Latest News
Post Office Card Accounts
HMRC will stop payments into Post Office card accounts after 30 November 2021. This will currently only affect those claiming Child benefit, tax credits and guardians allowance.
If you collect your benefit this way , you need to contact HMRC and provide them with an alternative bank account. The money will be held by HMRC until they are informed of an alternative bank account.
You can contact Tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900
Child benefit can be contacted on 0300 200 3100
Guardians allowance can be contacted on 0300 322 9080 can
Benefits from DWP are still being paid onto the card until November 2022
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/post-office-card-accounts-closure-extended-until-november-2022
Child Trust Fund
New proposals have been made so that parents who have children with a disability can more easily access money from the Child trust fund. There is also a consultation link which is open until 12 January 2022 for anyone who would like to contribute.
We have spoken to a number of families unable to access this money because their child cannot give consent and meaning that they have to go to the court of protection.
The proposals will only allow payments up to £2500. Any amounts over this will have to be accessed through the courts.
For further details please see the link below
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan-to-help-families-access-child-trust-funds
and you can also access the consultation:
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/mental-capacity-act-small-payments-scheme/
Universal Credit for Students
Legislation is due to be introduced on 15 December that will stop students from claiming Universal Credit if they have not had a work capability assessment before starting a course of education. We have prepared a template letter for you to send to your MP, which you can view by clicking on the link below.
Universal Credit for students – Downs Syndrome Association (downs-syndrome.org.uk)