Benefits

Millions of low-income UK households will start to receive the first half of their £650 cost of living payment from TODAY. But be warned, there is a possibility some payments could be delayed. Here's what you need to know. 

Watch MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis interview the Chancellor of the Exchequer below. In the video, Martin puts his own, MSE users' and Martin's social media followers' questions to Rishi Sunak following today's announcement of a new cost of living support package.

More than 2.5 million people on legacy benefits will start to be moved over to universal credit from today in an automatic process that was previously halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government's own figures show that the move could leave 900,000 people worse off – though many others will see their circumstances improved. Here's all you need to know.

Millions will see benefit payments, such as universal credit and child benefit, rise from today under an uplift for the new financial year. If your family income is under £30,000 and you're not in receipt of any state support - it's worth spending 10 minutes to check if you're due benefits.

Around 6,600 people who get tax credits, child benefit or guardian's allowance paid into a Post Office card account need to take action urgently as HMRC will stop making payments into these accounts after 5 April. If you have an alternative account already you must let HMRC know and if not you'll need to set one up.  

Low-income households eligible for the Government's Healthy Start vouchers have just a few days to apply for a prepaid card to avoid missing out on payments. The existing paper vouchers are being phased out this month and families and expectant mothers must switch to the new system to continue to get help with food and milk costs.

People who applied for a Personal Independent Payment (Pip) but had their disability benefit claim rejected should appeal the decision after the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed to MoneySavingExpert.com that it wrongly denied 80,000 people their money last year.

Some 100,000 low income households and pregnant women currently in receipt of 'NHS Healthy Start' vouchers need to actively apply for a new prepaid card to receive their payments from 10 March, as the scheme will stop sending out paper vouchers.  

Up to seven million people in the UK are missing out on benefits they're entitled to, according to MSE founder Martin Lewis in the latest episode of his ITV show. He explained how to find out if you are, and also for those getting legacy benefits, such as income support or jobseeker's, how to check if you’d be better off on universal credit. Watch a brief extract below or see the full programme on the ITV Hub.

Millions of people who receive certain benefits, including the state pension, could get a one-off tax-free £10 Christmas bonus from the Government. If you are eligible, the money should be paid automatically but you can make a claim if you think you've wrongly missed out.