Millions of households are set to lose out on thousands of pounds worth of benefits from HMRC and DWP if they don’t act quickly.
With critical deadlines approaching, families are urged to take immediate action to secure financial support that could be worth as much as £8,400 over the coming years.
Child Benefit
Parents have until Saturday to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) their 16-19 year-old is continuing education or training or their Child Benefit payments will stop.
Currently, this benefit amounts to £102.40 per month for one child and around £170 for two children, increasing by roughly £67 per month for each additional child with no cap on the total number of children you can claim for, until or unless you exceed the Benefit Cap.
For families with two children both continuing with two more years of education, this can total £4,080 over two years.
Even for a single child, continuing Child Benefit payments for 24 months would amount to £2,457.60. If the child were to pursue a three-year course until they turn 19, that would total £3,686.40. For two children on a three-year course, the benefit can add up to £6,120.
However, the extension of Child Benefit is not automatic, and parents must submit a claim by August 31 to continue receiving this support.
Missing this deadline could result in the loss of thousands of pounds that would have helped cover education-related expenses.
Tax-free Childcare
Millions of families are also being urged to claim a Tax-Free Childcare handout worth up to £2,000 from HMRC before the deadline on Saturday, August 31.
From September 2024, 15 hours of childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents with a child from age nine months old. This is in addition to the universal 15 hours, bringing the total to 30 hours of childcare when the child turns three or four.
This scheme allows parents to receive up to £2,000 per year per child to help cover childcare costs, with the Government adding £2 for every £8 paid into an online account.
To access this support for the upcoming school term, parents must obtain a childcare code by the August 31 deadline. This is especially crucial if their child’s next term starts in September, whether at school or nursery.
Failure to apply by Saturday means families will miss out on this financial assistance for the entire school term, potentially putting a strain on household finances.
This deadline is particularly important for parents of children who reached nine months old between April 1 and August 31 this year or who turned three during the same period.
Additionally, anyone who has returned to work or started a new job before September 30, 2024, must apply by August 31 to receive this benefit.
People can apply online here on gov.uk once they’ve checked the eligibility criteria.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment helps pensioners with heating bills during the winter, providing between £100 and £300 to those who meet the criteria.
Previously available to everyone above the state pension age in the UK, this year’s payment is now restricted to state pensioners receiving means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit. This change, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is expected to affect around 10 million people and save public finances approximately £1.4 billion.
The qualifying week for the DWP’s Winter Fuel Payment is from September 16 to September 22. Those who are not eligible during this period will lose the support for this winter.
To receive the payment for 2024-2025, individuals must be born before September 23, 1958, live in England or Wales, and receive one of the following benefits: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or Income Support.
It’s essential for people to check their eligibility for these benefits and apply for them before the qualifying week to secure the Winter Fuel Payment.
Pension Credit is particularly underclaimed, with 800,000 more people thought to be eligible but haven’t applied for it.
Adding up the highest amounts, around £8,400 in benefits could be at risk for households in Britain if they miss the deadlines for Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare, and the Winter Fuel Payment.
People can access the Turn2us and Policy Practice benefit calculators to find out what support they could be eligible for.
