The latest welfare benefits news and updates from our Money Matters Team.
New Regulations for ‘Protected’ Mixed Aged Couples (MAC) Effective from 8 June 2024
New Regulations are coming into effect on 8 June 2024 for all ‘protected’ Mixed Aged Couples (MAC) to retain their ‘protection’ even if they claim Universal Credit (UC) after receiving a Migration Notice. Mixed Age Couples can only make claims for Pension Credit and Pension Age HB if they are ‘protected’. Some ‘protected’ MACs will receive Migration Notices and be encouraged to claim UC (i.e., because they are receiving Working Tax Credit). These new Regulations ensure receiving a Migration Notice and claiming UC will not end their ‘protection’ if they claim within the necessary time limits. For more information click here.
Government launches plans to help people stay in work
Plans are being rolled out across 15 areas in England as part of the Government’s initiative to help people with health conditions back to work.
The WorkWell pilots will connect 59,000 people from October to local support services including physiotherapy and counselling so they can get the tailored help they need to stay in or return to work.
The WorkWell service provides a single, joined-up assessment and gateway into both employment support and health services locally to help people manage their conditions and to identify workplace adjustments or support that would enable them to stay in work or return sooner.
Participants do not need to be claiming any Government benefits and will receive personalised support from a Work and Health Coach to understand their current health and social barriers to work and draw up a plan to help them overcome them. Evidence shows that work is an effective way to improve wellbeing – reducing the risk of depression, improving physical health, and building self-confidence and financial independence. For more information click here.
Child Maintenance consultation
Through a new consultation paper, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) aims to improve the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) so more children get the financial support they are due. This includes ending the option of direct payments between parents through the CMS, meaning if parents do not pay it will be detected and enforcement action can be taken sooner. It also asks what further support the CMS can provide to help separated parents make family-based arrangements, which are agreed by parents, without state intervention, and how the CMS can better support victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The consultation is open until 31/07/24. For more information click here.
If you need guidance with welfare benefit matters and specific customer queries or issues The Money Advice Team is on hand to support all customer facing colleagues in supporting customers who may need help. Your referrals are crucial, so if you meet a customer, you see is struggling contact the Money Advice Team at moneymatters@greatplaces.org.uk with details we’ll try to guide you so that you can advise the customer appropriately.
