Latest news with #Turn2us
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Money Help
1. StepChange Debt CharityOffers confidential debt advice and free, personalised plans to manage repayments or even pause payments if external or call 0800 138 1111They can help with things like credit card debt, missed rent, or loan stress — especially if it's keeping you up at night.2. Citizens AdviceYour local Citizens Advice Bureau can help with a wide range of issues — from benefit checks and energy bill support to housing and legal also offer face-to-face appointments or web chat at example, many people don't realise they could be eligible for Universal Credit top-ups even if they're working.3. Turn2usA brilliant website where you can:Check if you're eligible for for grants — from charities that help with everything from school uniforms to utility to external and try their grants finder or benefits calculator.4. MoneyHelper (by the UK Government)Free advice on budgeting, pensions, credit scores, and coping with money budget planners, bill prioritisation tools, and support for major life changes (like job loss or separation).Visit external.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The £1,200 savings boost millions of universal credit claimants are missing out on
Millions of people could be eligible to save an extra £1,200 through a savings scheme they are currently missing out on. People who claim universal credit looking for ways to make their money stretch a little further can earn 50p for every £1 they put away for the next four years through the government's Help to Save scheme. First launched in 2018, the scheme was extended in April and will now run until April 2027. While the government estimates that around 3 million people could benefit from Help to Save, just under 517,000 accounts have been opened since its launch in 2018. Here's what you need to know about Help to Save, including who is eligible, how to join and how much you can save. Help to Save is a type of savings account set up by the government to help lower income workers to build up funds. It allows people receiving universal credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over 4 years. Help to Save is backed by the government so all savings in the scheme are secure. The Help to Save scheme is designed to help lower income households boost their savings. To qualify for the scheme, you must: Be a UK resident If you live overseas, be posted overseas as a crown servant or with the armed forces (or be their spouse or civil partner) Receive universal credit Have earned income of £1 or more in your (or your and your partner's, if it's a joint claim) last monthly assessment period Anna Stevenson, benefit expert at Turn2us - a charity that helps people living in poverty - told Yahoo News it "regularly hears from people receiving universal credit who are going without essentials." "Saving can feel next to impossible - especially with cuts looming for many. But for those who can put a little aside, the Help to Save scheme offers a useful way to build up even a small buffer against future shocks.' People put their deposits into a government Help to Save account. Each month, you can save anywhere between £1 to £50 by paying into the account with a debit card, standing order, or bank transfer. It's worth bearing in mind that you do not have to pay money in every month. While you can make as many deposits as you like over the course of each month, those deposits in total cannot exceed £50. The bonus is paid every two years. The first 50% is paid after that two-year period, calculated on the highest balance you had during those two years. The second 50% bonus is paid after four years, based on how much your highest balance increased in years three and four compared to the initial two-year period. It's worth bearing in mind that you can only withdraw money from your Help to Save account to your bank account. You get paid bonuses from the government at the end of the second and fourth years of saving. They're based on how much you've saved. These won't be paid into your help to save account, but directly into your bank account. For example, for every £100 you deposit, you get £50 from the government. If you save the maximum amount, £50 a month for two years — totalling £1,200 — your bonus after two years would be £600. If you then save another £50 a month for the next two years — another £1,200 — your total bonus after four years would be another £600, for a total of £1,200 in government bonuses. How much you save The government bonus £100 £50 £500 £250 £1,000 £500 £2,400 (max) £1,200 (max) You'll need to sign in to set up a Help to Save account. This can be done through the government website. You'll be able to create sign in details when you log in for the first time. You'll need your National Insurance number or postcode and two of the following: A valid UK passport A UK photocard driving licence issued by the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland) Details from a self assessment tax return in the last 2 years, if you made one Information held on your credit record, if you have one (such as loans, credit cards or mortgages) You'll be asked to provide your UK bank details when you apply. After you have applied, you can also sign in to your Help to Save account through the HMRC app. Whether you have a single or joint claim, universal credit claimants can save up to £6,000 without there being any impact on your benefits. After this point, for every £250 you have in savings over £6,000, you'll lose £4.35/month of universal credit and £1 of council tax reduction. For example, if your combined savings total was £7,000, you'd get £17.40/month less via universal credit and £4 less via a council tax reduction on your annual bill. It's worth double checking whether joining the scheme can take you over the limit. The benefit is, however, how much you can tailor your savings. By calculating the monthly amount you can save — with the added government bonus — you can ensure you make the most of the scheme without going over the savings threshold for universal credit.
Daily Record
17-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
People reaching State Pension age can no longer claim these benefits
Some people may not be aware of benefits or payments which can no longer be claimed after reaching retirement age. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show the State Pension is now providing essential financial support for 13 million people across Great Britain, including more than one million living in Scotland. This regular payment is now worth up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B). How much someone receives from the contributory benefit depends on the number of National Insurance years they have accrued before reaching the current retirement age of 66 - you need at least 10 to qualify for any State Pension payment. For older people approaching the official age of retirement at some point this year, it's important to know which benefits will continue, new ones you may now qualify for and those you can no longer make a new claim for. Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you are a man born before December 6, 1953. You can check your State Pension age and whether you can start claiming Pension Credit on the 'Check your State Pension age' page of the website here. Benefits affected by your pension age Turn2us has created an essential guide to the benefits you cannot claim from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age. For full details on each of the topics listed below, visit the Turn2us website here. Pension Credit age When you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim: Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income Support Universal Credit Turn2us advises: "If you live with a partner and one of you is pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complicated." State Pension age When you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim: Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) You cannot make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) - the devolved disability benefit has now replaced all new claims for PIP for people in Scotland - once you have reached State Pension age. However, if you were already receiving DLA, PIP, or ADP you can renew the claim even though you are over State Pension age. This can only be done as long as you are claiming for the same health conditions you received the award for and your last claim ended less than 12 months before you reached State Pension age. People living in Scotland currently receiving DLA or PIP will be transferred to the new devolved Social Security Scotland system before the end of this year. Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent's Allowance are also not available once you reach State Pension age. Benefits not affected by your State Pension age You can claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age: Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC) Carer's Allowance - you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your income from State Pension Guardian's Allowance Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) You can also claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age, but only if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold: Pension Credit Housing Benefit Council Tax Support Support for Mortgage Interest Help with Health Costs Winter Heating Payment - Scotland-only Cold Weather Payment - England and Wales only Warm Home Discount Scheme Winter Fuel Payment - only those over State Pension age in receipt of Pension Credit or other qualifying income-related benefits will receive the money from this year Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - Scotland only, same qualifying rules as Winter Fuel Payment For more details about benefits when you reach State Pension age, visit the Turn2Us website here.
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Full list of DWP benefits you can no longer claim once you reach this age
You may not realise that reaching a certain age will disqualify you from a number of benefits. People reaching a certain age this year will no longer be eligible for a number of benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Many may not realise that getting to State Pension or Pension Credit age could see a series of payments stopped. According to the latest DWP figures, the State Pension is now providing crucial financial support to 13 million people across Great Britain. This regular payment is currently valued at up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B). The amount someone receives from this contributory benefit depends on the number of National Insurance years they have accumulated before reaching the current retirement age of 66 - a minimum of 10 years is required to qualify for any State Pension payment. For older individuals nearing the official retirement age this year, it's vital to understand which benefits will continue, new ones you may now be eligible for and those you can no longer submit a new claim for. Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you are a man born before December 6, 1953. You can verify your State Pension age and whether you can begin claiming Pension Credit on the 'Check your State Pension age' page of the website here. Benefits affected by your pension age Turn2us has compiled an essential guide to the benefits you cannot claim from the DWP when you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age. Pension Credit age As reported by the Daily Record, on reaching State Pension age, individuals will find they can no longer lay claim to certain benefits such as Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, and Universal Credit. The charity Turn2us explains: "If you live with a partner and one of you is pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complicated." State Pension age Regarding State Pension age, this milestone means that you are ineligible to claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and Contributory/New Style ESA. Additionally, initiating claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Adult Disability Payment (ADP)—the latter has replaced PIP for new applicants in Scotland —is not possible once State Pension age has been reached. However, if you already receive DLA, PIP, or ADP when you hit State Pension age, you are permitted to renew your claim under the same health conditions provided by the award, as long as your previous claim concluded less than a year before reaching the pension threshold. Scottish residents who presently benefit from DLA or PIP can expect to be transitioned into the newly established Social Security Scotland system this Spring. It should be noted that Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent's Allowance are likewise inaccessible when one attains State Pension age. Benefits not impacted by your State Pension age Even if you are over State Pension age, you can still claim these benefits: Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC) Carer's Allowance - your eligibility for the full financial element may depend on your income from State Pension Guardian's Allowance Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). You can also claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age, but only if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold: Pension Credit Housing Benefit Council Tax Support Support for Mortgage Interest Help with Health Costs Winter Heating Payment - Scotland-only Cold Weather Payment - England and Wales only Warm Home Discount Scheme Winter Fuel Payment - only those over State Pension age in receipt of Pension Credit or other qualifying income-related benefits will receive the money from this year. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - Scotland only, same qualifying rules as Winter Fuel Payment.
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Six DWP benefits you are not eligible for on reaching State Pension age
State Pension age matches your qualifying age for Pension Credit, unless you are a man born before December 6, 1953 Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that the State Pension provides crucial financial support to 13 million individuals in Great Britain. This frequent payment is presently worth up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B). The portion of State Pension an individual receives from this contributory benefit is based on the number of National Insurance years they have accumulated before reaching the retirement age of 66. To qualify for any State Pension payment, a minimum of 10 years of National Insurance contributions is required. For people approaching the official retirement age this year, it is important to understand which benefits will continue and which new benefits you may now be eligible for. Just as importantly, you need to know which benefits you can no longer claim, the Record reports. Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you are a man born before December 6, 1953. You can confirm your State Pension age and whether you can start claiming Pension Credit on the 'Check your State Pension age' page of the website here. What benefits are affected by pension age? Turn2us has created a crucial guide to the support you can and cannot claim from the Government on reaching Pension Credit or State Pension age. For further insight on the topics listed below, visit the Turn2us website here. Pension Credit age Usually, when you reach this age, you can no longer claim: Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income Support Universal Credit Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Turn2us clarifies: "If you live with a partner and one of you is pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complicated." People are encouraged to use the Turn2us benefit calculator to determine which benefits they are eligible for or consult a benefits adviser for further assistance. State Pension age When you reach State Pension age, you can no longer claim: Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) You also can't start claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) if you haven't already done so. But if you were getting DLA, PIP, or ADP before reaching State Pension age, you can keep renewing as long as it's for the same health issues and your last claim was less than a year before you hit that age. In Scotland, people on DLA or PIP will be moved over to Social Security Scotland this Spring. Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent's Allowance aren't available after reaching State Pension age either. What benefits are not affected by State Pension age? You can claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age: Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC) Carer's Allowance - you may not be eligible for the whole financial element depending on your income from State Pension Guardian's Allowance Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) You can also claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age, but only if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold: Article continues below Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - Scotland only, same qualifying rules as Winter Fuel Payment Support for Mortgage Interest Winter Fuel Payment - only those over State Pension age in receipt of Pension Credit or other qualifying income-related benefits will receive the money from this year Cold Weather Payment - England and Wales only Pension Credit Warm Home Discount Scheme Housing Benefit Council Tax Support Winter Heating Payment - Scotland-only Help with Health Costs
