Benefits

Billions of pounds of government benefits and allowances are going unclaimed every year.

One of the reasons is that many people don't realise they qualify for them.

Government support that's going unclaimed includes:

• Child benefit
• Pension credit
• Council tax support
• Universal Credit
• Attendance Allowance

If you’re on low income, out of work or cannot work you may be eligible for Universal Credit. The government has made changes to allow working families to keep more of their money.

Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit 

If you claim benefits or tax credits, you will soon move to Universal Credit (UC) under new government changes.

• Universal Credit and other cost of living and disability benefits will increase by 6.7% from April 2024

Universal Credit Migration is now underway. This has so far been for those people receiving tax credits only. The process will expand the migration invitations from April 2024 as follows:

April - June:
Income Support (includes those who also receive Housing Benefit)

Housing Benefit and Tax Credits

Housing Benefit only

July - September:
Income-Related ESA & Child Tax Credit (includes those who also receive Housing Benefit)

September:
Income-Based JSA (includes those who receive Housing Benefit also)

How does Universal Credit Migration happen?

You will receive a Migration Notice letter which will invite you to make a claim for Universal Credit (UC).  The important points to remember are:

• You do not need to make a claim for UC until you receive the letter.

• You will need to make a claim for UC before the deadline given in your letter.

• You make that claim in the same way as any other new claimant.

• There will be something called Transitional Protection to make sure your benefit income will not be less than you already receive, providing you apply by the deadline given.

• Your legacy benefit will be brought to end - either when you make a claim for UC, or if you fail to do so, when the deadline is reached.
• If you don't claim your UC, the legacy benefit(s) you receive will end.

Some claimants may be better off if they move to Universal Credit prior to the date you are requested. To check if you would be better off if you migrated to Universal Credit prior to the date requested, go to /benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

NOTE:  Those on Income-Related ESA (including those who may also receive Housing Benefit) but no Tax Credits ie. those without children, will not be part of the Managed Migration process until 2028.

For more information visit Citizens Advice or Gov.uk for more information.

Pension Credit for those on low income

You could get extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income, even if you have savings or own your own home.

Check if you’re eligible for Pension Credit

Marriage Allowance allows you to transfer 10% (£1,260) of your personal tax allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner if you earn less than the personal tax allowance, which is usually £12,570.

Find out about Marriage Allowance

You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

Check if you’re eligible for the Carer’s Allowance

A Child Trust Fund is a long-term tax-free savings account for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.

For those who hold an account but do not know the Child Trust Fund provider, or if you’re unsure whether you have one or not, we can help you find out.

Find a Child Trust Fund

Help to Save is a savings account. If you’re entitled to Working Tax Credit or you’re receiving Universal Credit, you can get a bonus of 50p for every £1 you save over 4 years.

Find out about Help to Save

Contact HMRC as soon as possible if you cannot pay your tax bill. We’re here to help, and you may be able to pay what you owe in instalments, depending on your circumstances and what you can afford.

Find out what to do if you cannot pay your tax bill on time

Credit: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/

National minimum wage will rise from £10.42 per hour to £11.44 per hour for employees age 21 and over from April 2024 

Check your pay

Citizens Advice 'Help to Claim' advisers can help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can talk to them on the phone, or online over chat.

Their advisers can help you:

• work out if you can get Universal Credit

• fill in the Universal Credit application 

• prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment 

• check your first payment is correct.

Find out more here from Citizens Advice (third-party site).

National Insurance

From 6 April 2024, national insurance rates will be cut:

• Employees will see the rate they pay on annual earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 drop from 10% to 8%. This follows an earlier cut from 12% to 10% on 6 January 2024.
• Self-employed workers will see the rate they pay on annual profits between £12,570 and £50,270 drop from 9% to 6%.

Income tax and national insurance thresholds are frozen until 2028

This means that for anyone earning between £12,750 a year – when national insurance becomes payable – and £26,000, or for those earning more than £60,000, there is no gain because of this frozen thresholds. Read more here: Spring Budget: Workers to pay less national insurance from April (moneysavingexpert.com)

Child benefit changes

Parents won't have to pay any Child Benefit back until they start earning £60,000 a year. Anyone earning above £80,000 would no longer be entitled to Child Benefit. A consultation will also consider whether to change Child Benefit eligibility to being based on household income, rather than on individual income, by April 2026.

Debt relief order fee scrapped

Debt relief orders (DROs) are granted by the Insolvency Service in England and Wales and are aimed at people on low incomes with debts of less than £30,000.

The order freezes your debt repayments and interest for 12 months, and if your financial situation hasn't changed at the end of this time, then your debts are written off.

The £90 administration fee will be scrapped from 6 April 2024.

In addition, from 28 June 2024, the maximum amount of debt you can have under a DRO will rise from £30,000 to £50,000 – meaning more people will be able to access this debt management option. Plus, you'll be able to keep your car worth up to £4,000 (up from £2,000 currently).

Universal Credit claimants will get more time to repay 'Budgeting Advance' loans

These interest-free loans are available if you're claiming Universal Credit and need funds for an emergency, such as replacing a broken cooker.

You pay them back through your regular Universal Credit payments – you get paid less until the loan is repaid. Currently, you have 12 months to repay the loan. But, for new Budgeting Advances taken out from December 2024, the default repayment period will be extended to 24 months.

Household Support Fund

The existing Household Support Fund scheme in England will be extended for six months, to September 2024.
The scheme gives local authorities funding to support vulnerable households with paying for essentials, such as energy and water bills, rent, food and more – the exact form of the support varies council-by-council. You can contact your council to find out what help it offers, whether you're eligible, and how to apply. 

Changes following the Autumn Statement 2023:

Increasing your pay

National minimum wage will rise from £10.42 per hour to £11.44 per hour for employees age 21 and over from April 2024 

Check your pay

State Pension

State Pension will increase by 8.5% from April 2024. This means a weekly increase of up to £17.35.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit and other cost of living and disability benefits will increase by 6.7% from April 2024

• Information reviewed and updated 7 March 2024 following the Spring Statement 2024. For more information, visit Martin Lewis: What the Spring Budget means for your pocket (moneysavingexpert.com)

State Pension will increase by 8.5% from April 2024. This means a weekly increase of up to £17.35.

Universal Credit Migration is now underway.  This has so far been for those people receiving tax credits only.  The process will expand the migration invitations from April 2024 as follows:

April - June:

Income Support (includes those who also receive Housing Benefit)

Housing Benefit and Tax Credits

Housing Benefit only

July - September:

Income-Related ESA & Child Tax Credit (includes those who also receive Housing Benefit)

September:

Income-Based JSA (includes those who receive Housing Benefit also)

How does Universal Credit Migration happen?

You will receive a Migration Notice letter which will invite you to make a claim for Universal Credit (UC).  The important points to remember are:

• You do not need to make a claim for UC until you receive the letter.

• You will need to make a claim for UC before the deadline given in your letter.

• You make that claim in the same way as any other new claimant.

• There will be something called Transitional Protection to make sure your benefit income will not be less than you already receive, providing you apply by the deadline given.

• Your legacy benefit will be brought to end - either when you make a claim for UC, or if you fail to do so, when the deadline is reached.

• If you don't claim your UC, the legacy benefit(s) you receive will end.

Some claimants may be better off if they move to Universal Credit prior to the date you are requested. To check if you would be better off if you migrated to Universal Credit prior to the date requested, go to /benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

NOTE:  Those on Income-Related ESA (including those who may also receive Housing Benefit) but no Tax Credits ie. those without children, will not be part of the Managed Migration process until 2028.

For more information, read www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/moving-to-universal-credit-from-other-benefits/

www.gov.uk/guidance/tax-credits-and-some-benefits-are-ending-move-to-universal-credit

If you need any help or support with any of these claims, please get in touch with our Tenant Sustainability Team on 0333 320 4555