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Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Families on Universal Credit can apply for free £300 vouchers this month – check if you're eligible
Find out if you're eligible and how you can apply HELPING HAND Families on Universal Credit can apply for free £300 vouchers this month – check if you're eligible THOUSANDS of households can apply for free vouchers from their local council this month. This is through the Government's Household Support Fund, which has given £742million to councils across the country to help struggling residents. 1 Struggling families could be eligible for up to £300 in vouchers from the council Credit: Alamy Local authorities can choose how they use the funds to help people in their area, and the latest to reveal its plans is City of Doncaster Council. It says it will be providing one-off payments worth up to £300 to residents on certain benefits. You'll be eligible if you receive: Housing benefit Local Council Tax Reduction Universal Credit which includes the housing element Means-tested free school meals. Families can get £100 vouchers towards the cost of food if they have one dependent child. Households with two dependent children will get £200, while families with three or more will get £300. City of Doncaster Council says it classes children as dependent if you receive Child Benefit for them. Other eligible households - including those without children - can get £100 towards the cost of energy bills. The council is also putting £150,000 into supporting local food banks and its hygiene bank. Hundreds of thousands have been set aside to support community hubs helping vulnerable households and people in crisis. 6 Easy Water-Saving Gadgets That Can Save You £100s How can you get the payment? If you've already received help from the Household Support Fund before and you still meet the criteria, you won't need to apply. Instead the payment should land in your bank account automatically. You will need to contact the council if your bank details have changed, though. If you were paid by cheque previously, you'll receive the payment by cheque again unless you contact the council and provide it with your bank details. You can contact the council to change your details by emailing householdsupportfund@ You'll need to provide your name, National Insurance Number, full address, bank sort code, account number and the name of the account holder. If the council can't verify that you're still eligible for the payment but you think you are, you will need to reapply. Households that haven't received a payment previously will need to submit an application. You can do that using the link here. Make sure you apply before the applications close in July. When will the payment be sent? Households with children will get their food vouchers on or around July 15. Those who are receiving help with their energy bills will get their vouchers much later. These will come through on or around December 15. Can you get help if you live outside Doncaster? Most likely, yes. Councils across the country have been given money through the Household Support Fund scheme. They can choose to distribute the money how they want so you should check what your local council is doing. However the aim is to help households cover essentials such as energy or water bills and food costs. Some councils have not yet revealed how they are planning to spend the money, but others have shared details on their websites. For example, households in Redcar & Cleveland can get support worth up to £230. Those in Leeds can get payments of up to £150. Councils have until March 31, 2026 to allocate their share of the fund to residents. If you're struggling with bills or on benefits, it's likely you'll be able to get support. You should contact your local council or check its website to see what it's offering and whether you might be eligible. You can find what council area you fall under by using the government's council locator tool - Some offer supermarket vouchers while others are sending direct cash payments. It's worth noting that any help you receive via the Household Support Fund won't affect your benefit payments.
North Wales Live
05-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Parents urged to claim Child Benefit regardless of high earnings
A former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staffer with over four decades of experience in State Pensions and benefits is strongly advising all parents to claim Child Benefit, regardless of their eligibility for the payment portion from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Sandra Wrench has outlined three main reasons to claim Child Benefit: it helps with National Insurance credits, ensures your child gets a National Insurance number, and can increase your State Pension. Speaking to the Daily Record, the ex-DWP worker said: "With the introduction of the High Income Child Benefit Charge in January 2013, some parents whose earnings exceed the limit of £50-£60,000 have not bothered to submit a claim to Child Benefit after January 2013, as they are not entitled to the payment of Child Benefit. However, from April 2024 the earnings limit increased to £60,000 - £80,000." She added: "If your earnings exceed, it is essential that you still claim Child Benefit, but opt out of the payment. By opting out of the payment of Child Benefit, you do not then have any problem with HMRC chasing you for any overpayments. HMRC not only wants the Child Benefit repaid, but can also fine you. "By opting out of the payment, this saves you having to complete any Tax Self Assessment, as regards child benefit.", reports the Daily Record. To opt out of the payment of child benefit, there is a box on the Child benefit claim form in section 4 which you can tick. Key reasons to claim Child Benefit Sandra explained that there are three reasons for claiming Child Benefit, even if you opt out of the payment. National Insurance Credits You are entitled to NI (National Insurance) credits until the child reaches age 12. You get one credit for each week you have claimed child benefit, so 52 credits for a complete tax year gives you a qualifying year towards your State Pension. If you then have another child, your NI credits continue until the second child is 12. If your child was 12 in February, you would get NI Credits until the child was 12 in February. If you had not returned to work when your child was 12, so you had a part qualifying year from April to February, you could make it a qualifying year by paying Voluntary Class 3 contributions. So check your NI record on a regular basis, for any part qualifying years as well - you can do this on here or call HMRC NI helpline on 0300 200 3500. National Insurance Number Sandra explained: 'You need to make a claim to Child Benefit for your child to be automatically issued with a National Insurance Number (NINO) at age 16. If you do not register for Child Benefit, your child will not automatically receive a NINO at age 16, but will have to apply for a NINO. When you register a child with Child Benefit Centre, the child is allocated a NINO at that stage, which is then issued to the child at age 16. Specified Adult Child Care Credits If you return to work when your child is still under 12, and you pay NI contributions because you are working, you do not need the NI Child Benefit Credits. So if a family member, under State Pension Age (SPA), such as a grandmother or grandfather, is looking after the child under 12 while the parent is at work, the parent can pass the NI Child Benefit credits to that other family member. The credits can then be used by this other family member towards their own State Pension, if they have given up work. These NI Credits are then known as Specified Adult Child Care Credits, and you apply for them through HMRC. HMRC will not award the credits to this other family member without first checking that the parent has a qualifying year from working. You can only apply for these credits if the parent has claimed child benefit. More information on Specified Adult Child Care Credits can be found on here. NI Credits for Child Benefit If a claim for Child Benefit is made late, the claim can only be backdated three months, which means that NI Credits for Child Benefit can only be backdated three months as well. Sandra explained how this has resulted in some women losing out on the NI Credits for Child Benefit which would count towards their State Pension. This was reviewed by the UK Government in April 2023, and NI Credits can now be backdated to the birth of the child, so if you have missed out on these NI Credits, you will be able to claim these credits from April 2026. NINOs issued to 16 year olds, and change of address Sandra said: 'Please ensure you notify HMRC/ Child Benefit of any change of address as the NINO will be sent to your 16 year old at your last known address. 'With parents opting out of the payment of Child Benefit due to the High Income CB Charge, it is essential that parents notify the Child Benefit Centre of any change of address, so the NINO for their child is sent to the correct address. If a parent is not in receipt of Child Benefit, it becomes easy for a change of address to be overlooked and not notified to the relevant department. Child Benefit rates 2025/26 The new rates started on April 7: Eldest or only child - £26.05 a week Additional children - £17.25 a week per child Child Benefit is payable until the child is 16, or up to age 20 if the child is staying in approved education or training. Sandra warned: 'Do not confuse the actual payment of Child Benefit with NI Credits for Child Benefit - the payment of Child Benefit you get for the child up to the age of 16, the CB NI Credits are only available until the child reaches the age of 12. Full details on Child Benefit can be found on here. You can also contact the Child Benefit helpline is 0300 200 3100.
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
HMRC benefit claim all parents urged to make as ex-DWP worker issues advice
Parents have been told to claim Child Benefit - even if they're not eligible to receive it - as there are a number of benefits that come with it A former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) employee, with 42 years of experience in dealing with State Pensions and benefits, has issued a warning to all parents. She emphasises the importance of claiming Child Benefit for everyone with a child, even if you're not eligible for the cash part from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Sandra Wrench, who spent her career navigating the intricacies of pensions and benefits, has outlined three reasons why parents should claim Child Benefit. These include securing National Insurance credits, ensuring your child gets their National Insurance number and enhancing your own State Pension. In an interview with the Daily Record, the former DWP specialist said: "With the introduction of the High Income Child Benefit Charge in January 2013, some parents whose earnings exceed the limit of £50-£60,000 have not bothered to submit a claim to Child Benefit after January 2013, as they are not entitled to the payment of Child Benefit. However, from April 2024 the earnings limit increased to £60,000 - £80,000." She further advised: "If your earnings exceed, it is essential that you still claim Child Benefit, but opt out of the payment. By opting out of the payment of Child Benefit, you do not then have any problem with HMRC chasing you for any overpayments. HMRC not only wants the Child Benefit repaid, but can also fine you." She explained that by opting out of the payment, this saves you having to complete any Tax Self Assessment regarding child benefit. For those who want to avoid the payment but still enjoy the associated benefits, Sandra highlights a straightforward option on the Child Benefit claim form – a box in section 4 that can be ticked to opt out, as reported by the Daily Record. Sandra listed three main reasons for claiming Child Benefit, even if you decide to opt out of the payment. National Insurance Credits Firstly, National Insurance Credits. You're entitled to these credits until your child turns 12. For each week you claim child benefit, you receive one credit. So, a full tax year of claiming equals 52 credits, which goes towards your State Pension. National Insurance Number Sandra said: "You need to make a claim to Child Benefit for your child to be automatically issued with a National Insurance Number (NINO) at age 16. If you do not register for Child Benefit, your child will not automatically receive a NINO at age 16, but will have to apply for a NINO. "When you register a child with Child Benefit Centre, the child is allocated a NINO at that stage, which is then issued to the child at age 16." Specified Adult Child Care Credits If you go back to work while your child is still under 12, and you're paying NI contributions because of your job, you won't need the NI Child Benefit Credits. So, if a family member who's not yet at State Pension Age (SPA), like a grandparent, is caring for the child under 12 while you're at work, you can transfer the NI Child Benefit credits to them. These credits can then be used by this other family member towards their own State Pension, if they've stopped working. These NI Credits are then referred to as Specified Adult Child Care Credits, and you apply for them through HMRC. HMRC won't give the credits to this other family member without first confirming that the parent has a qualifying year from working. You can only apply for these credits if the parent has claimed child benefit. More details on Specified Adult Child Care Credits can be found on Child Benefit Backdating Child Benefit can only be backdated for three months, so you need to put in a claim to Child Benefit within three months of your child being born. If a claim for Child Benefit is submitted late, it can only be backdated for three months, which means that NI Credits for Child Benefit can also only be backdated for three months. Sandra highlighted how this has led to some women missing out on the NI Credits for Child Benefit, which contribute towards their State Pension. The UK Government reviewed this in April 2023, and NI Credits can now be backdated to the child's birth. So, if you've missed these NI Credits, you'll be able to claim them from April 2026. NINOs issued for 16 year olds and change of address On the topic of National Insurance Numbers (NINOs) issued to 16 year olds and changes of address, Sandra advised: "Please ensure you notify HMRC/ Child Benefit of any change of address as the NINO will be sent to your 16 year old at your last known address,". She added: "With parents opting out of the payment of Child Benefit due to the High Income CB Charge, it is essential that parents notify the Child Benefit Centre of any change of address, so the NINO for their child is sent to the correct address. If a parent is not in receipt of Child Benefit, it becomes easy for a change of address to be overlooked and not notified to the relevant department." New Child Benefit Rates New child benefit rates, they have been in effect since April 7, 2025, and are applicable until the child turns 16, or 20 if they continue in approved education or training. Sandra warned: "Do not confuse the actual payment of Child Benefit with NI Credits for Child Benefit - the payment of Child Benefit you get for the child up to the age of 16, the CB NI Credits are only available until the child reaches the age of 12."
