Welfare and Benefit Advice
Following a Carers Assessment or Review, we can provide benefit entitlement advice and support, assistance to apply for the correct benefits and support to challenge incorrect benefit decisions to all unpaid carers registered with Trafford Carers Centre.
In 2021, we assisted our carers in saving an incredible £714,531.48p
Our Benefit Adviser has a vast range of knowledge and experience, having previously been employed by the DWP. The benefit advice we assist with includes:
- Carers Allowance and Carers Credit
- Disabled Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Income Support
- Employment Support Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Universal Credit
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Bereavement Support Payment
Our Benefits Advisor is temporarliy unavailable. If you wish to seek benefit advice please see our Benefit Advice Contact Document.
Please note that we cannot complete the forms on your behalf. If you need support with this we can refer you to an appropriate organisation.
To access support from our Welfare & Benefit Advisor you must first be registered with Trafford Carers Centre and have had a recent assessment or review of your support needs.
New Cost of Living Payments from Spring 2023
Millions of the lowest-income households across the UK will get up to £1,350 from the Government in 2023/4 to help with the cost of living. Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time but are spread across a longer period to ensure a consistent support offering throughout the year. They will be broadly as follows:
Those eligible will be paid automatically, and there will be no need to apply. For more information, please visit GOV.UK.
- · £301 – First Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023
- · £150 – Disability Cost of Living Payment – during Summer 2023
- · £300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
- · £300 – Pensioner Cost of Living Payment – during Winter 2023/4
- · £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024
Tax Credits
From June next week, Tax Credit claimants in Greater Manchester, the North East, and the Yorkshire and Humber areas will start receiving requests called a Migration Notice.
What do you need to do if you receive a Migration Notice?
When it is your turn to be moved across to Universal Credit, you'll receive a migration notice in the post.
This will give you a three-month deadline to claim Universal Credit - you will not be moved over automatically you will have to make a claim.
If you don't start a claim for Universal Credit within this time, your current benefits will automatically stop.
Once you make a Universal Credit claim, your old benefits will be stopped and you'll have to wait five weeks for your first Universal Credit payment to arrive.
You’ll normally have to claim online, but you can also use the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline on 0800 169 0328 if necessary - you can also ask your local Job Centre for help with your claim.
Some legacy benefits, including Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, will "run on" for two weeks to help bridge that gap.
If you claim tax credits, your entitlement will end as soon as you claim Universal Credit according to the Government website.
You don't have to wait until your migration letter to move onto Universal Credit - you can move over early if you wish.
Tax Credit claimants are advised to seek advice before moving over as some people may be worse off on Universal Credit.
The DWP claims around 55% of legacy benefit claimants will be better off on Universal Credit, and roughly 35% would be worse off.
In these instances, you may be entitled to a top-up payment known as "Transitional Protection".
This means that their Universal Credit entitlement will be the same as their legacy benefit entitlement at the point they move.
For more information read what the DPW say about the UC Strategy.