The DWP and HMRC are urging millions of households to act quickly or risk losing thousands of pounds in benefits.
Millions of Households at Risk of Losing Up to £8,400 in Benefits Due to Upcoming Deadlines
With the looming deadlines, millions of households risk losing up to £8,400 in benefits if they do not take immediate action. Families are therefore encouraged to claim these benefits immediately to ensure their continuous support in the coming years:
Child Benefit
Parents whose 16-19 year-old child is pursuing education or training have until Saturday to inform HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or risk having their Child Benefit payments cut.
This benefit is worth £102.40 per month for a single child and nearly £170 for two children, with an increase of around £67 per month for each additional child, and there is no limit to the number of children you can claim for until you go above the Benefit Cap.
Households with two children both in education, this can total £4,080 over two years. For households with two children who are both pursuing their studies for two years, this can amount to £4,080 within two years.
Even with just one child, 24 months of Child Benefit payments would total £2,457.60. If the child pursued a three-year course to the age of 19, the cost would be £3,686.40. For two children enrolled in a three-year study, the benefit can total £6,120. If this deadline is missed, thousands of pounds that could have been used to pay for educational fees could be lost.
Tax-Free Childcare
Households are also being urged to apply for a Tax-Free Childcare payout of up to £2,000 from HMRC by the deadline on Saturday, August 31.
Starting in September 2024, qualifying working parents with a child under the age of nine months will be entitled to 15 hours of childcare support. This is on top of the universal 15 hours, for a total of 30 hours of childcare when the child reaches the age of three or four.
This programme enables parents to get up to £2,000 annually per kid to help with childcare expenses, with the government contributing £2 for every £8 placed into an online account.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment helps people with pensions deal with heating expenditures over the winter, offering from £100 to £300 to individuals who meet the eligibility requirements.
Formerly available to all UK residents over the state pension age, this year's payout is now limited to state pensioners who receive means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit. This reform, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, will likely impact about 10 million people while saving the public purse £1.4 billion.
The qualifying week for the DWP's Winter Fuel Payment is September 16 through September 22. Those who are ineligible during this time will lose their winter benefits.
To receive the Winter Fuel Payment, people must check if they qualify for these benefits and submit an application before the qualifying week. Pension Credit is notably neglected, with an estimated 800,000 more people who are entitled but have not applied.
Adding together the highest sums, households in Britain might lose around £8,400 in benefits if they fail to apply before the deadlines for Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare, and Winter Fuel Payment.