The Department for Work and Pensions is planning to stop four old-style benefits in the coming months. They aim to move everyone still claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support onto Universal Credit by the end of the new financial year. The remaining 500,000 households who are only getting either or both types of tax credits - and no other benefits from DWP or HMRC - must have made a claim to Universal Credit by the end of last month (March 2024) or their payments will be terminated. Government advice says: "By the end of 2024/25, we will have completed the moves of all legacy cases with tax credits (including those on both ESA and tax credits), all cases on Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, and all Housing Benefit-only cases. That will allow HMRC to close down the tax credit system for those of working age and DWP to close down Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance generating savings for taxpayers." Meanwhile, HMRC - which handles tax credits - has confirmed its new increases for those who still have an active claim and are yet to be transferred to Universal Credit. The new payment levels for the 2024-2025 financial year are detailed below and are set to be the final tax credit amounts offered before this payment is axed for good. Employment Minister Jo Churchill confirmed in a statement that the remaining tax credits-only recipients are expected to have been notified by the end of March. She added: "The Department continues to listen to all feedback to continuously improve the service, but to date there have been very few complaints, and any issues have been swiftly resolved.", as per . "Looking ahead to 2024/25, we will be migrating the remaining groups of households receiving legacy benefits to Universal Credit, excluding Employment and Support Allowance only and [those who claim] Employment and Support Allowance with Housing Benefit." "Our plans for 2024/25 are to undertake the issuing of Migration Notices to working-age benefit households sequentially, starting with Income Support claimants and those claiming Tax Credits with Housing Benefit from April, Housing Benefit only claimants from June, Employment Support Allowance with Child Tax Credits from July and Jobseekers Allowance in September. Households may be in receipt of a combination of benefits, for example an Income Support recipient could also be claiming Housing Benefit and/or Child Tax Credits." "From August, we will also contact those claiming tax credits who are over State Pension age, with households being asked to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on their circumstances." "The Government recognises that some individuals may need additional support to move to Universal Credit. The Department is committed to providing such support through a range of channels for anyone who needs it. We will continue to review and revise this approach." The Daily Star is now on
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