Income and debts during Covid 19.
24 links to detailed information to help you.
See if any of the following questions apply to you . . . . .
Have you become ill so that you cannot work?
You may be able to get New Style Employment and Support allowance (ESA) here
Are you Self Employed? Getting less work now than before Covid-19?
There are grants available for Self Employed if you fulfil certain criteria here
Or are you self employed and want information about Universal Credit here
Do you need to make a new claim for Universal Credit?
You'll need to do this online, and you won't need to go to the JobCentre unless you don't have ID. Details here
Do you need to confirm your identity?
You can do this through the government gateway account that you may have used for tax purposes click for details here
Are you already claiming Universal Credit?
Note that rates have increased by £1,000 pa More information here
Are you on Tax Credits ?
These have increased by up to £20pwk - details here
Had you had a short-term change to your working hours?
Note that HMRC no longer require clients to report short-term changes to working hours details here
Are you on PIP / DLA?
Note that new and repeat assessments have now been suspended here
Are you having difficulty registering a birth due to Coronavirus?
HMRC say you can put a note on the Child Benefit claim form or mention it over the phone so that you can claim Child Benefit. See details here.
Do you know if you are entitled to benefits?
Check your entitlement here
Have you become ill so that you cannot work?
You may be able to get New Style Employment and Support allowance (ESA) here
Are you Self Employed? Getting less work now than before Covid-19?
There are grants available for Self Employed if you fulfil certain criteria here
Or are you self employed and want information about Universal Credit here
Do you need to make a new claim for Universal Credit?
You'll need to do this online, and you won't need to go to the JobCentre unless you don't have ID. Details here
Do you need to confirm your identity?
You can do this through the government gateway account that you may have used for tax purposes click for details here
Are you already claiming Universal Credit?
Note that rates have increased by £1,000 pa More information here
Are you on Tax Credits ?
These have increased by up to £20pwk - details here
Had you had a short-term change to your working hours?
Note that HMRC no longer require clients to report short-term changes to working hours details here
Are you on PIP / DLA?
Note that new and repeat assessments have now been suspended here
Are you having difficulty registering a birth due to Coronavirus?
HMRC say you can put a note on the Child Benefit claim form or mention it over the phone so that you can claim Child Benefit. See details here.
Do you know if you are entitled to benefits?
Check your entitlement here
SECTION TWO
WHAT ABOUT MY DEBTS IN COVID-19?
Are you having difficulty paying your debts or bills?
You could get a Budgeting Loan if you have been on certain benefits for 6+ months, such as Income Support here
Have you been on Universal Credit for 6+ months?
You could ask for a Budgeting Advance . Details here
Consumer credit debts
These include loans, credit cards, catalogues, hire purchase, buy-now-pay-later, insurance, guarantor loans, weekly payment arrangements and car finance debts.
Do you have any of the above debts?
These debts appear on your credit report. Learn more about them here
Help for these debts may be available for those affected temporarily by Covid 19. Details here
Do you have a problem with car finance or high cost credit (payday loans and similar)
Information from the FCA here
Other types of debt
Measures to help those with a mortgage affected by Covid-19 here
Energy Bills
If you can't pay your energy bills, see here
If you can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, see here
Council Tax
The Civil Enforcement Association (CIEA) has annouced suspension of bailiff activity during Covid-19 outbreak here
Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit debt may continue to be deducted from ongoing awards, depending on your Council's policy. If you are experiencing hardship, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment, and Discretionary Council Tax Support on the same form.
In either case, it’s best to get a debt adviser or someone else to help you fill in the form properly. You will need to provide payslips, benefit letters and bank statements.
Benefits Overpayments
If you were paying off a benefit debt as a result of an overpayment and your payments were temporarily stopped during the coronavirus crisis, be aware that at some point, these will start again.
DWP recovery
This was suspended for 3 months but has now restarted. Some details here
For details of over-payments of UC, tax credits, housing benefit or Council tax reduction see here
Rent arrears and Evictions
There’s a ban on new eviction proceedings and hold on existing proceedings for three months here
The Government is looking at measures to ensure that no renter will be forced out of their home during this difficult time.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS)
They have instructed county court bailiffs to stop making any new eviction appointments.
Bailiff Managers should review all upcoming evictions and use their judgement and discretion to decide whether the eviction should proceed, taking the current coronavirus public health guidance into account.
High Court Enforcement Officers will follow the guidelines here
More information about your debts
Further advice about what to do from StepChange here
Crisis Help
If you are in exceptional financial difficulty, you may draw on the services of the local Foodbank. Generally, you need a referral to go to a food bank. We can’t provide a food bank referral unless you are also a debt advice client.
WHAT ABOUT MY DEBTS IN COVID-19?
Are you having difficulty paying your debts or bills?
You could get a Budgeting Loan if you have been on certain benefits for 6+ months, such as Income Support here
Have you been on Universal Credit for 6+ months?
You could ask for a Budgeting Advance . Details here
Consumer credit debts
These include loans, credit cards, catalogues, hire purchase, buy-now-pay-later, insurance, guarantor loans, weekly payment arrangements and car finance debts.
Do you have any of the above debts?
These debts appear on your credit report. Learn more about them here
Help for these debts may be available for those affected temporarily by Covid 19. Details here
Do you have a problem with car finance or high cost credit (payday loans and similar)
Information from the FCA here
Other types of debt
Measures to help those with a mortgage affected by Covid-19 here
- You can apply for a payment holiday, but don’t cancel your DD until it has been agreed.
- You will still be charged interest, to be paid back later either by higher payments or by extending the term of the mortgage.
- Payment holidays should not have an impact on your credit file.
- You should apply in plenty of time before your next payment is due.
- Lenders are stopping repossession action (unless you want them to repossess).
- You’ll still be charged interest.
- Your house may be sold soon after the current crisis ends, which may mean a price lower than normal market prices.
Energy Bills
If you can't pay your energy bills, see here
If you can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, see here
Council Tax
The Civil Enforcement Association (CIEA) has annouced suspension of bailiff activity during Covid-19 outbreak here
Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit debt may continue to be deducted from ongoing awards, depending on your Council's policy. If you are experiencing hardship, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment, and Discretionary Council Tax Support on the same form.
In either case, it’s best to get a debt adviser or someone else to help you fill in the form properly. You will need to provide payslips, benefit letters and bank statements.
Benefits Overpayments
If you were paying off a benefit debt as a result of an overpayment and your payments were temporarily stopped during the coronavirus crisis, be aware that at some point, these will start again.
DWP recovery
This was suspended for 3 months but has now restarted. Some details here
For details of over-payments of UC, tax credits, housing benefit or Council tax reduction see here
Rent arrears and Evictions
There’s a ban on new eviction proceedings and hold on existing proceedings for three months here
The Government is looking at measures to ensure that no renter will be forced out of their home during this difficult time.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS)
They have instructed county court bailiffs to stop making any new eviction appointments.
Bailiff Managers should review all upcoming evictions and use their judgement and discretion to decide whether the eviction should proceed, taking the current coronavirus public health guidance into account.
High Court Enforcement Officers will follow the guidelines here
More information about your debts
Further advice about what to do from StepChange here
Crisis Help
If you are in exceptional financial difficulty, you may draw on the services of the local Foodbank. Generally, you need a referral to go to a food bank. We can’t provide a food bank referral unless you are also a debt advice client.
Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
