Latest news with #Jobseeker'sAllowance
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
DWP rules for anyone on benefits who is planning a holiday abroad
The DWP has strict guidance for any benefit claimants who are planning a holiday abroad this summer - with consequences for those who do not follow guidelines People claiming benefits must take three steps before going abroad this summer to stick to DWP rules. Failing to notify the relevant department could lead to your trip being viewed as a deliberate act of fraud by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If you're planning to leave the country, you'll first need to inform the office that handles your benefit, which could be the pension service, Jobcentre or your work coach. You'll probably need to provide details about when you're leaving, where you're going and when you plan to return. You may also need to justify your reason for travelling - for instance, going abroad for medical treatment often allows you more flexibility to continue claiming benefits. This is necessary even if you're only going overseas for a brief visit. While some benefits may be suspended during your absence, others will continue to be paid as usual. Secondly, if anything occurs while you're away that could impact your benefit eligibility, you must report it as a change of circumstances with the DWP, just as you would if it happened at home. This could include purchasing property, working or claiming pension or other benefits in another country. Lastly, if a benefit claimant passes away overseas, the DWP must be notified immediately, and you must cease claiming pension or benefits for that person, reports Bristol Live. Breaking the DWP holiday rules Failure to adhere to these three rules could be construed as benefit fraud. Additionally, you may need to fulfil certain conditions while overseas to continue claiming your benefits legitimately. However, this largely depends on the type of benefit you receive. For instance, if you're on new-style Jobseeker's Allowance, you must have registered at least four weeks prior to your trip and be actively seeking employment until the day you depart. For those on Universal Credit, you need to meet the eligibility criteria throughout your holiday. If you receive benefits in error while abroad, you may be required to repay the funds you were not entitled to. Typically, this amount is deducted from future benefit payments. Some trips might need to be shortened if you want to maintain your benefit payments. For instance, Universal Credit can only be claimed during your first month abroad, unless you're undergoing medical treatment, in which case it can be extended for up to six months. Your destination may also affect your claim. Certain countries have social security agreements with the UK, allowing you to claim some UK benefits if you decide to move abroad permanently: Bosnia and Herzegovina Turkey Bermuda Gibraltar New Zealand Mauritius Channel Islands Jamaica North Macedonia USA EEA countries Serbia Kosovo Canada Montenegro Barbados the Philippines Israel Switzerland
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Number of Lanarkshire locals claiming Jobseeker's Allowance drops according to latest data
A particular success is the 50-plus age group, where more than 140 people in South Lanarkshire have returned to work. Latest official data shows the number of jobless people in Lanarkshire has gone down. This week's employment statistics show a seven per cent reduction in the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in South Lanarkshire. A particular success is the 50-plus age group, where more than 140 people in South Lanarkshire have returned to work. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: 'We know that by targeting personal support to every jobseeker, people gain the confidence to develop their abilities and skills to re-join the work force, or progress in their career. 'That's why Work Coaches are working hard, ensuring jobseekers know how they can benefit from the huge amount of support available. Specialist support also continues to be available for those aged 50-plus, or with a health condition, so they remain connected with opportunities. 'During the busy summer season, jobcentres are focussed on working with employers to increase the supply of new workers to help fill their vacancies, currently in retail and construction sectors where we have delivered work experience placements and sector-based work academy programmes.' In neighbouring North Lanarkshire, there was a four per cent drop in the number of people out of work. A focus on youth has seen 40 young people find or return to work with the help and support of their work coaches. Government Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, added: 'Supporting more people into work and putting more money in the pockets of working people is at the heart of our Plan for Change. 'That's why we are transforming the way we help people into secure, well-paid jobs. Six months after we launched Get Britain Working, we are already seeing the benefits with economic activity at a record high, with 500,000 more people in employment since we entered office and real wages growing more since July than in the decade after 2010. 'People all over the country are benefitting from increased training opportunities and the newly-launched Jobs and Careers Service will allow us to test new and innovative approaches to personalise employment support.'
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
State pensioners warned to make urgent check to see if they can slash their broadband and mobile bills by £100s
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) STATE pensioners are being urged to check if they can slash their broadband and mobile bills by hundreds of pounds a year. Older households can save money on internet and phone deals by signing up for social tariffs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Households can save money on their broadband and mobile phones with social tariffs Credit: Alamy Social tariffs are offered to those on government benefits like Universal Credit. And they can save you hundreds of pounds a year compared to standard deals. Not only that, but they often come with no exit fees, although you should always check the terms and conditions carefully. Virgin Media O2 is urging older households to sign up to its broadband and mobile phone social tariffs to save money. It comes after a survey by the telecoms firm found almost half were unaware of the cheaper tariffs. Households on Pension Credit, a benefit paid to state pensioners on low incomes, are eligible to apply for the provider's social tariffs. Customers can sign up for its Essential broadband package which costs £12.50 a month and comes with 15Mbits speed. There is also an Essential broadband package which costs £20 and comes with 54Mbits speed. O2 customers can also sign up for an Essential Plan mobile phone tariff with 10GB of data, unlimited texts and minutes for £10. All three of the tariffs come on 30-day rolling contracts meaning you can cancel at the end of each month. CHECK YOUR SPEED: Broadband How to get the best deal Of course, as is the case with any major buy like this, it pays to shop around to make sure you're getting the best package and price. The regulator Ofcom has a list on its website of all the firms offering social broadband and mobile phone tariffs. The list can be found here - It's worth scanning the list to find the package that best suits your needs. It's also worth comparing deals via comparison sites like Uswitch. For example, Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 50 offers a 50Mbits speed social broadband tariff for £15 a month, which is £2.50 more expensive than Virgin Media O2's Essential broadband deal but offers a quicker internet speed. Meanwhile, 4th Utility's social broadband tariff costs £13.99 a month and comes with 30Mbit speed. When applying for a social tariff, you will most likely qualify if you're on Universal Credit. Some other benefits qualify you too, but not always, including Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker's Allowance. Check out each provider's website where eligibility criteria will be listed. How to save on broadband and TV bills HERE'S how to save money on your broadband and TV bills: Audit your subscriptions If you've got multiple subscriptions to various on-demand services, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Sky consider whether you need them all. Could you even just get by with Freeview, which couldn't cost you anything extra each month for TV. Also make sure you're not paying for Netflix twice via Sky and directly. Haggle for a discount If you want to stay with your provider, check prices elsewhere to set a benchmark and then call its customer services and threaten to leave unless it price matches or lowers your bill. Switch and save If you don't want to stay with your current provider check if you can cancel your contract penalty free and switch to a cheaper provider. A comparison site, such as BroadbandChoices or Uswitch, will help you find the best deal for free. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
20 mistakes that could see your benefits from Universal Credit to PIP STOPPED
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOST of simple mistakes could see your benefits stopped, from Universal Credit to PIP. If you're on benefits, it's up to you to report any change in circumstances that might affect what you are entitled to. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A number of changes need to be reported if you want to carry on receiving benefits Credit: Alamy If you do not, your claim might be stopped or reduced. If you have been paid too much, you might have to pay some of the money back as well as a £50 penalty. In a worse case scenario, not reporting a change in circumstances can be classed as benefit fraud which is illegal. The types of changes in circumstances you have to report vary depending on your benefit. However, there is a list on the government's website with the main changes you need to report. The list of 20 is: changing your name or gender finding or finishing a job, or working different hours your income going up or down starting or stopping education, training or an apprenticeship moving house people moving into or out of the place you live (for example your partner, a child or lodger) the death of your partner or someone you live with having a baby starting or stopping caring for someone getting married or divorced starting or ending a civil partnership planning to go abroad for any length of time going into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation any changes to your medical condition or disability changing your doctor 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) changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets you or your partner getting back-pay (sometimes called "arrears") for salary or earnings you're owed changes to your immigration status, if you're not a British citizen If you claim Child Benefit, you also need to report changes to your child's circumstances. You need to tell HMRC if your child: starts getting Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) changes their name by deed poll gets married or forms a civil partnership moves in with their partner goes missing You also need to report if: your child is staying in or leaving education around their 16th birthday, they move away from home, they go into hospital or care, their gender changes or they die. Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence It's worth looking on the government's website for changes you need to report for your benefit. Some benefits require you report specific things that you don't have to report if you're on another benefit. For example, those on Universal Credit need to report if their rent goes up or down. This is because housing costs impact what you receive in the housing element of Universal Credit. Meanwhile, if you're on PIP, you need to report if you need more or less help with daily living and mobility tasks. This is because the amount you receive in the benefit is based on how much you struggle with daily living. How to report a change in circumstances Who you need to report a change in circumstances to depends on what benefit you receive. Here is how to report them for the main benefits: Universal Credit - Report changes using your Universal Credit online account if you have one or contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644. Pension Credit - Call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469 or report changes by post. The address is on the letters you get about your Pension Credit. Attendance Allowance - Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122. Disability benefits - Call the Disability Service Centre to report changes if you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or PIP. The number to call is 0800 121 4433. Carer's Allowance - Report a change online or call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297. Housing Benefit - Tell your local council about changes if you get Housing Benefit. You can find what local council area you fall under via Child Benefit - Report changes using the Child Benefit online service or call on 0300 200 3100. All other benefits - Call Jobcentre Plus to report changes. You need to have your National Insurance number when you call. You can find your nearest Jobcentre Plus via What happens if you don't report a change in circumstances If you've not reported a change in circumstances and have been overpaid, you'll have to pay it back. You should get a letter from DWP Debt Management explaining how to repay and manage any benefit money you owe. You can pay back the overpayment in full or set up regular monthly payments. If you need help managing repayments, you can contact the DWP Debt Management contact centre on 0800 916 0647. If you are found to have been overpaid due to your own negligence or error you may also have to pay a £50 penalty. If you're suspected to have committed benefit fraud, you'll be contacted by the DWP, HMRC, the Defence Business Services or your local authority. If you are found to have committed benefit fraud, one or more of the following may happen: you'll be told to pay back the overpaid money you may be taken to court or asked to pay a penalty (between £350 and £5,000) your benefits may be reduced or stopped More information on this can be found via 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. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
All the benefits that could be STOPPED over easy holiday mistake including Universal Credit and PIP
We reveal below how you can check if you're eligible for benefits TRIP UP All the benefits that could be STOPPED over easy holiday mistake including Universal Credit and PIP Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SIMPLE holiday error could see a host of benefits including Universal Credit and PIP stopped. You may even have to pay back any overpaid money and in a worse case scenario an up to £5,000 penalty too. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A number of benefits can be stopped if you don't report going abroad Credit: Alamy Going abroad is classed as a change in circumstances which must be reported to the office that pays your benefits. If you do not, it may be reduced or stopped and you could be told to pay back any overpaid amounts. If you are found to have deliberately not reported going abroad, it is classed as benefit fraud and you could be taken to court or asked to pay a penalty of between £350 and £5,000. However, at which point you have to report going abroad varies based on the benefit you are receiving. For example, you don't have to report going abroad if you're on Attendance Allowance (AA) and going away for less than four weeks. If you do need to report going abroad, you need to tell your local Jobcentre Plus or the office that pays your benefit. This is the full list of benefits where you may have to report going abroad this summer: Universal Credit Jobseeker's Allowance PIP Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Attendance Allowance Carer's Allowance Pension Credit Housing Benefit Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) Maternity Allowance Child Benefit Guardian's Allowance Here are the rules on reporting going abroad for the major benefits. Universal Credit If you're on Universal Credit, you can stay abroad for one month and carry on receiving payments. You still have to tell your work coach you're going away and have to carry on meeting the conditions of your claim. For example, if you are in the intensive work group and have to spend a minimum amount of hours per week looking for a job, you have to continue doing this. There are exceptions to the one-month rule though - such as if a "close relative" dies while you are abroad and it is not deemed reasonable for you to return to the UK. Meanwhile, you can carry on claiming Universal Credit for up to six months if you have gone abroad for medical treatment. You can report going away on holiday by signing in via your Universal Credit account. Jobseeker's Allowance If you are on New Style or income-based JSA you must report if you are leaving Great Britain for any length of time. You can let the Government know you are going away by calling the JSA helpline on 0800 169 0310. You can also write to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your JSA. You can find your nearest office by using its online branch locator. PIP and DLA You have to tell the DWP if you are on Personal Independence payments (PIP) Or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and going away for more than four weeks. You have to tell the Government the date you are leaving the country, how long you are going away for and which country you plan to visit. You also need to tell the DWP why you plan to go abroad. You can call the Disability Service Centre on 0800 121 4433 to inform them you are going away if you are on PIP or DLA. Attendance Allowance Like with PIP and DLA, you have to tell the DWP if you plan to go abroad for more than four weeks and are on AA. You can claim AA for up to 13 weeks while abroad, or 26 weeks if you're going away for medical treatment. Carer's Allowance If you are on Carer's Allowance, you can go away for up to four weeks over a six-month period while still receiving the benefit. But you still have to report this or risk having to pay back your entitlement or paying a fine. You can report going away via the Government's website or by calling the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297. Pension Credit You can claim Pension Credit for up to four weeks if you are abroad. This is extended to eight weeks if the absence is due to the death of your partner or a child. However, you still need to report going abroad. You can do this via the Government's website or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 731 0469. Housing Benefit You can usually only carry on claiming Housing Benefit for up to four weeks if you go abroad. Like with Pension Credit, you can carry on receiving it for eight weeks if you have to go abroad because a close relative has died. But you should contact the Benefits Service on 020 7364 5000 to let them know you're going away. You might also be able to via your local council's website. You can find your local council by using the Government's online locator tool. 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. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
