Tax credits to end this weekend

Tax credits are to end this weekend (Saturday 5 April) as claimants are being moved onto universal credit.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been writing to those affected to let them know of the changes, urging them to respond by the deadline date mentioned in the letter so they can keep getting financial support.

“The department recognises that some tax credit customers may wait until their deadline to claim universal credit,” the DWP said.

“For those customers who have a deadline date close to the tax credit closure date, we want to ensure that we provide as much support as possible.”

The DWP is opening its universal credit migration notice helpline on Saturday to make the process smoother.

Call 0800 169 0328 to get answers to your questions

Find out more here.

Government phasing out ‘legacy benefits’

This is part of a wider plan to bring government financial support into one place under the universal credit system and phase out old benefits, including:

• housing benefit
• income support
• jobseeker's allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance

Will the changes leave me better or worse off?

Many people will find themselves better off after switching to universal credit.

But if you lose money when making the change, you may get a payment called transitional protection.

This will go down gradually as your universal credit amount increases.

You’ll typically get transitional protection automatically, so you don’t have to apply for it.

How to claim universal credit

You can submit your universal credit claim in several ways:

• online
• by phone at 0800 169 0328
• in person at your local jobcentre

After submitting your claim, it’ll be about five weeks until you get your first payment.

If you don’t make a claim by the deadline date on your letter, your tax credits will stop on the day before.

Help is available

If you need any help with being moved on to universal credit, then you should get in touch with the DWP.

It’s also well worth finding out if you might be eligible for any other state support.

Try our benefits calculator or contact us to find out what financial help you might be able to get.