or they (the child)’re blind or severely sight impaired

There are also age limits to receiving the mobility component (Mobility component):

lowest rate - the child (a child) must be 5 years or over

highest rate - the child (a child) must be 3 years or over

If your child is under these ages and you claim DLA for them, you should be sent a claim pack 6 months before they turn 3 and 6 months before they turn 5. You can then apply for the mobility component (Mobility component) if you think they (the child)’re eligible for it (Mobility component).

If you have not received any claim packs and you think your child may be entitled to the mobility component (Mobility component), contact the Disability Service Centre.

Change of circumstances

Contact the Disability Service Centre as soon as the child’s circumstances change. This can affect how much they get, for example if their disability gets worse or they go abroad for medical treatment.

Their (the child’s) DLA will not usually be affected if they (the child’s) go:

into a local authority care home for less than 28 days

into a hospital

abroad for less than 13 weeks

abroad for less than 26 weeks to get medical treatment for a condition which began before they (the child’s) left

How to claim

To claim DLA for a child you need to be their parent or look after them as if you’re their parent. This includes step-parents, guardians, grandparents, foster-parents or older brothers or sisters.

To apply you can either:

print off and fill in the DLA claim form

phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline and ask for a printed form

Alternative formats

Call the Disability Living Allowance helpline to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

When you’ll be paid

DLA can be paid from the start of your claim. It (DLA) cannot be backdated. Your claim will start on the date the form (the DLA claim form) is received or the date you call the enquiry line (if you return the claim pack within 6 weeks).

You’ll usually get a decision letter about 8 weeks (40 working days) after your form (the DLA claim form) is received. The letter will tell you when you’ll get your first payment.

If the child is terminally ill

There are special rules if the child is not expected to live more than 6 months, so they (the child) can get DLA more quickly.

Phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline to start your claim. Ask a doctor or other healthcare professional for form DS1500. They’ll either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If you disagree with a decision

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

When your child turns 16

Your child will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) when they turn 16.

When they (Your child) apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP))

Your child will get a letter inviting them (Your child) to apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP)). The letter will be sent:

shortly after their (Your child) 16th birthday

when they (Your child) leave hospital, if they (Your child) were in hospital on their (Your child) 16th birthday

about 20 weeks before their (Your child) DLA award ends, if they (Your child) were awarded DLA under the rules for people who are terminally ill

Your child’s (Your child) DLA payments will stop unless they (Your child) apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) by the date given in the letter (a letter inviting them (Your child) to apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP))).

If they (Your child) apply by the date given in the letter (a letter inviting them (Your child) to apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment (PIP))), they (Your child)’ll continue to receive DLA until their (Your child) claim is assessed.


Care to Learn

Overview

The Care to Learn scheme can help  with childcare costs while you study.

You must be aged under 20 at the start of your course.

The scheme (The Care to Learn scheme) is available for publicly-funded courses in England. This (The Care to Learn scheme) includes courses in:

schools

sixth-forms in schools

sixth-form colleges

What you'll get

You can get up to:

£160 per child per week if you live outside London

£175 per child per week if you live in London

What it (The Care to Learn scheme) covers

Care to Learn can help with the cost of:

your childcare, including deposit and registration fees

a childcare taster session for up to 5 days

keeping your childcare place over the summer holidays

taking your child to their childcare provider

Payments

Childcare payments go directly to your childcare provider.

Before they (Childcare payments) can be paid:

your childcare provider needs to confirm your child’s attendance

your school or college needs to confirm that you’re attending your course

Travel payments go direct to your school or college - they’ll either pay you or arrange travel for you.

When payments stop

Payments end when:

you stop attending your course

you reach the end of your course

your child stops attending childcare

Eligibility

You can get Care to Learn if all of the following apply to you:

you’re a parent under 20 at the start of your course

you’re the main carer for your child

you live in England

you’re either a British citizen or have a legal right to live and study in England

your course qualifies

your childcare provider qualifies

If you’re an EU citizen and you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living here after 30 June 2021. If you want to move to the UK from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a visa.

Your course

Care to Learn is only available for publicly-funded courses in England. This includes courses that take place in:

schools

sixth-forms in schools

sixth-form colleges

other colleges and learning providers, including Foundation Learning

your community at Children’s Centres

Your learning provider can tell you if your course is eligible.

Your childcare provider

To qualify, your childcare provider must be registered with Ofsted.

They (your childcare provider) can be a:

childminder

preschool playgroup

day nursery

out of school club

Who cannot get Care to Learn

You’re not eligible if:

you’re an apprentice who gets a salary

you’re doing a higher education course at university

Apply for Care to Learn

You must choose your learning provider and childcare provider before you apply.

You need to make a new application for each year you study.

Your childcare provider is paid from the beginning of your course if you apply either:

before your course starts

within 28 days of starting your course

If you apply after that (starts), your childcare provider will only be paid from the beginning of the week that your application was received.

Apply online for Care to Learn.

After you've applied

You must give your learning provider either:

a copy of the child’s birth certificate

a letter confirming receipt of Child Benefit for that child (the child’s)

If you qualify

You’ll get a letter and a payment plan telling you what financial help you can get.

Your childcare provider will only be paid after you’ve provided this.

Your childcare provider will also get the payment plan to let them (your childcare provider) know when they (your childcare provider)’ll be paid.

If you’re eligible for travel costs, your learning provider will be told about payments for this.

If your circumstances change

You must report changes to your:

personal details

childcare provider

hours of childcare

travel costs

learning provider

You can do this (report) by updating your online application.

Benefits

Claiming Care to Learn will not affect your family’s benefits or allowances.


Financial help if you're disabled

Overview

There is a wide range of disability-related financial support, including benefits, tax credits, payments, grants and concessions.

Some benefits you might get are:

Universal Credit

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Attendance Allowance

‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Depending on your circumstances, you might also be able to get:

Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’re disabled as a result of work

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Vehicles and transport

If you’re disabled you can apply for the following:

exemption from paying vehicle tax

parking benefits - Blue Badge

disabled persons bus pass or railcard

help to buy or lease a car from The Motability Scheme

Home and housing

If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you can get:

Direct payments - allowing you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of getting it directly from social services

Disabled Facilities Grants - which is money towards the costs of home adaptations to enable you to continue living there

If you’re on a low income

You may be eligible for Universal Credit and could get help with housing costs.

If not, check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction from your local council.

Help if you’re employed

You may be able to top up a low salary by claiming Universal Credit.

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

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

help getting to and from work

mental health support

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

VAT relief on certain goods and services

You do not have to pay VAT on certain goods and services if they’re just for your own use and you’re disabled or have a long term illness.

Armed forces compensation

You may be able to get compensation if you’ve been injured or disabled while serving in the armed forces.

Disability and sickness benefits

Disability Living Allowance for children

Disability Living Allowance for children (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for children under 16 to help with the extra costs caused by long-term ill health or a disability.

Disability Living Allowance for adults

Personal Independence Payment is gradually replacing DLA (Disability Living Allowance for children (DLA)) for adults with long-term ill health or a disability. If you’ve reached State Pension age you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead.

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Personal Independence Payment) is a tax-free benefit for people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age. It (Personal Independence Payment) can help with the extra costs caused by long term ill-health or a disability.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who are State Pension age or over, have a disability and need someone to help look after them (adults with long-term ill health or a disability).

Employment and Support Allowance

You may be able to get ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you cannot work because of illness or disability.

Carers

Carer’s Allowance is extra money to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.

You could also get Carer’s Credit so there will not be any gaps in your National Insurance record if you have to take on caring responsibilities.

Vehicles and transport

You’ll need to meet the legal obligations for drivers before you can drive.

Blue Badge parking scheme

The Blue Badge scheme (Blue Badge parking scheme) provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or as passengers.

Vehicle tax exemption

Eligibility

You can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you get the:

higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP (Personal Independence Payment))

War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

Armed Forces Independence Payment

The vehicle must be registered in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name.

It (The vehicle) must only be used for the disabled person’s personal needs. It (The vehicle) cannot be used by the nominated driver for their own personal use.

You can only have one vehicle tax exemption at any one time.

How to claim

You claim the exemption (exemption from paying vehicle tax) when you apply for vehicle tax.

If you’re claiming for a vehicle for the first time, you have to claim at a Post Office. You must do this every time you change your vehicle.

Vehicle tax reduction

Eligibility

You can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax if you get the PIP (Personal Independence Payment) standard rate mobility component.

The vehicle should be registered in the disabled person’s name or their (the disabled person’s) nominated driver’s name.

You cannot get a reduction for getting the DLA (Disability Living Allowance (DLA) lower rate mobility component.

How to claim

You must include the following with your application:

a letter or statement from the Department for Work and Pensions that shows your PIP rate and the dates you’re getting it

the vehicle log book (V5C)

a V10 form

an original MOT or GVT certificate (if your vehicle needs one)

a cheque or payable order (made out to ‘DVLA, Swansea’) for 50% of the full rate of car tax for the vehicle

an insurance certificate or cover note (if you live in Northern Ireland)

Do not send your PIP assessment or any other medical information with your application.

If you’ve just bought the vehicle and it (the vehicle)’s not registered in your name yet, you’ll need to complete a V62 form and include the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the log book with your application.

Send the documents to:

If the vehicle is not registered to you or the nominated driver

When you make your application you will need to include a signed letter from the vehicle’s (the vehicle) registered keeper. This needs to say:

how they (the vehicle’s (the vehicle) registered keeper) know you

how the vehicle will be used, for example picking up your prescription or shopping

The Motability Scheme

The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. You’ll need to be getting one of the following:

the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA

War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

Armed Forces Independence Payment

the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP

VAT relief for vehicles

You may not have to pay VAT on having a vehicle adapted to suit your condition, or on the lease of a Motability vehicle - this is known as VAT relief.

Community and public transport

Your local council may operate dial-a-ride or taxi schemes, for example, using vouchers or tokens. You may also be eligible for a bus pass, a Disabled Persons Railcard or both.

Home and housing

Direct Payments - arranging your own care and services

If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you may want to choose Direct Payments. They allow you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of receiving it directly from your local council.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Disabled Facilities Grants are local council grants. It helps towards the cost of essential adaptations to your home to enable you to continue to live there.

Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction Scheme

You may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax bill if your home has certain features that are essential to you living there.

Contact your local council to apply for Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction (Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction Scheme).

If you’re on a low income

Universal Credit

If you’re eligible for Universal Credit you could get help paying for your housing.

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit. Most people will need to claim Universal Credit instead.

Check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit before you apply.

You may also get a Council Tax Reduction from your local council.

On a low income

Universal Credit

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work.

Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

You may be able to claim ‘new style’ JSA.

You’ll need to have worked as an employee and paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years. National Insurance credits can also count.

You will not be eligible if you were self-employed and only paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions, unless you were working as a share fisherman or a volunteer development worker.

You’ll also need to take reasonable steps to look for work.

Check if you’re eligible for ‘new style’ JSA.

Blind Person’s Allowance

The Blind Person’s Allowance (Blind Person’s Allowance) allows you to receive an amount of income without having to pay tax. It (Blind Person’s Allowance)’s added to your personal tax allowance.

Television licence discount

You can get 50% off the cost of your TV licence if either:

you’re registered blind or severely sight impaired

you live with someone who is registered blind or severely sight impaired

If the person who is registered blind (someone who is registered blind or severely sight impaired) is not the current licence holder for your address, you’ll need to transfer the licence (your TV licence) to their (someone who is registered blind or severely sight impaired) name.

You can either:

transfer the licence (your TV licence) online - you’ll need your licence number

contact TV Licensing to transfer the licence (your TV licence)

How to apply

To claim the TV licence concession for blind people, you’ll need to get a certificate from your local authority or ophthalmologist stating that you are registered blind or severely sight impaired.

In Northern Ireland, the certificate or document must be issued by or on behalf of a Health and Social Services Trust. On the Isle of Man, it must be issued by or on behalf of the Department for Health and Social Services.

Post a copy of the certificate along with your licence renewal notice - if you have one - and a cheque or postal order for the licence (your TV licence) to:

Remember to include your name, address, phone number and TV licence number, if you have one.

VAT relief for disabled people

If you’re disabled or have a long-term illness, you will not be charged VAT on products designed or adapted for your own personal or domestic use. Also, you will not be charged VAT on:

the installation and any extra work needed as part of this

repairs or maintenance

spare parts or accessories

The product and your disability have to qualify.

Qualifying products or services

Your supplier can tell you, but usually products designed or adapted for a disability qualify. For example, certain types of:

adjustable beds

stair lifts

wheelchairs

medical appliances to help with severe injuries

alarms

braille paper or low vision aids - but not spectacles or contact lenses

motor vehicles - or the leasing of a motability vehicle

building work like ramps, widening doors, installing a lift or toilet

How to get the product VAT free

To get the product VAT free your disability has to qualify. For VAT purposes, you’re disabled or have a long-term illness if:

you have a physical or mental impairment that affects your ability to carry out everyday activities, for example blindness

you have a condition that’s treated as chronic sickness, like diabetes

you’re terminally ill

You do not qualify if you’re elderly but not disabled, or if you’re temporarily disabled.

You’ll need to confirm in writing that you meet these conditions. Your supplier may give you a form for this.

Help from your council

You can apply to your council for equipment or help to adapt your home if you have a disability.

Importing goods

You do not pay VAT if you import qualifying goods that are for your own personal or domestic use. This includes certain goods for blind and partially sighted people.

If you use a freight service they can help you with the paperwork, otherwise make sure the following is written on parcel, ‘Goods for disabled people: relief claimed’.

If you bring them (goods) in yourself, declare them (goods) in the red channel at Customs. For any other method of import, contact the National Import Reliefs Unit.

Work-related injuries or illness

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

You may be entitled to get Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’re disabled as a result of:

an accident at work

a disease

deafness caused by work

Constant Attendance Allowance

You can claim Constant Attendance Allowance if you need daily care and attention because of a disability and you claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Armed forces compensation

You can claim for compensation if while serving in the armed forces:

you got an injury or illness

an existing condition you had was made worse

Constant Attendance Allowance

You can also apply for Constant Attendance Allowance if you need daily care for a disability.


Claim if you were injured while serving in the armed forces

Overview

You can claim compensation if you were injured or got an illness while serving in the armed forces (including the reserve forces).

Compensation may include:

a lump sum

regular payments

What you can claim for

You can claim compensation for any injury or illness that happened as a result of your service, including physical and mental conditions.

You can also claim:

if you were injured during a service-related activity, eg a training exercise

for conditions you had before service if you feel your service made them worse

If you’re a victim of crime while serving abroad

Find out if you qualify for the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Overseas) scheme if you were the victim of a violent crime while serving abroad.

What you'll get

The compensation you get (compensation) depends on either:

when you were injured

when the circumstances happened that caused your illness

What you get might be reduced if you’re getting compensation from another scheme.

If your injury or illness is due to service after 5 April 2005

If your claim is successful, you’ll get a tax-free lump sum payment between £1,236 and £650,000. The amount you get will depend on how severe your injury is.

If you have a more serious illness or injury

You may also receive a tax-free monthly payment for life when you’re discharged - sometimes known as a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP).

The GIP is based on your salary, age and how severe your injury is.

If your GIP payment level is 50% of your salary or more, you can also claim an Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

If your injury or illness is due to service before 6 April 2005

If your claim is successful, you’ll be awarded either:

a pension - if your disability is assessed at 20% or more

a lump sum - if your disability is assessed at less than 20%

You might also be able to get other allowances if you’re having problems getting around or finding a job.

Eligibility

The rules for qualifying are different depending on when you were injured.

Claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).

To qualify you must be:

a current or former member of the armed forces

applying no later than 7 years after the injury or illness (your injury or illness), unless you’re claiming for an illness that started later (sometimes known as a ‘late onset illness’)

Claim under the War Pension Scheme (WPS).

There are no time limits for claiming under the WPS (the War Pension Scheme (WPS)) but you must be no longer serving in the armed forces.

How to claim

Fill in the claim form and send it to the address on the form.

It (the claim form)’s the same claim form for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and War Pension Scheme (WPS (the War Pension Scheme (WPS))).

You can ask the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) for help with making your claim.

You may be contacted for more evidence in support of your claim.

You may be able to apply for a ‘fast payment’ of £60,000 if you were seriously injured during service after 8 May 2011.

If you disagree with the decision on your claim

You can write to Veterans UK (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) to ask them (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) reconsider their (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) decision (the decision on your claim).

You can also appeal to an independent tribunal within 12 months.

Additional payments

You can apply for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) while your compensation claim (your claim) is being dealt with.

You might also be able to get:

other allowances if your injury or illness is due to service before 6 April 2005

an Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) if you were seriously injured on or after 6 April 2005

Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP))

Once you’ve had the result of your compensation claim (your claim), you might be able to claim AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) if you’ve been seriously injured.

AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) is £151.40 per week. It (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP))’s tax free and is paid every 4 weeks into your bank account.

Eligibility

You’re eligible if both of the following apply:

you were injured on or after 6 April 2005

you’re given a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) of 50% or more

You’ll get the payment as long as you’re entitled to this level of GIP. You won’t be reassessed in the future.

If you’re not eligible for AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)), you can get a PIP if you have a long-term health condition or disability.

How to claim

Contact Veterans UK (the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS)) for a claim form. There’s no deadline.

Claiming other benefits with AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP))

If you get AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) you might be eligible for other benefits, eg Child Tax Credit.

AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) is not counted as income when working out your what other benefits you can claim.

Your household is exempt from the benefit cap if you or your partner are getting AFIP (a Personal Independence Payment (PIP)).