Benefits

If your entire tax credit claim was wrongly stopped by the contractor Concentrix you'll receive a lump sum repayment, HM Revenue & Customs said today – but if only part of your claim was removed or reduced, you'll have to wait to get the money back in instalments.

If you've had your tax credit payments wrongly stopped by the troubled contractor Concentrix, it's possible to appeal and get backdated payments. Here's what to try, plus stories from those who've had credits stopped, including a single mum whose appeal is still ongoing despite her calling 67 times in one day.

Around 2,000 appeals against tax credit cuts will be examined by tax officials in the wake of HM Revenue & Customs' decision to axe a controversial contractor hired to cut fraud, it emerged today.

A controversial contractor hired by HM Revenue & Customs to cut tax credit fraud won't have its contract extended beyond May 2017 after massive criticism of its performance and claims hundreds have had their tax credits wrongly stopped.

A major study by the new Money and Mental Health Policy Institute has found more than 70% of those with mental health problems believe their condition has hit their finances – and almost 60% have taken on additional borrowing as a result.

Up to 200,000 people are putting their state pension in jeopardy by not claiming carer's credit – a benefit that plugs gaps in your national insurance record when you're not able to work because you're caring for someone.

More than a million people in England, Scotland and Wales who are eligible for – but don't currently claim – working or child tax credits should apply now or risk losing out under the incoming universal credit benefit system.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation fell to -0.1% in the year to September, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has today announced. But this means the basic state pension will rise by at least 2.5% next April.