Latest news with #Income-basedJobseeker'sAllowance
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Full list of requirements to be eligible for Warm Homes Discount
6 million households are due to receive the £150 discount this winter This winter, millions more individuals will be eligible for the Warm Home Discount, a £150 reduction on their electricity bills. This is due to new eligibility criteria released this month, although the benefit is only set to start being distributed around October. Eligibility for the benefit falls into one of two categories. Previously, these were:. People receiving the Guarantee element of Pension Credit - Core Group 1. People with low income and high energy costs - Core Group 2. People in Scotland identified by their supplier as at risk of fuel poverty - Broader Group. However, the recent update has made it so that people in core group 2 no longer need to have high energy costs to qualify. Simply claiming one of the qualifying benefits will be enough to receive the discount this winter. The current full list of qualifying benefits includes: Housing Benefit. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Income Support. The 'Savings Credit' part of Pension Credit. Universal Credit. If you receive Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, you may also be eligible, provided your household income falls below a certain threshold. To qualify, the person receiving the qualifying benefit must be named on the energy bill. The money is not paid to you like cash in hand; instead, it is applied to your bill by your electricity supplier. If you're on a prepayment meter, you might find a voucher arriving via post or email instead. Those residing in Scotland are encouraged to get in touch with their energy supplier if they think they may qualify under the core or broader groups. Official statistics suggest that over 6 million households will benefit from the scheme this year, marking an increase of 2.7 million. Among these, 900,000 are families with children and 1.8 million are homes experiencing fuel poverty. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented: "I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill. "Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as Prime Minister and foundational for the Plan for Change. "I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference." While this is a major update for the seasonal benefit. A bigger announcement is expected later this year as the scheme in its current form expires in March 2026, although it has been extended in the past.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Five freebies and discounts parents on Universal Credit can get worth up to £3,286
Check to see what vouchers you could get your hands on CASH IN Five freebies and discounts parents on Universal Credit can get worth up to £3,286 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PARENTS on Universal Credit could be entitled to freebies and deals worth over £3,000. With childcare costs on the rise, looking after growing tots can be challenging. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Family Nature Walk: Parents and Children Enjoying Summer Forest Stroll Credit: Getty But for struggling families there may be some extra cash and perks they can get their hands on - some of which they may never had heard of. Here is what is available... PREGNANCY GRANT - £500 New parents can claim this one-off grant within 11 weeks of the baby's due date or up to six months after the baby is born. It's a payment worth £500 to help with the cost of having a child. Parents will need to print out and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form and have it signed by a doctor or midwife. You could qualify for the Sure Start Maternity grant if you're claiming benefits and expecting your first child. You can also qualify if you have children already and are expecting twins or triplets. HEALTHY START - £442 New or expectant parents can get up to £442 worth of free food a year through the Healthy Start scheme. Anyone more than 10 weeks pregnant or with a child under four years old and on benefits can apply online or via email. The scheme issues parents with a card they can use in supermarkets, which gives them free access to milk, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables and tinned pulses. Disability benefit explained - what you can claim The full list of benefits qualifying you for the scheme is: Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year Pension Credit Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family Parents can also apply for the scheme if you are under 18 and not on any benefits. You can find out more about the scheme in our full guide. FREE CHILDCARE - £1,739 Parents on Universal Credit may also be entitled to help with childcare costs. You'll need to be working - and your partner if you live with them - or have a job offer. But it doesn't matter how many hours you or your partner work. You can get 85 per cent of your expenses paid each month up to a maximum of £1,014 for one child or £1,739 for two or more kids. FREE SCHOOL MEALS - £500 Children whose parents receive income support such as Universal Credit, Job seeker's Allowance and Child Tax Credits can receive free school meals. How you apply depends on your personal circumstances - some people may be able to via their local council, while others might have to speak to their children's school directly. Type your postcode into the Government's website to see who to contact and how to apply at The exact amount you'll get depends on where you live, but the help is worth around £460 on average per child per year, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. If you're eligible for free school meals, you may also get similar help during school holidays including Christmas and Easter, as well as half terms. If your child is eligible for free school meals, they'll also qualify for the Holiday Activity and Food Programme offering kids free activities to take part in outside of school.
Glasgow Times
08-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
DWP pensioners get Migration Notice letter as benefits end
Tax Credits ended on April 5, 2025, the first of this year's legacy benefit closures. Housing Benefit is also ending and is being replaced by Universal Credit (except in certain circumstances). Claimants must switch to Universal Credit when they receive their migration notice letter, or payments will cease, and time is fast running out. Those who miss their deadline date can still move to Universal Credit later, but they won't receive important financial protections designed to prevent them from losing money. These rules only apply to those who receive a letter - and the protection helps those who receive less under Universal Credit than their current benefits. For example, if someone receives £600 from Tax Credits but would only be entitled to £400 under Universal Credit, they can receive a £200 top-up to maintain their current level. Transitional protection sounds short-term, but it actually lasts until the amount you get in Universal Credit is more than the amount you used to get on your old benefits – for example, because Universal Credit amounts are increased in line with inflation each year, or you become eligible for more support. But, it only continues while your circumstances stay the same - and can be lost due to a significant life change that causes your eligibility to be reassessed – for example, you move in with a partner. What is Managed Migration? The move is part of the DWP's ongoing managed migration programme, which aims to move all claimants of legacy benefits to Universal Credit by March 2026. The full details are listed here. These include Child Tax Credits Housing Benefit Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Working Tax Credits There has been significant confusion about the transition process, with many recipients at risk of losing their transitional protection if they fail to respond within three months of receiving their notice. The DWP plans to send migration notices to all legacy benefit claimants by the end of this year. The migration notice will detail the exact date one needs to make a claim. Those needing assistance with their migration can contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline. Recommended reading: Housing Benefit managed migration letters Housing Benefit will be ending, apart from in the following circumstances: you're in supported or temporary accommodation your Housing Benefit will continue and will not end if you do not get Universal Credit or stop claiming Universal Credit you're eligible to reclaim Housing Benefit You're in supported or temporary accommodation If you get Housing Benefit and you're not sure if you live in supported or temporary accommodation, speak to your local council. New @mmhpi research warns that government's planned PIP reforms will have a 'catastrophic impact' on people's finances and mental health, and could drive people out of the workplace. It says "A system which was already doing a poor job of understanding how mental health… — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 5, 2025 Reclaiming Housing Benefit Your Housing Benefit will be ending 2 weeks after your deadline date. However, you may be eligible to reclaim Housing Benefit within 3 months if: your Housing Benefit is stopped, and you have not claimed Universal Credit you claimed before your deadline date but were not entitled to Universal Credit you stop receiving Universal Credit You can get advice from your local council about backdating your Housing Benefit claim. Your claim can only be backdated for up to 3 months. Find out more about Housing Benefit eligibility. Claiming Pension Credit instead of Universal Credit You can choose to claim Pension Credit instead of Universal Credit. If your claim to Pension Credit is accepted, you: cannot then apply for Universal Credit will not get Pension Credit transitional protection may receive less financial support Find out more about Pension Credit. You can also use the Pension Credit calculator to work out how much you might get. Pension Credit is one of the most underclaimed benefits, and is the gateway to lots of pension age means-tested benefits, such as Winter Fuel Payments, so it's important to claim. What you get if you receive a DWP managed migration notice On Universal Credit, most people are entitled to the same amount they received from their previous benefits, or more. Your Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that apply to you, for example if you: have children need help paying your rent have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working If you have a disability or health condition which means you get a disability benefit, you may get an extra amount of Universal Credit. You do not need to provide a fit note or have a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Removal of the benefit cap The benefit cap is normally applied to Universal Credit and other benefits. This is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get. However, the benefit cap does not apply if: you're State Pension age you're still working you received a Migration Notice letter If the amount you were entitled to on tax credits was more than you get on Universal Credit, you get a top up. It's paid to you automatically if you got a Migration Notice letter and made a Universal Credit claim by your deadline date.
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Everything we know about winter fuel payment U-turn
Everything we know about winter fuel payment U-turn Although the news is welcomed by many, there is still some confusion over what the announcement could mean Charities and MPs were among those who hit out at the move last year (Image: Getty Images/Image Source ) Huge changes have been announced to Labour's highly controversial policy, which limited how many pensioners could receive the Winter Fuel Payment. Rachel Reeves said more people would qualify for the allowance "this winter", and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to widen the threshold for winter fuel in a U-turn on one of his government's first major policies. However details of the changes and who will be eligible remain unclear, with Sir Starmer failing to confirm how many people will now get it during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. The payment - which is worth up to £300 to help with energy bills during the coldest months - was paid only to those on pension credit last year, but the policy was widely blamed for Labour's poor local election results. It saw 10 million fewer pensioners receive the money in 2024. Charities and MPs were among those who hit out at the move, showing concern for those whose income was slightly too high to qualify but then had expensive energy costs to pay. However, the restriction came in a bid to same save around £1.3 billion. Although the news is welcomed by many, there is still some confusion over what the announcement could mean. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here Here is everything we know about it so far. Article continues below Winter Fuel Payment means tested Last year, the Labour government introduced means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment, meaning only certain pensioners over 66 would receive the money, rather than all pensioners. This resulted in over nine million UK pensioners losing the additional cash last winter. The move sparked significant backlash against Labour, which has persisted. Legal challenges have been launched against the government's decision, with charities warning it could push more elderly Brits into poverty. Research by Unite Union revealed that over two-thirds of its retired members had to reduce their heating last winter, a third took fewer baths or showers, and 16% had to cut back on hot meals due to the increased costs of trying to stay warm. The removal of the benefit was also linked to the rise in Reform Councillors in recent elections. Under the rules, you are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you are over the state pension age of 66 and claiming one of the following benefits during the qualifying week: Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Pension Credit Universal Credit What was announced this week? Although there have been no official announcements or changes today, one thing has been verified: Starmer's intention to increase the eligibility of pensioners for this winter's support payment. According to Jon Greer, Quilter's head of retirement policy, the Prime Minister's suggestion signifies a "notable shift in tone". Who will benefit from the U-turn? During Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir did not clarify who would benefit from the updated policy, despite acknowledging in a recent BBC interview that there was a pressing need for clarity. "We will look, again, as I said two weeks ago, at the eligibility for winter fuel, and of course, we'll set out how we pay for it," he responded when Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch queried about the number of pensioners, out of 10 million, who would have the allowance reinstated. The queries arose following Reeves' earlier statement that people "should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter". When will details be announced? Should the UK government wait until the Budget to announce the changes, it would be just prior to when payments are typically made. Eligible pensioners receive payments automatically in November or December. Under the current, short-lived system, individuals are required to claim pension credit - a top-up to the state pension for those on low incomes. Pressure from Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, who had previously urged the government to rethink the cuts to millions of retirees, welcomed the PM's surprise reversal on Wednesday. She says that Keir Starmer should now provide winter fuel payments to the "majority" of pensioners. Speaking to the BBC, Ms Morgan said millionaires shouldn't be getting the payment. She said: "I'm not sure if millionaires should be getting a winter fuel allowance. So let's just make sure that they don't get it." But Ms Morgan added: "People below that, that's where the conversation got to be. I do want the majority of pensioners - I think they made a massive contribution to the country." Martin Lewis comments The Money Saving Expert founder said he was "delighted" about the news, in a social media post.. He said it was worth "explaining" the two issues he had always had with the way that the Winter Fuel Payment means-test had been put in place. He said: "The first one is the level. Currently, for a single pensioner, only those earning under £11,800 a year get the £200 or £300 winter fuel help. Now with energy bills still high and other energy bill help being taken away, that really was a big hit to the pensioners who were just above that limit. "I'm hoping to see this limit increase from the current £11,800 up to £20,000 or more. Perhaps they might only do it and link it to higher-rate taxpayers." He added: "The means test that they linked Winter Fuel payment to was Pension Credit. Now, Pension Credit has long been a flawed benefit which has been critically underclaimed, and even now, after all the communication over Winter Fuel, there are still 700,000 eligible pensioners who should get Pension Credit and thus winter fuel payments who don't because they don't claim. "Often, it will be vulnerable people with onset dementia or people who just can't go through the complicated process, especially on forms, or the message hasn't been passed on to them as it's quite difficult to explain the level of income that you need to get it. "So let's just put that into perspective, 700,000 people who have a total income of under £11,800 a year are missing out on the Winter Fuel Payment, even though that's the level the government says they should get it. Article continues below "So my big message to the Chancellor is, don't just increase the threshold. You have to look at the means test mechanism to make sure that the most vulnerable pensioners in this country, if they have income below your threshold, actually get the Winter Fuel Payment. And my fingers are crossed they'll be listening."
Scottish Sun
26-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
How to get free milk from supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda
Scroll to see how you can get free fruit and veg too HELPING HAND How to get free milk from supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EXPECTANT parents or those with young children may be able to get free milk from shops and supermarkets, thanks to a health eating scheme. The initiative also provides nourishing food for free including fruit, vegetables and pulses. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Get free milk for your children through the NHS Healthy Start scheme Credit: Getty The NHS Healthy Start scheme is available to those expecting a baby or with children under four. You'll also need be on selected benefits such as Universal Credit. If you're eligible you could get up to £442 a year for essentials to feed your family. The scheme also provides free vitamins to mothers and children. Here's what you need to know... Can I use Healthy Start? To be accepted for Healthy Start, you'll need to be on one of the following benefits: Child Tax Credit (only if your family's annual income is £16,190 or less Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Pension Credit ( including the child addition) Universal Credit, if your family's take-home pay is £408 or less per month from employment Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) However, if you're under 18 and pregnant you can claim, even if you are not claiming any benefits. How do I get the free food? The funds to buy food is given through a prepaid card which can be used in any shop or supermarket that accepts Mastercard. This includes major supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, as well as many smaller food shops. The Healthy Start card is topped up every four weeks. How much will I get? You'll get £4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10th week, £8.50 each week for children from birth to one, and £4.25 each week for children between one and four. This works out as up to £442 worth of free food over a year. The scheme stops when your child is four, or if you no longer receive benefits. What can I use the card to buy? With the funds you can buy plain cow's milk or baby formula milk You can also be used to buy fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, as well as fresh, dried, and tinned pulses. You can also use the card to get free vitamin supplements. These are tablets for women and drops for children. How do I get the vitamins? Women can get Healthy Start vitamin tablets while they're pregnant and up to their child's 1st birthday. Children can have free Healthy Start vitamin drops from the age of four weeks until their 4th birthday. Children who are having 500ml or more of formula a day do not need Healthy Start vitamins. How do I apply? Apply for the healthy start scheme online on the government website. You can also print out a paper form from the Heathy Start website here or ask for one from your GP or midwife. If you can't apply online, or you need help applying, contact NHS Healthy Start on 0300 330 7010 or by emailing To apply, you will need to provide some basic details such as you name and address, plus your National Insurance number and benefit award letter. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
