THE likelihood of winter fuel payments returning for millions has increased following the approval of a legal challenge.

With the help of the Govan Law Centre (GLC), two Scottish pensioners have been allowed to continue their proceedings against the UK and Scottish government’s decision to cut the benefit.

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If successful, more than 10 million households that have lost the annual top-up of up to £300 could see the help reinstated.

In the past, the winter fuel payment was available to everyone aged 66 and above.

However, after Labour’s election victory, Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced cuts limiting winter fuel payment eligibility to those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

The decision led to the Scottish Government to follow suit.

In response, pensioners Peter and Florence Fanning raised a judicial review at Scotland’s highest court, the Court of Session, asking it to rule on whether the decision was unlawful last month.

Govan Law Centre said the permission to proceed, which was granted by Lady Hood in Edinburgh on Thursday, means the case has been assessed as having “a real prospect of success”.

If the cuts are found to be unlawful, the petitioners could ask the court to set aside the policy and restore the winter fuel payment to all.

However, there’s still no guarantee that such legal action will succeed.

A spokesperson for Govan Law Centre said: “Our clients are delighted that the court has granted permission for their judicial review challenge to proceed to a full hearing in early January.

“We await a decision on civil legal aid from the Scottish Legal Aid Board early next week in relation to the proceedings.

“If civil legal aid is granted we will then submit an urgent application for sanction for the employment of both junior and senior counsel and will announce our final legal team in early course.”

A procedural hearing has been assigned for December 4, with a substantive one-day hearing fixed for Wednesday, January 15.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners, with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this Parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.

“Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take-up has already seen a 152% increase in claims.

“Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with their energy bills over winter.”

What does the case argue?

The case rests on the accusation that both governments failed to adequately consult with those of pension age on the change and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes.

The GLC claims that the government did not adhere to the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

According to the Act, public bodies are obligated to consider how their decisions and actions will impact individuals with various “protected characteristics”, such as age and disability.

However, on September 13, the DWP did release its own equality impact assessment on target winter fuel payment, after receiving a Freedom of Information request on the matter.

In response to the request, the DWP said: “The government has followed its legal and statutory duties before introducing these changes and will continue to do so.”

But, GLC claims that there was no “proper assessment”  and that the research included in the impact assessment was inadequate.

Separately, the GLC also argues that the government had a legal duty to consult people of state pension age about the changes but failed to do so.

Will it succeed?

These court battles can often take many months, if not years and the chances of reaching a verdict before the winter is very slim.

However, if the Court determines that the government failed to meet its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 or consult pensioners properly, the decision to limit the payments could be deemed unlawful.

In such a case, the Court could annul the regulations that implemented the changes and mandate the Government to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment.

This would revert the situation to its state before the policy was introduced, and winter fuel payments could be reinstated for all pensioners.

Again, the likelihood of this happening before winter is low.

It’s not the first time people have challenged benefit rules.

Back in April 2021, two Brits launched a claim against the DWP on behalf of the 1.9million households on legacy benefits who did not receive a £20 a week uplift given to those on Universal Credit during the pandemic.

They argued that those on legacy benefits should have been granted the same uplift.

However, the court ruling that followed in February 2022 dashed hopes of a payout that could have been worth £1,500 in backdated benefits.

How have winter fuel payments changed?

Winter fuel payments are now limited to retirees on pension credit or those receiving certain other means-tested benefits.

Only individuals claiming the following benefits will be eligible for a winter fuel payment this year:

• Pension credit
• Universal Credit
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
• Income-related employment support allowance (ESA)
• Child tax credit
• Working tax credit

To be eligible for this year’s payment, you must have an active claim for the benefits mentioned above during the “qualifying week,” which runs from 16 to 22 September (this week).

Most households automatically receive the winter fuel payment, including those on pension credit.

Over 800,000 households are thought to be missing out on pension credit, which unlocks their eligibility for this year’s winter fuel payment.

If you don’t apply for this year’s payment by the end of the week, you might assume that you won’t qualify.

However, thanks to a little-known loophole, this is not the case.

This is because new claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months.

This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is December 21.

Of course, if you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s £300.

MILLIONS will enjoy an extra hour in bed as the clocks go back in the early hours of Sunday morning.

British Summer Time (BST) ends at 2am on October 27, when the time reverts back an hour to 1am.

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When the clocks go back, we transition into Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

This change results in more daylight in the mornings but also brings darker evenings.

Below, we outline the rules surrounding working hours during the clock change and clarify your rights in such situations.

Will I have to work an extra hour?

This will all depend on how your employment contract is worded.

For example, if it says you have to work specific times, such as 12am to 8am, you will likely have to work the extra hour.

However, if it states the number of hours you should work, for example, an eight-hour shift, you should be allowed to finish an hour early.

Will I get paid for working an extra hour?

If you’re among the unlucky few who have to work the extra hour, whether you’ll receive additional pay depends on how you are typically compensated.

If you’re paid by the hour, you should get some extra money for working longer.

However, if you are salaried or paid a day rate, your employer is not obligated to pay you more than usual.

The exception to this is if the extra hour pushes your equivalent hourly wage below the national living wage, which is £11.44 per hour for workers over 23.

To calculate this, divide the amount you’re being paid for the shift by the number of hours you’ve worked.

If you’re asked to work extra for no pay, double-check to ensure you won’t be dipping below the minimum legal requirement.

You can also report your employer to HMRC.
Even if you’re not entitled to extra pay, for instance, because you’re on a salary and earning more than minimum wage, it’s worth flagging the issue to your employer.

Your company might ask you to start an hour later or let you leave an hour earlier. Or it might offer to pay you overtime for the extra hour.

What are night workers’ rights?

You are already entitled to certain rights if you work night shifts, according to the Working Time Regulations.

You are classed as a night worker if you work at least three hours through the night, usually in the period between 11am and 6am.

If you do night work, you should not have to work more than eight hours in a 24-hour period. This is usually calculated over a 17-week period.

Regular overtime is included in this average, and workers cannot opt out of this limit.

Because of the health impacts of nighttime working, your employer must offer you a free health assessment regularly.

You also have a right to breaks.

You are allowed at least one uninterrupted 20-minute break if your shift is longer than six hours.

You must also have at least 11 consecutive hours’ rest in any 24-hour period and one day off each week or two consecutive days off in a fortnight.

SHOPPERS are flocking to a major supermarket chain to stock up on new Quality Street bags, which are cheaper and contain more chocolate than the iconic tubs.

Tesco is selling a brand new refill pack of the Nestle-made chocolates for just £5.

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These bags contain 750g of Quality Street chocolate, which is 150g more than you find in the typical 600g tub available this year.

The refill bag costs £5 (66p per 100g) for shoppers who scan their Clubcard at checkout.

Without a Clubcard, the price doubles to £10 (£1.33 per 100g).

However, the Clubcard offer means that shoppers save £1 compared to buying a standard Quality Street tub, which costs £6. (£1 per 100g).

Those who have managed to pick up the refill bags have taken to social media to share the find.

One person said on Facebook: “They’re absolutely massive and bigger than any of the Christmas tubs.”

Another said: “Perfect to stock up ahead of Christmas.”

“Refill pack? Refill my tummy more like,” said a third shopper.

However, if you don’t have a tub and wish to purchase one that you can refill in the future, it’s worth shopping around for a better deal.

For example, Aldi shoppers can pick up a 600g Quality Street tub for just £3.89 (65p per 100g) this week.

QUALITY STREET CHANGES FOR 2024

Customers discovered they can no longer visit their local John Lewis store to create personalised Quality Street tins this week.

The service allowed shoppers to purchase a £17 tin with a personalised gift card and lid.

They could then fill these tins with their favourite Quality Street chocolates from dedicated pick-and-mix counters at John Lewis.

However, while the pick-and-mix counters still exist, shoppers can’t get a personalised Quality Street tin this winter.

Instead, they must opt for the £12 non-customised version.

However, Nestle, launched a new version of its 813g Quality Street tin in September.

The £12 tub features all the usual classic flavours and plays on Quality Street’s Halifax heritage – where it was first manufactured in 1936 and still is.

It can also be purchased empty and filled at any of John Lewis’ Quality Street pick and mix stations.

If you’re not fussed about the nostalgic tin or picking your chocolates, you’ll pay less for a different tub or packet.

This week, shoppers can pick up a plastic 600g tub from Aldi for £3.89 – 65p per 100g.

You can also pick up a 357g sharing bag of Quality Street from Home Bargains for just £3.49 – £1.16 per 100g.

Nestle has also brought back a Quality Street fan-favourite for the second Christmas in a row.

The coffee creme flavour chocolate was last seen in Quality Street tubs over 20 years ago until the chocolatier reintroduced it last year.

Instead, the coffee-flavour fondant wrapped in dark chocolate has joined the 11 other Quality Street sweets at pick-and-mix stations across selected John Lewis stores in the UK.

They are also available in a limited-edition cracker at Waitrose and John Lewis stores for £5.50.

For the first time ever, Nestle is launching paper Quality Street tubs.

The tubs are available at 60 Tesco supermarkets.

Their introduction is part of a trial, and Nestle will gauge the product’s popularity among shoppers.

It claims the paper tub, adorned in the signature Quality Street purple, boasts a luxurious design and feel.

They feature a “re-close” mechanism that ensures the lid can be securely sealed even after opening.

This isn’t the first time Quality Street has introduced new packaging to make the festive favourites easier to recycle.

Nestle left shoppers outraged when it changed the Quality Street chocolate wrappers for the same reason in October 2022.

The iconic brightly coloured plastic and foil wrappers that had encased its famous chocolates for 86 years were replaced with a more understated form of waxed paper.

However, the introduction of new paper tubs does not signal the immediate discontinuation of plastic and metal Quality Street tins.

Shoppers can still buy 600g plastic tubs of Quality Street chocolates at most major supermarkets.

Tins containing over 800g of the festive chocolates continue to be available too.

THESE are the key dates supermarket shoppers need to know about so they can get their Christmas bonus – and how you can pocket a free £25 cash boost.

The festive period is one of the most expensive times for families, as they stock up on food, drink, presents and decorations.

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Many households will fork out hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, to celebrate Christmas.

In fact, research by comparison site MoneySuperMarket found that the average cost of Christmas rose to £1,811.70 per household last year.

Given that’s more than 80% of the average monthly income, it’s no surprise that families are looking for ways to spread the cost of festivities and stretch their money as far as possible.

Major supermarkets have responded by creating Christmas clubs, which allow you to save up each month, typically in return for a bonus in terms of points, vouchers, or cash to spend.

However, there are risks with these schemes.

First, money held with a supermarket is not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which means you won’t get automatic compensation and protection if the company goes bust.

The other thing to consider is that despite the bonuses involved, most supermarket saver schemes have a low rates of return, typically less than you’d get if you put the money into a savings account instead.

However, thanks to a clever hack you can get the best of both worlds. 

Most of these accounts have a final date that you need to have saved money by in order to get the rewards.

If you put money aside throughout the year into the highest easy-access interest-paying account you can find, and then transfer it to your supermarket of choice right before the cut off, you get the interest and the supermarket bonus.

This also minimises other risks such as losing your saver scheme card, or not being able to get money back out of the savings schemes if you need it for something else.

We’ve rounded up all the supermarket schemes that are available, explaining what bonuses are on offer, and how to get them.

Asda – earn up to £15

The Asda Christmas saver card rewards you with bonus cash for any money you save before November 10.

You need to have saved £30 or more on your card by 5pm on Sunday, November 10 to qualify.

The bonus is then added to the card by 9am on Monday, November 11. 

The more you save, the bigger the bonus. The max you can earn is £15, but you need to have at least £280 stashed away to get that.

If you save exactly £280, the return rate works out at 5.36%, which is competitive with many savings accounts.

But, if you have £78 saved and earn a bonus of just £1, then your rate of return is just 1.28% and can be easily beaten elsewhere.

However, you can transfer in all your savings just before the deadline to add the bonus onto interest you’ve earned elsewhere. 

You can spend the balance on your savings card at Asda either in store or online, and at George.com.

To join the scheme, you simply need to order a card online or pick one up in store.

There’s no limit to the number of Christmas Savings Cards you can have, too, meaning you can earn multiple bonuses.

Make sure you register and add your Christmas Savings Card to your account.

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll see a ‘top-up’ option next to your card.

Follow the instructions on screen. You can do a one-off top up or set up a regular payment.

You can also top up your card in-store at any checkout (including Self-Scan and Scan & Go) or at a customer service desk. You’ll need to have either your savings card, key fob, or digital eGift card.

As long as you’ve registered your card online, if it’s lost or stolen you can log in into your account to cancel it.

Once you’ve done this, the card will be locked and unusable. Asda will replace the card either with a digital version that’s available immediately or through the post which can take 7-10 days.

The remaining balance you had left on the card when you reported it will be applied to your replacement card.

However, Asda says it can’t replace balances if the card wasn’t registered online.

Iceland – earn £1 for every £20

Iceland’s “Bonus Pounds” scheme isn’t technically a Christmas saver – but you could use it as one.

The supermarket will give you a £1 bonus for every £20 you top-up, which works out as a 5% return. 

There’s no limit to the amount you can save and spend on the card throughout a year, but the most you can have loaded at any one time is £1,000 including bonuses.

If you managed to save £20 a week, you’d have £52 in free cash over the course of 12 months.

If you’re topping up whilst at the shop, just let the cashier know how much you want to add and they will load it to your card.

To do it online, sign in to your account on the Iceland Bonus Card app. Go to ‘My Card’ and select ‘Top Up’. You can then top up any amount with your preferred payment method.

You can sign up for a Digital Bonus Card online at iceland.co.uk/bonuscard, or pick up a physical card in an Iceland store and register it online or through the Bonus Card app. 

Iceland does warn that it reserves the right to withdraw, decline, cancel or issue a new card at any time and without notice. 

You can cancel your Bonus Card at any time, but any remaining balance will be lost, so you need to make sure you spend any savings first.

If you don’t use the card for 24 months, it will expire, and you will lose any money you have saved.

Iceland adds that it is not liable for any bonuses that are not spent before expiry, nor for any bonus amounts which have failed to load onto the card due to a technical or user error, nor for any bonus amounts which are not used due to lost or stolen cards. 

Savings can only be used to purchase products in participating Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores or online at the Iceland website.

They cannot be redeemed in a franchise store or at The Range.

Morrisons – earn up to £6

The Morrisons Christmas saver scheme pays you a bonus for any money you save. To get the extra cash, you need to have the savings in your account on October 31.

The more you have saved, the higher the reward amount – and the rate of return improves too. For instance, you get £1 if you have £49 saved, which works out as a 2% increase. But if you save £109, you get £6, which works out at 3%.

The rate of return is lower than you’ll get in many savings accounts, so it makes sense to save elsewhere and transfer the cash in before the deadline to get the rewards.

The different reward levels are:

• £49 = £1 total bonus
• £97 = £3 total bonus
• £149 = £4 total bonus
• £197 = £6 total bonus

You can continue to save after reaching £197 however you will not receive any further bonus cash from Morrisons.

The cut-off point to buy stamps is October 31. If you buy Christmas Saver stamps after this point, they will go towards your Christmas 2025 balance.

The total saved and bonus added is then converted into a voucher that you can use to shop use in-store or online. 

You have to select on your My Morrisons account which you want, but it’s worth knowing that if you select in-store you have to collect the vouchers yourself.

You also can’t get change from a voucher. So, if you have a £100 voucher you need to spend £100 or more in a single transaction at the till.

If your card is stolen, you simply login to your Morrisons More account and select ‘Replace / Cancel card’ from the main page, then click ‘Block & Report as Lost / Stolen’.

You can then click ‘Add / Request card’ to have a replacement sent to your home.

Doing this means the lost or stolen card becomes invalid and can’t be used, and all your More Points and Christmas Saver stamps will be transferred to your new card.

You can opt out of Christmas Savers any time before the cut-off date of October 31.

If you choose to opt-out and have Christmas Saver stamps in your account, these will be transferred into your Morrisons More account as More Points. 

Christmas Saver stamps are available from all Morrisons stores (excluding Morrisons Daily).

To buy, ask the cashier for the amount you want to purchase and scan your Morrisons More card to link the stamps to your account.

Sainsbury’s – earn up to £25

Sainsbury’s pays its Christmas Club members a 5% bonus on any savings made up until 23:59 on November 1^st.

You get £2.50 for each £50 you save, however, the maximum bonus you can be paid in a year is £25. 

That means if you put more than £500 on the card, your rate of return gets significantly less competitive. However, you can load any amount from £1 to £1,975.

The Sainsbury’s Christmas Club card can be activated and reloaded at a Sainsbury’s in-store checkout and self-service till only – it cannot be activated or reloaded at an Argos till.

But the money can then be used at Sainsbury’s in-store, Argos in-store, Sainsburys.co.uk and Argos.co.uk.

The full list of bonus levels are:

• £0.00 – £49.99 – £0 bonus
• £50 – £99.99 – £2.50 bonus
• £100 – £149.99 – £5 bonus
• £150 – £199.99 – £7.50 bonus
• £200 – £249.99 – £10 bonus
• £250 – £299.99 – £12.50 bonus
• £300 – £349.99 – £15 bonus
• £350 – £399.99 – £17.50 bonus
• £400 – £449.99 – £20 bonus
• £450-£499.99 – £22.50 bonus
• £500 and over – £25 bonus

To redeem your savings, present your Christmas Club Card at the checkout.

If the entire balance of a Christmas Club Card is not spent in one transaction, the remaining balance will remain available on the card for future use. The card balance will be printed on the till receipt.

If you’re shopping online, at the checkout page, under ‘Payment section’, select ‘Payment Card’.

Click “add a new payment method” and enter the 16-digit card number on the back of the card starting with 5339. You also need to add the expiry date, which is on the front of the card.

When redeeming in Argos there are no excluded items. When redeeming in Sainsbury’s the following items are excluded:

• Branded Gift Cards
• All lottery related products
• PayPoint products and services
• Stage 1 Infant Formula milk
• Tobacco and related products
• Postage stamps
• All in store concessions
• Petrol and Diesel
• Mobile phone top ups
• Travel Money

The Christmas Club card is available in most Sainsbury’s supermarkets. It must be activated before use, which can be done at the till or at self-checkout, and at least £1 must be added to activate the card.

The card has an expiry date printed at the front of the card – any remaining balance will be deducted on the expiry date, so you must spend the full card value before then.

Be aware that Sainsbury’s warns the card cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged.

Tesco – earn up to £12

Tesco’s Clubcard Christmas Saver lets customers earn a bonus worth up to £12 for their savings.

However, this scheme ended on October 17.

To get the full amount, you needed to have saved £200, which works out as return of 6%. The maximum you could save is £360, but the rate of return will be lower.

The full list of reward levels were:

• Top up your savings over £25 and get a £1.50 bonus voucher 
• Top up your savings over £50 and get a £3 bonus voucher
• Top up your savings over £100 and get a £6 bonus voucher 
• Top up your savings over £200 and get a £12 bonus voucher 

In November, Tesco sends customers vouchers for the value of what they save – including any bonuses, which they can spend over the Christmas period.

You can spend your Clubcard, top-up and bonus vouchers in-store, online and in the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app.

You can also spend them on fuel at a Tesco petrol filling station or Esso sites with a Tesco Express.

To join the scheme, you need to download or open the Tesco app, or sign into tesco.com/clubcard.

In the ‘Clubcard account’ menu, click ‘Christmas savers’. Then, find the top-up and bonus section. Select ‘Top up now’ to add to your savings.

Clubcard vouchers and top-up vouchers are valid for 2 years, and bonus vouchers are valid for three months.

Tesco says that Clubcard Christmas Savers top-up money is held in a separate bank account until vouchers are sent.

This account is managed by trustees, one of which is a professional trustee company, independent of Tesco. 

You can opt out of Clubcard Christmas Savers and change to a different voucher scheme.

If you opted out of the scheme before 11.59pm on October 17, 2024, your top-up value will be sent to you on a money card within the first two weeks of November 2024 and you won’t receive any bonus.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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A MAJOR change to Universal Credit, set to be unveiled in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, will provide more than one million households with a £420 pay rise.

Rachel Reeves is set to lower the cap on the maximum level of deductions that can be taken from a claimant’s benefit payments.

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can deduct money from a Universal Credit claimant’s allowance to help them make debt repayments.

These deductions can cover a range of debts, including benefit advances, historical overpayments of child tax credits, rent and council tax arrears, as well as outstanding water and utility bills.

The amounts are subtracted from a claimant’s Universal Credit standard allowance each month until the debt is fully repaid.

Currently, the DWP and third parties can typically deduct up to 25% of a claimant’s standard allowance to manage their debt repayments.

However, Rachel Reeves is expected to reduce this cap to 15% when she delivers her Autumn Statment on Wednesday, The Guardian reports.

A Whitehall source said: “It’s a downpayment on poverty reduction.

“It is unacceptable that people are in this kind of deep poverty, and this is a small victory for people in deep poverty.”

The measure, dubbed the Fair Repayment Rate, is expected to come into force next April.

The change is projected to benefit 1.2 million households, including 700,000 families with children, boosting their incomes by up to £420 a year.

However, some Universal Credit claimants still have more than 25% of their standard allowance taken off if they pay what’s known as a “last resort deduction”.

Whether the new cap will apply to those with such deductions remains unclear.

The DWP has been contacted for comment.

TYPES OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT DEDUCTIONS

There are a number of reasons why the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will deduct money from your Universal Credit allowance to help pay off any debts.

Conor Lawlor, benefits expert at Turn2us, says: “These debts can accrue in several ways, including for Universal Credit and other benefit overpayments (even if the overpayment was made in error by DWP), benefit advances and recovering hardship payments.

“The DWP can also deduct on behalf of third parties if a claimant is in debt to them, including for rent and service charge arrears, council tax arrears, court fines, child maintenance, and for utilities like electricity, gas and water.”

However, it’s important to note that not every deduction is compulsory, and some are voluntary.

Here are the six main forms of deductions you could be affected by…

1. ADVANCE PAYMENTS

One of the most common reasons for a Universal Credit deduction is because a claimant applied for advance payments.

When you make a new claim for Universal Credit, you will normally receive your first payment seven days after the end of your first assessment period (four weeks) – this is known as the “five-week wait”.

You can apply for an advance payment of your Universal Credit if you are in financial hardship while you wait for your first payment, for example, if you can’t afford to pay your rent or buy food.

However, as this is a loan, you will be expected to pay it back.

The first deduction is made on the day you get your first payment.

You must usually pay back the advance within:

• 24 months if you apply for the advance if you’ve made a new claim for Universal Credit
• Six months if you apply for the advance because of a change of circumstances

2. BUDGETING ADVANCE

The budgeting advance should not be confused with an advance payment.

Instead, this is an interest-free loan that can be used to cover certain expenses like household furniture, equipment, and clothing.

What you get will depend on how much you need.

The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to:

• £348 if you’re single
• £464 if you’re part of a couple
• £812 if you have children

The budgeting loan repayments will be taken automatically from your benefits.

The amount you repay is based on your income.

A budgeting advance should normally be repaid within one year, but this is extendable to 18 months in exceptional circumstances.

3. UNIVERSAL CREDIT OVERPAYMENTS

If you’ve been paid too much Universal Credit you’ll accure an overpayment.

To learn more about an overpayment, sign into your online Universal Credit account, go to your journal, and look for a message about overpayments.

If money is being deducted from your Universal Credit to pay back the overpayment, the amount deducted depends on your circumstances.   

If you are receiving Universal Credit and have no earned income, the maximum amount that can be deducted from your Universal Credit for overpayments is 15% of your standard allowance. 

If you are receiving Universal Credit and have some earned income, the maximum amount that can be deducted from your Universal Credit for overpayments is 25% of your standard allowance.

4. TAX CREDIT OVERPAYMENTS

If you are getting tax credits and you claim Universal Credit, HMRC will be told to stop your tax credits.

However, if you receive tax credits after you have made your claim to Universal Credit this could result in you being paid too much tax credits. 

Universal Credit will take action to get this money back as well as any other tax credit over-payments you have.

HMRC will send you a letter called “Your Tax Credits over-payments (TC1131)”.

This will tell you about any tax credit repayments that will be taken out of your Universal Credit payments.

5. FRAUD AND SANCTIONS

If you deliberately do not provide details about a change in your circumstances that could affect your Universal Credit payments or you give false information, this is fraud. 

A fraud penalty or sanction will reduce your Universal Credit standard allowance.

This can be up to 100% of your standard allowance if you are single, or up to 50% for each person in a joint claim.

If a fraud penalty or sanction is being taken from your Universal Credit payments, no other repayment or deduction will be taken, except for last-resort deductions. 

6. THIRD-PARTY DEDUCTIONS

A third-party deduction is an amount that is taken from your Universal Credit payments and paid direct to the person or organisation you owe money to, such as your landlord or your gas or electricity supplier (Fuel Direct).

Third-party deductions can also be taken, without your permission, for things like:

• Housing costs (for example, rent arrears for your current address)
• Unpaid rates
• Child maintenance

Only three third-party deductions can be taken at any one time.

Universal Credit will send you a message in your online journal when a third-party deduction starts.

Third-party deductions are fixed at 5% of your Universal Credit standard allowance for each third party. 

However, for rent, deductions are fixed between 10% and 20%.

Unlike the other non-voluntary deductions listed above, claimants can initiate deductions for certain bills to help better manage their costs.

For example, you can contact your energy supplier to set up deductions for your ongoing bills through the Fuel Direct scheme.

How to get free debt help

There are several groups which can help you with your problem debts for free.

• Citizens Advice – 0800 144 8848 (England) / 0800 702 2020 (Wales)
• StepChange – 0800138 1111
• National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
• Debt Advice Foundation – 0800 043 4050

You can also find information about Debt Management Plans (DMP) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVA) by visiting MoneyHelper.org.uk or Gov.UK.

Speak to one of these organisations – don’t be tempted to use a claims management firm.

They say they can write off lots of your debt in return for a large upfront fee.

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But there are other options where you don’t need to pay.

KEEP your home mould-free with a £2.99 hack.

Condensation on its own can be harmless but left untreated can lead to the growth of mould which can lead to asthma attacks, skin rashes, fever and in severe cases can cause serious illness or death.

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Condensation can also cause thousands in damage to your home, it can warp your fixtures and fittings, destroy your window seals and even cause structural damage.

Whilst condensation is normal, it’s often first to appear in bedrooms.

Bedroom expert Adeel ul-Haq from Bunk Beds explains why this happens and how you can keep mould out of all of the rooms in your home.

Adeel said: “As the temperature drops in the colder months it creates a perfect environment for condensation.  

“As we sleep we create humidity through breathing and sweating, this warm air then circulates until it comes into contact with a cooler surface such as  a window, this allows condensation to form.

“The longer the condensation is present the greater the chance that mould can form.  

“Mould spores are all around us but can grow quickly when they find a damp surface.

“Mould can start to grow within 24 hours of finding a damp surface, so you must remove the condensation as soon as possible.”

You can’t completely prevent moisture from forming in your home, but it’s important to remove it as soon as you notice it.

While that’s not always practical, the following hack can help speed up the process.

The expert added: “Window vacuums are excellent for removing moisture from your surfaces which prevents the build-up of mould.

“However, they can be expensive and during this time when we are all trying to keep costs down it may not be an affordable option.

“If you can’t afford a window vacuum the good news is that you can achieve the same results with a £2.99 squeegee and an old towel.  

“All you need to do is wipe down the window with your squeegee getting all of the moisture into one place, you can then wipe it up with the towel.

“Using a window squeegee instead of just a towel will save you time removing moisture, especially during the colder months when you’ll need to do this every day in multiple rooms,” Adeel said.

Other tips for keeping mould at bay on a budget

While you can’t eliminate moisture you can take steps to minimise it in your home.  

“If you can keep the air flowing in your home you can minimise the chance of mould growing, you can do this by moving your furniture away from your walls, along with making sure no vents are obstructed,” the expert added.

“With the weather also being terrible, many of us won’t be using the washing line to dry our clothes.

“A big mistake that people make is putting their wet clothes on the radiator, by doing this you are releasing a lot of moisture into the air which will turn into condensation when it touches a cold surface.

“Avoid doing this if you don’t want mould to grow in your home,” Adeel warned.

Common Bathroom Habits That Increase Mould

Plumbworld, a leading expert in bathroom and kitchen products, has shared the daily habits that increase the chance of mould growing in homes.

Leaving wet towels and bathmats on floor 

Wet towels and bathmats on the floors after a shower or bath can increase humidity levels which provides a perfect breeding ground for mould spores.

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To prevent this, hang towels and bathmats in an area where they can dry quickly and to wash them regularly.

Not turning on the fan 

An exhaust fan is critical in reducing moisture levels in the bathroom. 

When taking a hot shower or bath, steam increases the room’s humidity level, creating an ideal setting for mould to flourish on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces.

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An exhaust fan helps by moving the moist air outside, significantly reducing the risk of mould growth. 

Experts suggest running the fan during the shower and for at least 20-30 minutes afterwards to lower humidity levels.

Ignoring small leaks

Even minor leaks from the sink, toilet, or shower can contribute to increased moisture levels in a bathroom, fostering an environment where mould can thrive. 

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Over time, these leaks can cause significant water damage, promoting mould growth in less visible areas such as inside walls or under flooring. 

Fix leaks promptly to prevent mould and potential structural damage.

Keeping shower curtains or doors closed 

Keeping the shower area closed after use traps moisture inside, delaying the drying process and creating a humid environment conducive to mould growth. 

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Mould can easily develop on shower curtains, doors, and in tile grout if they remain wet for too long. 

To avoid this, leave the shower door or curtain open after use to improve air circulation and allow the area to dry more quickly.

Storing too many products 

Shower caddies and corners filled with bottles and accessories may seem harmless, but they can obstruct airflow and trap moisture and creates hidden, moist niches where mould can grow unnoticed. 

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Keep shampoo and shower gel bottles to a minimum, and regularly clean and dry the areas underneath them to prevent mould growing.