Benefits

People who applied for a Personal Independent Payment (Pip) but had their disability benefit claim rejected should appeal the decision after the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed to MoneySavingExpert.com that it wrongly denied 80,000 people their money last year.

Some 100,000 low income households and pregnant women currently in receipt of 'NHS Healthy Start' vouchers need to actively apply for a new prepaid card to receive their payments from 10 March, as the scheme will stop sending out paper vouchers.  

Up to seven million people in the UK are missing out on benefits they're entitled to, according to MSE founder Martin Lewis in the latest episode of his ITV show. He explained how to find out if you are, and also for those getting legacy benefits, such as income support or jobseeker's, how to check if you’d be better off on universal credit. Watch a brief extract below or see the full programme on the ITV Hub.

Millions of people who receive certain benefits, including the state pension, could get a one-off tax-free £10 Christmas bonus from the Government. If you are eligible, the money should be paid automatically but you can make a claim if you think you've wrongly missed out. 

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live. It's an anxious and upsetting time, especially as it's now been more than a year-and-a-half since the crisis began. This guide looks at which benefits you may be able to claim – with many available alongside other Government support. You can also check the benefits you're entitled to by using our 10-minute Benefits Calculator. 

Over 600,000 people in England and Wales were 'pinged' and told to self-isolate by the NHS Covid-19 app between 8 and 14 July, new figures show. If you're one of them – or if you're one of 100,000s instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace, there's a range of financial support you could get, as MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has explained.

Campaigners have called on the Government to fix "absurd flaws" with the benefits system that prevent vulnerable people from getting help from family and friends to manage their universal credit accounts. Without this help, campaigners warn claimants ultimately risk losing their benefits.    

More than 85,000 universal credit claimants could see an increase to their payments from today after a Government rule change came into force.

Applications are now open for a new £250 payment for low-income families in Scotland, which is paid when your child is old enough to start school. 

Government figures released today show that up to an estimated £10.1 billion of pension credit, housing benefit and income support were left unclaimed in a single year.