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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP Universal Credit claim rule change you may not know about
Millions of people claim Universal Credit from the DWP The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently made a change affecting Universal Credit claims - and not everybody may be aware of it. The most up-to-date figures suggest more than seven million people across England, Scotland and Wales currently claim the income-related benefit. Universal Credit is designed to assist those in and out of work on a low income with everyday living costs. Those applying for this means-tested benefit online must verify their identity, or their application cannot be processed. And a recent update from DWP states that payslips and P60s "can no longer be used for online identity verification" and have been removed from the acceptable forms of evidence list on The DWP further stated: "Universal Credit no longer uses Government Gateway or Verify for online verification." According to DWP guidance, if you wish to claim Universal Credit, you must verify your identity as this "helps to link the right person to the right claim and reduce identity fraud". As reported by the Daily Record, you can confirm your identity by one or more of the following methods: online identity verification face-to-face appointments documentary evidence biographical interviews Verifying your identity online is a straightforward and secure way to confirm your identity. However, the DWP warns: "Universal Credit no longer uses Government Gateway or Verify for online verification." You can confirm your identity online by providing some information that only you would know, such as details about your passport. You can use any two of the following items to verify your identity online: valid UK passport recent Self Assessment returns credit references or records - for example, information about credit cards or phone contracts Alternatively, guidance adds: "The DWP uses a combination of documentary evidence, interviewing and information on DWP records to verify someone's identity." In some cases, this could include an in-person appointment at a Jobcentre Plus where ID and proof of address must be presented. Depending on your circumstances, details of what evidence you need to provide will be discussed with you when you apply for Universal Credit. Full details on how to verify your identity for Universal Credit claims can be found on here.
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
HMRC warns anyone born on these dates could be owed £2,200 in unclaimed cash
If the parent didn't open a Child Trust Fund, then HMRC would have opened one on behalf of the child - this means there are thousands of young people that may not realise they have one HMRC is urging parents to check if their child has a forgotten savings account worth an average of £2,000. Child Trust Funds were saving accounts given to children born between September 1, 2002 and January 2, 2011. Each child was given a voucher worth £250, or £500 for those from lower income families to start the account. Families could then add up to £9,000 a year into a Child Trust Fund. If the parent didn't open a Child Trust Fund, then HMRC would have opened one on behalf of the child - this means there are thousands of young people that may not realise they have one of these accounts. Latest figures from HMRC show more than 670,000 people aged 18 to 22 have yet to claim their Child Trust Fund. On average, each account is worth £2,212. In a post on X, HMRC said: "If your child is between 18 and 22, they can cash in their #ChildTrustFund. The average amount claimed is £2,200." You can't open a new Child Trust Fund but you can continue to pay into an existing account. It is only possible to access a Child Trust Fund once the child turns 18. How to fin If you know the name of your Child Trust Fund provider, you can contact it directly to find out more about your account. If you've lost track of your account, you can ask HMRC to help you locate it by filling out a form on You can ask HMRC to find a Child Trust Fund if you're a parent or guardian of a child under 18, or if you're 16 or over and looking for your own account. You will need your National Insurance number and Government Gateway - this is free to create - to fill out the online form. Once you've entered the right information, HMRC should tell you the name of the Child Trust Fund provider within three weeks. You can also request details by post by writing to: Charities, Savings and International 1, HMRC, BX9 1AU. Try to include as many details as possible, such as the full name, date of birth and address of the account holder, plus their National Insurance number. In a comment published last November, Angela MacDonald, HMRC Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive, said: 'Thousands of Child Trust Fund accounts are sitting unclaimed – we want to reunite young people with their money and we're making the process as simple as possible. 'You don't need to pay anyone to find your Child Trust Fund for you, locate yours today by searching 'find your Child Trust Fund' on
Scottish Sun
26-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Do you have a side hustle? Act NOW or risk huge fine after HMRC warning
We reveal how to submit a tax return below POCKET PROFIT Do you have a side hustle? Act NOW or risk huge fine after HMRC warning Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HMRC has issued an urgent warning to anyone with a side hustle to act now or risk being hit with a big fine. Those earning money from an extra income stream, including online selling, have to submit tax returns through self-assessment. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Side hustlers need to submit their self-assessment tax returns by January 31 Credit: Alamy Anyone earning more than £1,000 a year has to submit one - and the deadline to do it online for the 2024/25 tax year is January 31, 2026. If you've not registered for self-assessment before, you must register by October 5. Fail to do either of these things and you could end up facing a hefty fine from HMRC. Filing your self-assessment tax return after January 31 and just one day late will see you fined £100. You also face further fines of £10 a day after three months, up to a maximum of £900. Of course, the January 31 deadline to file your tax return is months away, but filing early can give a chance to budget for any taxed owed. You may be able to set up a Budget Payment Plan to help spread the cost of taxed owed too. This lets you make weekly or monthly direct debit payments to pay off any tax or National Insurance owed. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's director general for customer services, said: "Whether you are selling handmade crafts online, creating digital content, or renting out property, understanding your tax obligations is essential. "If you earn more than £1,000 from these activities, you may need to complete a self assessment tax return. What Does My Tax Code Mean? A Simple Guide to Your HMRC Letter "Filing early puts you in control – you will know exactly what you owe, can plan your payments, and avoid the stress of the January rush. "You don't need to pay immediately when you file – you have until January 31 to settle your tax bill." How to register for self-assessment and file a tax return If you're submitting a tax return for the first time, you'll need to register for self-assessment by October 5. You are taken through the process step by step via the Government website which is on You start by hitting the "Start Now" button at the bottom of the page. After you've registered, you'll be sent a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number in a letter, with instructions on how to set up your Government Gateway account. Once this is done, you'll be sent another letter containing an activation code. You use this to complete the set-up of your account and need to do this as soon as possible as the code will expire. HMRC says this entire process can take up to 20 working days. Once you've registered, filing a tax return online can be done via Make sure you've got your UTR number to hand. You don't have to complete your tax return in one go and can save your entry then go back to it later if you need to. Why do you have to submit a tax return on your side hustle earnings? In some cases, tax is deducted automatically from your wages or pension through PAYE. However, other forms of income, such as those from a side hustle worth over £1,000 are collected through self-assessment. This is where the person who owes the tax has to submit a tax return themselves. You also have to file a self-assessment tax return if you receive any other income from property, capital gains, or dividends. Do I need to pay tax on my side hustle? When you're employed the company you work for takes the tax from your earnings and pays HMRC so you don't have to. But anyone earning extra cash, for example from selling things online or dog walking, may have to do it themselves. Stephen Moor, head of employment at law firm Ashfords, said: "Caution should be taken if you're earning an additional income, as this is likely to be taxable. "The side hustle could be treated as taxable trading income, which can include providing services or selling products." You can make a gross income of up to £1,000 a year tax-free via the trading allowance, but over this and you'll usually need to pay tax. Stephen added: "The applicable tax bands and the amount of tax you need to pay will depend on your income." Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP warning to people making new claim for Universal Credit
You could previously use payslips or P60s to confirm your identity online when applying for Universal Credit - but the DWP removed this option in April this year A major change to how you apply for Universal Credit has been introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). When you apply for Universal Credit, you need to prove your identity. You could previously use payslips or P60s to confirm your identity online - but the DWP removed this option in April this year. On the website, it reads: 'Universal Credit no longer uses Government Gateway or Verify for online verification.' You can use any two of the following items to verify your identity online: UK passport Self-assessment returns Credit references or records Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money You can also verify your identity in person if you have an appointment at your nearest Jobcentre Plus, by bringing in proof of ID and proof of your address. It comes after Universal Credit payments went up by 1.7% this April. Universal Credit is made up of a standard allowance which is based on your age and if you're claiming as a single person, or in a couple. The standard allowance is the basic amount you get before any additional elements you may be entitled to, or any deductions, are taken into account. Here is how much the Universal Credit standard allowance has risen by: Single under 25: from £311.68 a month to £316.98 a month Single 25 or over: from £393.45 a month to £400.14 a month Joint claimants both under 25: from £489.23 a month to £497.55 a month Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: from £617.60 a month to £628.10 a month You may be subject to deductions if you have savings or if you owe the DWP money. If you work, there is a taper rate which reduces your maximum Universal Credit payment as your earnings increase. The taper rate is 55% which means 55p is deducted from your maximum Universal Credit payment for every £1 you earn. Some people get a "work allowance" which is a set amount you can earn before your Universal Credit is reduced. If you have over £6,000 in money, savings and investments, your benefit will be reduced by £4.35 for every £250 you have between £6,000 and £16,000. Another £4.35 is taken off even if any extra amount you have saved is not quite £250. For example, if you have £6,300 in savings, you won't not face any deductions on the first £6,000, but the other £300 would see your payments deducted by £8.70. These figures apply if you're a single claimant, or claiming as part of a couple. Universal Credit is replacing six older legacy benefits, including Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit.
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of HMRC customers have accounts locked down & deleted after ‘organised crime fishing' into tax accounts
TAX THREAT Thousands of HMRC customers have accounts locked down & deleted after 'organised crime fishing' into tax accounts THOUSANDS of taxpayers have had their online accounts locked and login details deleted after 'organised crime fishing' scams targeted HMRC in a £47million fraud sting. Up to 100,000 personal tax accounts were shut down after it detected unauthorised access by criminal gangs in an elaborate bid to extract repayments from the tax authority. Advertisement 2 Thousands of HMRC online personal tax accounts have been locked down Credit: Getty - Contributor 2 Security systems detected unauthorised access to some accounts Credit: Getty Officials told MPs that the threat, which has not been classified as a cyber attack, was carried out over an extended period last year by multiple crime syndicates running phishing campaigns. Angela McDonald, deputy chief executive of HMRC, told the Treasury Committee: 'At the moment, they've managed to extract repayments to the tune of £47 million. Now that is a lot of money and it's very unacceptable.' The tax office said the breach was identified nearly a year ago but it has only now begun informing affected customers by letter. Letters are being sent from today until June 25. Advertisement Anyone hit will need to re-register for online services with new Government Gateway credentials. In a statement, HMRC said: 'We have written to affected customers and taken action to protect these accounts.' 'This was an attempt to claim money from HMRC, not an attempt to take any money from you,' the statement added. The agency said it has locked down affected accounts, deleted login details to prevent future unauthorised access, removed incorrect information from tax records, and checked to ensure no other details were changed. Advertisement More to is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. You can also subscribe to the Sun Money or Sun Savers newsletter. Advertisement Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
