Benefits universal credit

HOUSEHOLDS on Universal Credit will want to make a note of these key dates in July and August. During these two months, some big money changes will be taking place including the first instalment of the cost of living payments. These changes will include Universal Credit , National Insurance and benefits . The Sun has condensed the changes down for you so you can easily keep track of key dates. First £650 cost of living payment Eight million households in the UK will receive their first £650 cost of living payment . You’ll receive £326 between 14 July and the end of the month. Read more on money BUDGET BOSS We reviewed the five best budgeting apps that can help you save £1,000s GRUBS UP I save nearly £1,000 a YEAR on groceries by joining a food club - here’s how In order to claim the benefit you must receive Universal Credit , income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment … [Read more...] about Three big Universal Credit changes in July and August you need to know including National Insurance

MILLIONS of people on Universal Credit won't get the £650 cost of living payment all at once. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the extra cash would be dished out as part of a £15billion emergency package for low income households. More than eight million households will receive the help, which will be paid in two instalments. The first instalment is worth £326 and will land in bank accounts from 14 July - payments will be staggered from there. But the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) say applicants may not receive money at the same time. The DWP say it's because there are millions of payments that need to go out and they can't all be processed on a single day. Read More On Universal Credit BENEFICIAL DATES Three Universal Credit changes in July and August you need to know about SAVINGS BOOST Millions on Universal Credit missing out on free cash worth £1,200 - are you? The first half of the … [Read more...] about Warning to millions of people on Universal Credit as £650 cost of living payment WON’T hit bank accounts in one go

By Sarah Dickins Published 25 November 2020 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing "At the moment we're not able to budget for Christmas or anything because we had to buy more all year round." Kirsty Clayton, 24, from Milford Haven, is one of the 112,700 people in Wales out of work and on Universal Credit - almost double the 57,400 last October. Like other claimants, mother-of-three Ms Clayton has received a £20-a-week top up during the pandemic. But that is due to end in March and there are calls for it to be extended in the chancellor's Spending Review. Neither Ms Clayton nor her partner are currently employed, and they are struggling to bring up three children aged two, one and three months. Covid: Wales faces a 'rising tide of poverty' Rishi Sunak's Spending Review: Four things to look out for Higher Universal Credit payment 'gives people dignity' … [Read more...] about Spending Review: Covid Universal Credit top-up ‘should be extended’

By David MacMillan Published 17 October 2020 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The UK's poorest households have been receiving higher Universal Credit payments each week since April, but many are warning they will struggle if the measure is not made permanent. An extra £20 a week. That's £80 a month, £1,000 a year. Few of us wouldn't feel the benefit of that cash. But for Clair, who volunteers at the St Aidan's Kitchen food bank in Hartlepool, that extra £20 a week was a life-changing sum of money. "It was amazing for me because I was struggling, I was a soup kitchen user myself," she said. Clair was unemployed and receiving Universal Credit. The year-long extra payment, provided by the government after the UK went into lockdown, was aimed at helping people through the coronavirus pandemic, It allowed Clair to buy smart clothes for job interviews and … [Read more...] about Higher Universal Credit payment ‘gives people dignity’

Families on low incomes are enduring a “year of financial fear” and making grim choices such as falling behind on bills, going without essentials or taking on expensive debt, a report has found. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) said the cost-of-living crisis and a decade of social security cuts and underfunding are taking a heavy toll. It used a survey of about 4,000 people on low household incomes in May and June (the bottom 40%, which equates to an income of under £25,000 for a couple with no children), for the report. Rather than making the trade-off between heating or eating, one in five (21%) low income households were unable to do either – going without enough food as well as being unable to keep their homes warm, researchers found. Six in 10 (60%) had gone without essentials since the start of 2022, or, had cut down on or skipped meals, or gone hungry in the previous 30 days. Recommended Over £130m handed to housing providers named and … [Read more...] about Families on low incomes suffering ‘year of financial fear’ – charity

THOUSANDS of people who are not eligible for a council tax rebate could still get up to £150 free cash to help with the cost of living crisis. Four in five households are now receiving council tax rebates automatically - the giveaway is part of a package of measures from the Government to help struggling households across the UK. You must be in council tax bands A-D to qualify for the payment, which was announced by the government in February to help with the cost of living crisis. While households who pay their council tax by direct debit will get the money automatically, others will have to apply. The deadline for this has now been extended until roughly September 30, 2022. But the longer you leave it, the longer it will take for your money to come through. Read More On Council Tax TAX TRIM Four ways including Universal Credit which could mean you pay NO council tax pay day Exact date households MUST apply for … [Read more...] about Thousands of people NOT eligible for council tax rebate to get £150 – how to apply

MILLIONS of workers are set to get a pay rise from tomorrow thanks to a government change. The amount of tax people pay will be slashed after changes are made to the way National Insurance is paid. The threshold for making National Insurance contributions (NICs) will rise from £9,500 to £12,570 from July 6. Now, The Sun can exclusively reveal how much more money a range of workers can expect to see in their bank accounts this year. The data reveals shelf stackers will see the biggest drop in National Insurance Contributions (NICs), with an extra £333 heading into their bank accounts this year. Sales assistants are next, with £292 and then hospital porters with £292. Read more in Money FREE CASH How to get £200 supermarket vouchers for food and essentials COSTA LIVING Huge increases at Costa Coffee send prices rocketing to £6.15 a cup The statistics are based on median salaries for each occupation. … [Read more...] about Millions to get pay rise from tomorrow – who will it affect? From supermarket workers to van drivers