Latest news with #Income-relatedEmploymentandSupportAllowance
North Wales Live
20-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
DWP manage migration to Universal Credit to start in a few weeks
Changes are on the horizon for Universal Credit claimants, with policy and benefits shifts pushing many towards Universal Credit from their existing support arrangements. The move, termed 'managed migration', will see legacy benefits phased out for new claimants. These encompass a selection of payments previously offered through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), such as Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, and Child Tax Credit. You can find more comprehensive information on the transition to Universal Credit and any payment increases for current recipients below.... Universal Credit migration The DWP is stepping up its efforts in the transition to Universal Credit. Initially, the DWP commenced the process with 60,000 notifications in February, with plans to intensify this figure to 83,000. Resolute on completing the migration, the final batch of notices is anticipated to be distributed by September. The DWP stated that this gradual progression will "allow a little more time before the end of March 2026 to provide support for our more vulnerable customers and complete the migration of ESA cases to Universal Credit". The DWP has allocated an extra £15 million to the Help to Claim initiative, bolstering support for over 800,000 people transitioning from ESA to Universal Credit by March 2026, which is two years earlier than the original 2028 deadline. Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability, recently stated: "This funding boost will support many people as they make the move from old benefits to Universal Credit - ensuring customers feel confident and informed throughout the application process." He urged claimants to be proactive, saying: "I want to encourage anyone receiving a migration notice over the coming months to act without delay to secure quick access to benefit entitlement." Sir Stephen also highlighted broader reforms, adding: "The biggest reforms to employment support for a generation will also ensure more people get the help they need to get into work and on at work, by overhauling Jobcentres, tackling inactivity with local work, health and skills plans, and delivering a Youth Guarantee." The Help to Claim service is dedicated to providing expert guidance to those starting a new Universal Credit claim or transitioning from an older benefits system. The service ensures continuity of support until the claimant receives their first correct payment. Payment increase Labour has confirmed that the standard allowance of Universal Credit will surpass the rate of inflation for the remainder of the current government's term. Baroness Maeve Sherlock said: "The proposed increases are inflation (measured by CPI), plus: 2.3 percent in 2026/27, 3.1 percent in 2027/28, 4.0 percent in 2028/29 and 4.8 percent in 2029/30. "As such, in each year, the rates will be what they would have been under CPI uprating and then increased by the relevant percentage figure." The current Universal Credit rate is: Single and under 25 - £316.98 Single and 25 or over - £400.14 Couple both under 25 - £497.55 (for you both) Couple if either partner are 25 or over £628.10 (for you both)
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Universal Credit claimants can get one-off payment worth up to £812
The smallest amount you can borrow is £100, but you may be able to get up to £348 if you're single, £464 if you're in a couple, or £812 if you have children Universal Credit claimants can get help with emergency household costs through a budgeting advance loan from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). For example, for you may be eligible if you need to replace your fridge or boiler, or for repairs to your home. You may also be awarded help if you need extra money related to your job, if you need to move, or for funeral costs. But as this is a loan, it needs to be paid back through your future Universal Credit payments, normally over a period of two years. You're not charged interest on a budgeting advance. The smallest amount you can borrow is £100, but you may be able to get up to £348 if you're single, £464 if you're in a couple, or £812 if you have children. The DWP will decide how much you will get. You must have been getting Universal Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Income- related Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit for six months or more, to get budgeting advance. You can be claiming benefits for less than six months if you need the money to help you with work. You'll also need to have earned less than £2,600 in the six months before your application, or £3,600 if you live with a partner. If you have more than £1,000 in savings, your budgeting advance will be reduced by however much you have in savings over this amount. For example, if you have £1,100 in savings, your loan will be reduced by £100. You cannot get a second budgeting advance if you have not paid off your first loan. Citizens Advice has listed the following scenarios which could qualify you for a budgeting advance: Replace broken appliances Buy work uniform or tools Unexpected expenses Repairs to your home Travel expenses Maternity expenses Funeral expenses Moving costs or rent deposit Essential items To apply for a budgeting advance, you can put a message in your Universal Credit online journal, contact your nearest jobcentre or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644. You will still need to repay your budgeting advance even if you stop claiming Universal Credit. The DWP can contact your employer or a debt collection agency to recover what you owe if you stop paying. Universal Credit payments rose by 1.7% from this month. Universal Credit is made up of a standard allowance, which is the basic amount you get before any additional elements - for example, if you have children or are unable to work due to illness - or any deductions are taken into account. Universal Credit full rates explained Standard allowance Single under 25: £316.98 a month Single 25 or over: £400.14 a month Joint claimants both under 25: £497.55 a month Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £628.10 a month Child element First child born before April 6, 2017: £339 a month First child born on or after April 6, 2017 or second child and subsequent child: £292.81 a month Disabled child element lower rate: £158.76 a month Disabled child higher rate: £495.87 a month Limited capability for work Limited capability for work: £158.76 a month Limited capability for work or work-related activity: £423.27 a month Carer element £201.68 a month Work allowance Higher work allowance (no housing amount): £684 a month Lower work allowance (with housing amount): £411 a month
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Labour freezes NHS prescription charges in England amid calls for 'sickness tax' to be scrapped
UK Government insists nine out of ten people in England should already be exempt from NHS prescription charges - FULL LIST of who should be getting them free NHS prescription charges are being frozen by Labour to help with the cost of Living crisis. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced he will keep the cost of medicine under a tenner to help hard-pressed families. Prices will stay at £9.90 per item but the move has reignited a debate about whether charges should exist at all in England. Under the Tories during the last 15 years, NHS prescription charges in England have been increased in 13 out of the 15 years. Running the NHS is a devolved issue for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where there are no prescription charges as the health service is funded entirely through general taxation. A three-month prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) will also be frozen at at £32.05, while a 12-month one will remain at £114.50. The cost of the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) certificate is also frozen. The Government said the move will save patients about £18 million next year while those already exempt from paying prescriptions will continue to be so. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: "Freezing prescription charges is a welcome and positive step however it offers only short-term relief and does little to tackle the deep inequalities baked into England's outdated prescription system.' Sir Keir Starmer announced the freeze on a visit to a health centre in Rossendale, Lancashire. He said: "Today we are freezing prescription charges so that means they won't go over £10 and that is really significant, because very many people have to pay for prescriptions. There's a sort of cost-of-living crisis that is still very challenging for people, so this is an important measure in that.' Who can get free NHS prescriptions in England The NHS website outlines eligible groups are automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions and the others which can apply for certificates that entitle them to free NHS prescriptions. Some prescribed items are always free, including contraceptives and medication given to hospital inpatients. Pregnant women and those who have had a baby in the last 12 months can get free NHS prescriptions. Age is a factor and you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are under 16, aged 16 to 18 and in full time education or aged over 60. You are automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are supported by certain benefits including Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. Claimants' partners and any dependent young people under 20 who are included in the benefit award are also entitled to free NHS prescriptions. You are entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you or your partner gets the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit. Not everyone getting Universal Credit is entitled to free NHS prescriptions as it depends on your total take-home pay in the last assessment period. Visit the Universal Credit page to check if you are entitled. You can get free NHS prescriptions if you have a valid HC2 certificate. These certificates are issued to people who qualify for full help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. If you are receiving contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, you are not automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions. However you could apply for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can get free NHS prescriptions if you have a valid war pension exemption certificate and your prescription is for your accepted disability. You can claim money back for dental treatment, NHS travel costs, sight test, glasses or contact lenses if you receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability. You can get free NHS prescriptions if you suffer from certain medical conditions if you have a valid medical exemption certificate. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: "Since June 1968, the medical exemption criteria have remained virtually unchanged, creating significant disparities in healthcare access. Estimates show that 2.79 million people in England live with at least one long-term condition but are still not eligible for free prescriptions. "The inadequacy of the current exemption list is evident: many long-term conditions aren't included simply because they weren't recognised when the criteria were established in 1968, or because people with these conditions rarely survived to adulthood at that time. Research consistently shows that patients who cannot afford their medication rely more heavily on NHS services, creating additional costs elsewhere in the system. "The freeze in prescription charges is an encouraging first step that provides some relief, but we need to build on this progress to address the deeper systemic problems. We urge the government to go further: to commit to a full review of the medical exemption list and prescription charges, with the ultimate goal of ensuring everyone with a long-term condition can access the medications they need without financial hardship." Nick Kaye, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, which represents 6,000 pharmacies in England, said: "It is good news for patients and pharmacies that the government has taken the step to freeze the prescription charge today for the first time in three years. However, we've long called for the prescription charge to be scrapped, which acts as a barrier to some patients accessing vital medication and this is something we'd urge the government to work towards. As pharmacists, we are health care professionals and have no interest in being tax collectors.' The Prescription Charges Coalition is a group of 50 organisations calling on the Government to scrap prescription charges for people with long-term conditions in England. One member organisation is Kidney Care UK. A spokeswoman said: "Freezing the current cost is welcome but ultimately the kidney community are unfairly discriminated by the prescription charges system. England is the only country in the UK where prescriptions costs apply, and given that only 26% of people on dialysis are in full time employment, many simply cannot afford medication."
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More benefits claimants to move to Universal Credit
People who receive certain benefits and tax credits from income support are starting to be moved to Universal Credit (UC). UC is a single benefit payment for working-age people, which is replacing a range of different benefits in an attempt to make the system simpler. The Department for Communities (DfC) has issued letters asking people receiving income support to make a UC claim. They will have three months from the date of the letter to make the claim or lose out. Universal Credit has been in place in Northern Ireland for new claimants since September 2017. In October 2023 it was rolled out further, replacing six types of benefits. The next phase will apply to people who receive other so-called legacy benefits. The scheduled dates for the switch from the remaining legacy benefits are: Income Support - February Housing Benefit (rental) - March Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance - April Income-related Employment and Support Allowance - May Communities Minister Gordon Lyons encouraged those who received a letter to take action and said his department was "available to provide help through a dedicated telephony team and face-to-face support at local Jobs and Benefits offices". People do not need to take any action unless they have received a migration notice letter from the department. About 71,000 households set for Universal Credit move
