Urgent deadline for tax credits claimants as DWP | European Markets

UK households claiming tax credit face an pressing deadline from the Division of Work and Pensions (DWP) as the advantages are because of be axed.

The DWP is changing six ‘legacy advantages’ with Common Credit score from April, together with Youngster Tax Credit score and Working Tax Credit score. These advantages will probably be completely discontinued from April so advantages claimants need to have migrated to Common Credit score earlier than the deadline or risk having their funds stopped.

The change received’t be made robotically so if claimants obtain a ‘Migration Discover’ letter from the DWP asking them to assert Common Credit score, then households are urged to not ignore this.

Tax credit are ending on April 5, 2025, so most claimants ought to have already obtained a migration discover letter from the DWP to assert Common Credit score. The letter offers you a deadline to assert it, which is often three months after the date the discover was despatched.

Citizen’s Recommendation explains: “If you get tax credits, your deadline to claim Universal Credit will be no later than 6 April 2025, even if that’s less than three months from the date on your notice. This is because tax credits are ending on 5 April 2025.

“In case your letter doesn’t have a deadline, you don’t have to assert Common Credit score except you wish to – even when the letter says you’ll have to assert Common Credit score in future. You received’t be capable to go back to your previous advantages after you declare.

“You should claim Universal Credit by the deadline on the letter. Your old benefits will stop after the deadline. If you claim Universal Credit before the deadline, the DWP might pay you extra to stop you being worse off.”

The DWP says in case you’re getting tax credit, you don’t need to do something except you get a ‘Migration Discover’ telling you that you should declare Common Credit score, or your circumstances change. You’ll stop getting tax credit when you make a Common Credit score declare – even when your declare isn’t authorized.

The federal government says: “After you’ve applied for Universal Credit, you’ll get a letter from HMRC called your ‘award review’. This will tell you when your tax credits claim ended. After your tax credits stop, you cannot claim tax credits again.

“In case your software for Common Credit score is authorized, it can take round 5 weeks to get your first Common Credit score fee. In the event you need help to pay your payments or cowl different prices when you wait, you may apply to get an advance.”

If the migration deadline to claim Universal Credit hasn’t passed yet, then you can ask the DWP to extend it.

If the deadline has passed, you can get ‘transitional protection’ if you claim Universal Credit up to a month after the deadline. After this point, you can still claim Universal Credit but you won’t get the transitional protection.

Citizen Advice adds: “Your previous advantages would possibly stop earlier than your Common Credit score begins. Once they stop depends upon which advantages you get, and once you declare Common Credit score.

“If you claim before the deadline from the DWP, tax credits stop the day before you claim Universal Credit. If you claim Universal Credit after the deadline from the DWP, tax credits stop the day before the deadline from the DWP.”