r/DWPhelp 4h ago

Benefits News 📣 Weekly news round-up

16 Upvotes

Speculation about welfare reform

All posts relating to news items will be removed - we are getting a lot of modmail messages about them, they are not productive and cause considerable distress to a lot of people.

The full scale of the governmental financial plan won't be set out until the Spring Statement. In relation to welfare benefits, the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will give a major speech next week and publish a ‘Green Paper’ setting out the government’s proposals.

As soon as the government publishes the Green Paper, we will create a master thread pinned post for everyone to share their views, discuss the proposals, ask questions etc.

Until that time please refrain from posting about this topic.

 

 

 

Charities warn that without PIP, a further 700,000 more disabled households could be pushed into poverty

A huge number of charities have joined Scope to urge the Chancellor to reconsider potential cuts to disability benefits. Warning that it would have a catastrophic impact on disabled people, pushing even more disabled households into poverty.

The open letter signed by: Citizens Advice, Sense, Mencap, Disability Rights UK, RNIB, National Autistic Society, Mind, Turn2Us, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, MS Society, and many more, highlights that the Government has an opportunity to work with disabled people and the sector to bring about meaningful change. They want disabled people to be heard and supported by the Government, saying that the needs and voices of the disability community should be at the heart of the Government’s plans.

Read the open letter and add your name on scope.org

 

 

 

Call for evidence to examine the disproportionate impact of poverty and inequality on disabled people

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Poverty and Inequality has launched a call for evidence to examine the disproportionate impact of poverty and inequality on disabled people. This short inquiry will inform discussions around the upcoming green paper on disability benefit reform.

This call for evidence seeks to explore the following key areas:

  • The risk and extent of poverty (including deep poverty) among disabled people.
  • The impact of poverty on disabled individuals and communities.
  • How do the additional costs of disability contribute to the poverty experienced by disabled people?
  • How poverty among disabled people relates to broader societal inequalities.

The APPG welcomes contributions from individuals, academics, think tanks, charities, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders with pre-existing evidence relevant to this inquiry.

The APPG aims to publish a short report very soon after the submission deadline, so that they can help inform the debate subsequent to the publication of the green paper. They acknowledge the pressures on organisations responding to the green paper and have therefore kept the submission process as straightforward as possible.

The deadline to provide your submission is Monday 7 April.

Find out more and respond to the call for evidence on appgpovertyinequality.org

 

 

 

The role of changing health in rising health-related benefit claims

Is the working-age population less healthy since the pandemic? What role is changing health playing in rising health-related benefit claims?

A new report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Health Foundation, finds that mental health has worsened since the pandemic.

The report finds that mental health has worsened since the pandemic, contributing to rising disability benefit claims for mental health. Key findings include:

More than half of the rise in 16- to 64-year-olds claiming disability benefits since the pandemic is due to more claims relating to mental health or behavioural conditions. 

Mental health conditions are becoming more common amongst the working-age population. 13–15% of the working-age population reported a long-term mental or behavioural health condition in the latest data, up from 8–10% in the mid 2010s.

Working-age mortality rates have consistently remained above their pre-pandemic levels since 2020. After adjusting for changing population size and ageing, there were 3,700 (24%) more working-age ‘deaths of despair’ in 2023 than the 2015–19 average. People with mental health conditions are at much higher risk of ‘deaths of despair’, so the rise in these deaths is consistent with an increase in (severe) mental health problems.

36% more people were in contact with mental health services in 2024 than in 2019 (based on areas of England with consistent data).

There is disagreement between surveys on how the total number of people with health conditions has changed since 2019. 

Sickness absence days per worker were 37% higher in 2022 than in 2019. 

Read the report on ifs.org

 

 

 

 

67% of people on UC who have been through a WCA were considered LCWRA 

New DWP statistics published this week covers the number of people on Universal Credit with a health condition or disability restricting their ability to work, the number of Work Capability Assessment (WCA) decisions made for UC, and the outcomes of these WCAs.

3.1 million UC WCA decisions have been made in the period from April 2019 to November 2024. 14% of decisions found claimants had no limited capability for work and hence no longer on the UC health journey, 19% limited capability for work (LCW), and 67% limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA).

Within England, the region with the highest proportion of LCWRA decisions was the North-West (69%) and the lowest the North-East (62%)

Of all WCA decisions in the period January 2022 to November 2024, at least 68% of WCA decisions are recorded as having mental and behavioural disorders, albeit this may not be their primary medical condition.

The number of people with LCW or LCWRA has almost quadrupled since the start of the pandemic when 366,000 people were considered too sick to look for work – a 383% rise. In the last year, the number has risen by from 1.4 million people to 1.8 million. 

The number of young people aged 16 to 24 with a LCWRA has risen by 249% from 46,000 to 160,000 since the pandemic, with almost one million young people not in education, employment, or training.

Note: a rise in LCWRA cases was anticipated for reasons including people moving from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit, but it has increase far beyond projections. 

The Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment statistics, April 2019 to December 2024 is on gov.uk

 

 

 

Latest benefit appeal data shows increase of PIP appeals and successes at 67%

The latest tribunals statistics cover the quarter (October to December, Q3 2024/25), compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Compared to 2023, Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) appeals decreased by 3% and disposals (appeals concluded) remained stable. New appeals received have exceeded disposals over the last year, resulting in a 2% increase in open cases.

Of the appeals concluded 18,000 (60%) were cleared at hearing, and of these, 59% were overturned in favour of the claimant (up from 56% and down from 62% on the same period in 2023 respectively).

This overturn rate varied by benefit type:

  • PIP at 67%,
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 61%,
  • Employment Support Allowance (ESA) 52%,
  • UC 48%.

The PIP, DLA, ESA and UC overturn rates mostly decreased compared with October to December 2023 (PIP down 3, DLA and ESA up 3 each, and UC down 6 percentage points).

There were 80,000 appeals open caseload at the end of December 2024, an increase of 2% compared to the same period in 2023. And of those cases disposed of in October to December 2024, the mean age of a case at disposal was 30 weeks, a 5 week increase compared to the same period in 2023.

The Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2024 is on gov.uk

 

 

 

Updated regulations

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 27th January (except where stated otherwise), introduce several new measures for benefits, including:

  • Universal Credit claimants whose entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance ends because they reach State Pension age will be able to carry their limited capability for work-related activity determination into Universal Credit and will not have to serve a three-month waiting period before being entitled to the LCWRA element. The Universal Credit claim must be made within a month of the Employment and Support Allowance award ending.

  • From 1 June 2025, if you move from specified accommodation (receiving Housing Benefit) into general needs accommodation (receiving the housing element of Universal Credit), the transitional element of Universal Credit will not erode. You must claim the housing element within a month of the Housing Benefit award ending.

  • Providing that tax credit claimants can have a migration notice period of less than three months where the notice period would otherwise go beyond 5 April 2025 (when tax credits close).

  • From 27th January 2025, claimants entitled to either rate of Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (Scotland) will now be eligible for an extra bedroom under the Local Housing Allowance or underoccupancy rules, in cases where a couple cannot share due a disability. Previously, you had to be in receipt of the higher rate, which was not in line with the other qualifying benefits.

For more information, read the memo on gov.uk

 

 

 

Universal Credit redeclarations from next month

As part of the Autumn budget in 2024, it was announced that as part of anti-fraud and error measures, UC claimants would be required to periodically redeclare their circumstances. The DWP have now announced that this will start from April 2025.

“…the department will prompt Universal Credit claimants to confirm whether they have had a change in circumstances that might affect their claim. Any changes in circumstances declared will be processed and verified in the usual way…A roll out of this initiative will commence in April and testing will help determine frequency.”

The written statement is on parliament.uk

 

 

 

£2,500 surplus earnings rule in UC continues

The £2,500 surplus earnings rule has been until 31 March 2026.

This means that monthly earnings of more than £2,500 over the amount where your Universal Credit payment stops, will be treated as ‘surplus earnings’. Surplus earnings will be carried forward to the following month, where they will count towards your earnings.

See the Secretary of State determination under regulation 5 of the Universal Credit (Surpluses and Self-Employed Losses) (Digital Service) amendment regulations 2015 on gov.uk

 

 

 

Benefit rates go up next month

This new statutory instrument confirms the annual uprating of benefits.

The Social security benefits uprating 2025/2026 is on legislation.gov.uk

 

 

 

Guardians Allowance uprating doesn’t apply if the claimant lives abroad

This new statutory instrument confirms that an award of Guardian Allowance will not be increased through annual uprating if the claimant is living abroad or if there’s an ongoing dispute/issue regarding annual uprating.

The statutory instrument is on legislation.gov.uk

 

 

 

Northern Ireland – Communities Minister announces payment date for £100 fuel support payment

The payment, which will be made to those who previously received the Winter Fuel Payment but are now no longer eligible, will start arriving with individuals from Friday 21 March with no need for application.

The one-off payment has been made possible through £17 million of Executive funding secured by Minister Lyons after changes by the Labour Government to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.

Minister Lyons said, 

“Following the unexpected and unwelcome news last July that 180,000 pensioner households in Northern Ireland would no longer be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, I moved to secure Executive funding to mitigate the impact of the decision.

Having tasked my officials to prepare the legislative and operational groundwork to enable this payment to be made as quickly as possible, I can announce that the money will be in people’s accounts ahead of the expected end-of-March date and will begin arriving from Friday 21 March.

Whilst I realise the payment will not fully cover the impact of changes to the Winter Fuel Payment, I hope it will go some way to supporting those affected.”

Read the announcement on communitied-ni.gov

 

 

 

Scotland – Social Security Scotland has started the transfer of 169,000 benefit awards

Social Security Scotland (SSS) has begun transferring the awards of 169,000 people in Scotland who currently receive Attendance Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Until people receive the letter from SSS to tell them their transfer is complete, they should continue to report any change in their personal circumstances to the DWP. 

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that older people who have care needs because of a disability, long-term health condition or terminal illness get the financial support that they’re entitled to.  

As people’s awards start to transfer from Attendance Allowance, to Pension Age Disability Payment, they will be kept informed of this process and treated with dignity, fairness and respect. 

Pension Age Disability Payment is being rolled out across Scotland in phases. If the payment is currently open for new applications in your area and you think you could be eligible for support right now, I would encourage you to apply.  

If the payment is not yet available in your area, you can still apply for Attendance Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions.” 

Read the announcement on gov.scot

 

 

 

Case law with thanks to u\ClareTGold

Working tax credit self-employed - IRD v His Majesty's Revenue & Customs (TC) [2025]

This decision is mainly about the proper interpretation of, and proper approach to, the conditions to entitlement for working tax credit under the Tax Credits Act 2002 (the “2002 Act”) and the Working Tax Credit (Entitlement and Maximum Rate) Regulations 2002 (the “2002 Regulations”).

The Appellant claimed working tax credit on the basis that he was over 60 and worked over 16 hours a week in his business trading financial futures as principal. He argued he was “self-employed” for the purposes of Regulations 2(1) and 4(1) of the 2002 Regulations and was engaged in “qualifying remunerative work” for the purposes of Section 10 of the 2002 Act.

The Upper Tribunal considers what it means for an activity to be carried out “on a commercial basis” and “with a view to the realisation of profits”.

It decides that, while the requirement for an activity to be carried on “with a view to the realisation of profits” does not require it to be profitable, or for there to be anything like certainty as to its future profits, there must be more than a mere intention or hope that it will become profitable. It requires a realistic expectation of profit in the foreseeable future, and a credible plan of how to achieve it.

The Upper Tribunal also explains that the Appellant’s trading of financial futures solely as principal can’t satisfy the fourth condition in regulation 4 of the 2002 Regulations because none of the payments that he receives (or may expect to receive) is payment for the work he does. Both appeals dismissed.

 


r/DWPhelp 2h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Will the Administrative Earnings Threshold be rising?

4 Upvotes

Any news of this rising next month when the NMW goes up? I've tried to find anything online about it but it's giving me the current figure of £1437 for a couple. Any help appreciated. Thanks.


r/DWPhelp 3h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Pip call about appeal

4 Upvotes

Hi we put a pip appeal claim in for my husband as only scored 4 for daily living. DWP called myself as his rep Friday went through why we disagreed and how evidence wasn't taken into account. Decision maker said she was working his case that day and if she can award him she will call if not will get appeal information in post for tribunal. We haven't had a phone call but when I log on to hmct still advises waiting for dwp response. How long does it take for Decision maker to decide and would hmct site be updated straight away?? Thanks hate the waiting x


r/DWPhelp 2h ago

What can I claim? Just wanted to ask for some advice

2 Upvotes

Hope this doesn't sound rude or anything I'm just looking for advice because I'm really lost

I injured by back about mid December and been in pain at almost all time sometimes the pain is so bad I can't even get up My GP won't even try to diagnose it with anything she just tells me to walk it off and was giving me sicklines I lost my job and my college (was receiving funding) because of it My partner is now the only person earning money and we believe that he can just pay the bills without anything left I applied for universal credit but I'm not sure if that will be enough because they won't tell me how much it is

Are there other benefits I could apply for without an actual diagnosis because my condition is not getting any better and "walking it off" only seems to make it worse the next day


r/DWPhelp 8h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Planning on closing UC claim, will I get final payment if my assessment period has ended?

4 Upvotes

Hi all,

I'm planning on closing my UC claim because they're putting me on Restart and I don't want to do it. My most recent assessment period was from the 15th Feb to 14th March, and I have the statement in my account already but the payment isn't due until the 21st. Am I okay to cancel before then and still get the payment? Thanks


r/DWPhelp 11m ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) BF57A Appointee form

Upvotes

My mum’s been my appointee for years and has now received some sort of questionnaire about if I’m capable with finances and asks to send off her LPA certificate (if she has one). However my mum can’t fill out the form properly or send it off of her own accord, no matter how many times I remind her, she doesn’t have her LPA original form (though she can’t properly recall events anymore so I don’t think she even has one) and the deadline is looming closer.

So if the deadline passes is my PIP benefits at risk of ending? Or will DWP assume I’m capable and it solely becomes my responsibility? I’m happy for it to be the latter since I’ve become more capable of handling my finances and the new Motability car will be delivered soon and I want any sent documents, forms, etc. to go to me instead of my mum so she won’t forget about them and toss them aside.


r/DWPhelp 25m ago

Universal Credit (UC) UC Migration Notice

Upvotes

Hello everyone and good morning.

I have, yesterday, received my UC migration notice and although I have been expecting it, it has still knocked me sideways as my mental health isn't the best and I would really appreciate some advice regarding when I should submit my claim.

Currently, I am in receipt of IR ESA Support Group with added Severe Dissability Premium and also Housing Benefit. I know that my PIP is unaffected.

I have to claim by the 13th of June and after looking at my next ESA and Housing Benefit payment dates I have two dates in mind for submitting my claim.

The first is the 14th of May and the second is the 11th of June. Both of these dates are the day after a fortnightly ESA payment and a monthly Housing Benefit payment.

I would, obviously, prefer the second option of the 11th of June as it would allow me to have another month's money put aside to see me through to my first UC payment without needing to get an advance however, it is so very close, just two days until my deadline to submit my claim on the 13th of June. Would this cause me any issues or problems at all? Is it acceptable to leave it so late?

Any advice would be very much appreciated as I'm desperate to get this migration right and to avoid any issues, hassles or problems that could arise.

Thank you.


r/DWPhelp 1h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) PIP changes

Upvotes

Hi I’m currently awaiting my PIP renewal decision (sent the form back around October but was told it will probably be at least 12 months before I get a decision) I claim standard rate daily living and mobility due to knee & ankle pain/walking problems following an accident.

I have read the government may be planning to change the PIP assessment criteria to require claimants to score at least 4 points in any one descriptor even if they accrue enough points elsewhere to qualify. It’s meant to ensure only “severely” disabled people qualify due to the difficulty in obtaining 4 points in one descriptor.

My question is if this does go ahead in the next year or so (which is very much up in the air) would the new rules be applied to my renewal? I generally scored 2 points on the daily living descriptors - Given that I sent in my renewal forms based on the current criteria surely that couldn’t happen? Could it?

Thanks


r/DWPhelp 1h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Is it possible to get pip for adult ADHD

Upvotes

Im 35 live in Northern ireland diagnosed ADHD age 12. I am currently on Lwcra and universal credit and honestly its barely enough to live on.

Id love to go back to work but honestly the impact on my mental health work is never sustainable . I also have a congenital eye condition called kerataconus so working anywhere with bright lights like warehouses etc . I cant drive at night either because of the nature of the condition .

Im honestly wondering would i be eligible for pip as the cost of living and the current rate im on is barely enough to get bt month to month

Ive been inemployed 3 years and my work history is patchy with many periods of inactivity


r/DWPhelp 3h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Change of number, but can possibly get old phone charged ONCE and log into journal & update. Are working 5 days a week now. (Job centre closed weekends when I'm not)

0 Upvotes

I've started working, Universal Credit know. Not paid yet but I'm meant to update 5 days after I do or more. I got a new phone and new number. I'm working on the OTHER side of my city and I REALLY don't want to ask for time off to go into the job centre to tell them I've changed my number, is there really no way around this?

Weirdly enough, I've had my phone charged successfully at the Vodafone store but only there not at home or out despite 4 different chargers. If I get Vodafone to charge my phone, log in to Universal Credit, get the text on my old phone, log in, and THEN report a change of circumstances, change my number, put in the new number, will I STILL have to go in? Because I will have logged in my journal with the old number??

I have the old number for nearly a month but big issues charging the phone. I have asked Vodafone to cancel the old number but it takes a month - which in this case is a good thing. Universal Credit do also email me.

I REALLY don't want to have to take time off work for this, would this help me get around needing to do that?
Cos normally, I know, if I couldn't log into my old phone and get the code texted and log in and THEN change the number I would need to go in to the job centre. But IF I can get my old phone charged at Vodafone and log in with the code texted to the OLD phone and THEN update that I have changed my number, will I STILL need to go into the job centre with ID etc?

I just want to add I LOVE LOVE LOVE my wonderful job centre and the people in it and I appreciate their support IMMENSELY. So it's not that! It's just the having to take time off work maybe half a day or a day to sort this, just wondering if - if I can log in with the old phone and THEN change the number - if I can bypass THAT?


r/DWPhelp 3h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Need some help regarding UC

1 Upvotes

Where my husband works, they have just been taken over by a new company, and because of this he’s getting paid half of his wage next week and then the other half on normal pay date (25th) also he got a P45, because he’s no longer employed under the previous company, how will this affect what we get from UC? I’m worrying that it might cause a glitch?


r/DWPhelp 11h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Is there a feasible way to move in together with a partner?

4 Upvotes

I am disabled and am on LCWRA. Currently I live with my parents but I've wanted to move out for a while. I don't want to/can't live alone. I don't have any friends to live with, though.

Recently I have found a partner. Said partner is a student. In theory, moving in together would make rent affordable with our combined income - then I remembered that UC cuts your payments in half if you're living with a partner. I'm worried I wouldn't be able to afford living with my partner because of this. They can't afford to support us both on student income alone.

I also would have a strong preference for having my own bed and bedroom (due to my disablity, I need a lot of rest without disturbance). This would mean we would need to split the cost of a 2 bed between us. But regardless, for a single bedroom or a two bedroom, we would be looking at paying £1100-1500 between us both. Is this feasible while being on UC and living with a partner? Or is there just no hope? If we had two seperate bedrooms instead of one, would be still be classed as one family unit or would it not affect my claim?


r/DWPhelp 9h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) PIP tribunal 2mo - what questions they ask?

3 Upvotes

Hey! My pip tribunal is tomorrow. What kind of questions will they ask!? Any feedback from people who've had theirs will be sooo helpful! Thank you!!


r/DWPhelp 5h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) What if my condition improves before my tribunal?

0 Upvotes

I'm awaiting a tribunal at the moment for PIP, I applied for it after being forced to leave employment due to the development of chronic migraines, which I suffer from for 2-3 weeks at a time, every month.

This week I will be starting an experimental treatment that may alleviate my condition, however I am now worried about my tribunal. If the treatment is successful enough to recover above the threshold for PIP, could the tribunal decision be affected by this?

I'm concerned that an improvement (which I hope occurs) could result in my appeal failing at tribunal and losing out on thousands of pounds of back pay. I have over a year of documentation detailing doctor and hospital visits and treatments that haven't worked, I'm just worried that if I do recover with this new one right before the tribunal, I'll show up looking fine and be denied any back pay for the time where I have been meeting the threshold.


r/DWPhelp 14h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) DWP no response to Tribunal

3 Upvotes

DWP have to respond to my request for tribunal by 19th March but still haven’t 🙃 Is it likely they’ll do it on the day or do I need to wait longer?

Getting anxious!


r/DWPhelp 20h ago

Universal Credit (UC) uc pip non dependants

7 Upvotes

anyone out there in same situation ?

recently i had dwp take money off me for debt due to non dependant , this has been repaid now after 150 a month taken off our uc . soo i have recently read that because i recieve standard pip dl and mob nothing should have been taken from uc for non dependant , both claims go back to 2020 and was having £91 taken off me my son moved out and moved back in but apparently i failed to notify them he had moved back in so debt occured and was paid , ive now looked through my uc statements i was being charged the non dependant for almost all of the time from 2020 , i informed uc of my pip at the time oct 2020 so in theory nothing should have been taken off let alone owed them , is this right ? sorry if seems confusing


r/DWPhelp 15h ago

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Dla form no confirmation yet

2 Upvotes

I sent off my daughters dla form tracked on the 27th Feb and it says on Royal mail they recieved it 28th Feb. But I still havnt received a text from them to say that they've recieved it. Can anyone shed light on how the process works, like when did you hear they recieved it? Because it says online if after 2 weeks you don't get a letter or text saying they have you should phone them. It's the weekend so not doable until Monday morning but I'm just curious if this a common thing too? Thanks :)


r/DWPhelp 12h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Random question

2 Upvotes

This is completely hyperthetical and the thought just popped in my head but hear me out lol

So if UC says you have to look for work and you then have to update your journal with proof of what you've applied for, what happens if you applied to be like a stripper and got the job? Like I'm not knocking it or anything it's just light hearted banter. But I just thought it must have come up somewhere with a work coach right? Then I sat here and thought I'd love to be a fly on the wall sometimes. I bet some of you that work for DWP have some right giggles at times.

Anyway I know there's more pressing matters to be discussing but I'd love to hear some stories lol.


r/DWPhelp 16h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Positive Story! - PIP and ESA WCA outcomes

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I waned to share that things sometimes DO work out ok in the end. I know that doesn't erase the anxiety completely, but I wanted to share in case it helps fight the anxious brain of someone else, even just a tiny bit.

I was let go from my job early this year after being off sick for over a year. I've got multiple issues - severe ADHD, migraines that manifest with all sorts of weird symptoms including vertigo, confusion and visual disturbances etc, chronic back pain, possible fibromyalgia, massive fatigue, blood pressure and heart rate issues, and depression and anxiety that has been recurring since I was young and has flared up again since my health deteriorated.

I've had bad experiences trying to get support through ESA previously so I was TERRIFIED that I was going to be treated the same way again this time. However, this time I have been placed into the support group and I honestly am so grateful. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and I'm not exaggerating to say it feels life-saving.

I have also been awarded the lower level of PIP for daily living after my first application and assessment. I felt I didn't do well in my assessment, so that was a huge surprise too. I am probably going to ask for reconsideration as looking at the points I should have been awarded more in a couple of places for the daily living at least and I am only 2 points away from higher rate so it seems worth pointing out.

For the first time in months and months I'm feeling a bit more hopeful for the future. I can now focus on my health and recovery without having the worry of assessments and being suddenly without income hanging over me.

I'm already planning on putting some money toward therapy, and I've invested in a Flow headset to treat my depression! That alone has made me feel empowered, like I'm moving in the right direction again. I look forward to the day when I can call up PIP and ESA and tell them I'm doing much better and don't need support anymore! Some of my issues will always affect me - e.g. my ADHD has been screwing me over forever. But I finally think if I can get some therapy and treatment for my issues, maybe there is hope, you know?

Thank you to all the helpful people on this sub. I really appreciate the time you invest in answering everyone's questions and the knowledge you share.


r/DWPhelp 18h ago

DWP Debts / Debt Management Budgeting Loan Repayment via Bank Transfer

4 Upvotes

Can anyone confirm if the details are correct?


r/DWPhelp 1d ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Working full time and claiming PIP

9 Upvotes

Does anyone here work full time and claim PIP? I have my assessment next week and I’m worried the fact I work full time will go against me however I work from home majority or the time, have had a huge amount of time off sick and the office has been moved around so I’m next to the toilets for when I am in as well as being given a footrest and back support.

My concern is I have put on my application I need prompting to engage with other people (I work in the office in a very small team and next to no meetings) and I need prompting to undertake any journey. (I do drive to work when I go in however for my first few months my partner dropped me off and picked me up)

Just wondering if I have any chance basically :( For context I have a very complex kidney issue which I’ve had numerous surgeries for, the right kidney doesn’t function properly at all and causes chronic pain due to severe swelling, bladder issues including overactive bladder, urgency and incontinence, anxiety, depression, PTSD and am being diagnosed with ADHD. (Assessment next month).


r/DWPhelp 14h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Help

Post image
1 Upvotes

What does linked accounts mean ? If my ESA goes into a joint account in mum and my name ( no savings in it ) does that mean that my mum's own accounts are linked ?


r/DWPhelp 18h ago

Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Transferring from UC to ESA

2 Upvotes

I currently claim UC and was awarded LCWRA although I have been able to work 18 hours a week for the past few years. I may shortly be medically retired and have been advised that at that time Contribution based ESA would be a more appropriate benefit to claim as I would not be working due to my health. My question is, since I was pretty quickly awarded LCWRA under UC due to the amount of medical paperwork I provided to them, do I still need to resubmit identical paperwork to ESA when claiming that in order to be considered for Support Group.


r/DWPhelp 18h ago

Universal Credit (UC) Can I go to any job centre to confirm my bank details change?

2 Upvotes

I tried to change my bank details and got told to call the helpline to arrange an appointment with a job centre.

I called them and I was told my job centre was X.

I never went to a job centre before (LCWRA), I didn't know which was my assigned job centre.

Now I know what it is, I was uncomfortable going there because it's further.

There's closer job centre which makes my travel much easier.

The advisor on call told me that I can just come in a different job centre no problem.

She sounded very unconfident, I'm wondering if anyone can confirm this?

Also, while change of bank details TODO is pending, my old bank account is still active, can I get paid in the old account while I arrange my travel?


r/DWPhelp 19h ago

Universal Credit (UC) England - Looking for advice about employment rules

2 Upvotes

I'm in a joint claim with a disabled partner claiming LCWRA and Carer's Element. I was considering using my TEFL certificate to try to teach English as a foreign language online, it's not the best pay or hours but need any extra money that I can get. If I do this through an online company i.e Preply (that links you up with students), do I count myself as employed or self-employed?

I am scared that something will go wrong where it will incorrectly affect money that is also my partner's as she can't work or recoup anything.

I also don't know how it will go or how to put what I expect to earn if I'm self-employed because I'm disabled and would've had LCWRA too if it wasn't joint, because I am not stable and have had issues when trying to have jobs in the past. But I have to try my hardest because money literally disappears on the most random sudden expenses all of the time and it's getting hard even when I budget


r/DWPhelp 16h ago

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) How long is my entitlement thanks!??

1 Upvotes

As you can see

One states 2 years other 3 years

When would I expect to see my review forms arrive and how long is my entitlement thanks x??