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How Tax-Free Childcare scheme can help working parents

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Navigating benefits system after sudden income drop

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street on November 4, 2025. She has hinted that the two-child benefit cap could be scrapped in the 2025 Budget (Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Budget 2025: Chancellor Reeves hints at extra support for families

New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show there were 17,201 people receiving Universal Credit for health-related reasons in Wigan as of June – a 33 per cent increase on the 12,943 a year earlier

Latest Universal Credit claimant statistics

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

DWP brings forward benefits and pensions for August bank holiday

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

5 one-off benefit payments due in 2025 that could net you over £1,500

Bank of England bank notes.

Council spends entire allocation on helping with housing costs

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Free benefits checker helps1000s find support – it’s open to everyone

(Photo: Pexels)

Urgent DWP warning for over-60s as four key benefits set to be axed

68 per cent of parents agree with the charter

Ad Feature Breakfast charter launched as 8 in 10 parents fear poor school meals

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Households urged to claim £1,000 in support before local deadlines hit

The Government says that thousands of children from struggling households had been missing out on free school meals

How to know if your family is eligible, as free school meals expanded

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Change to Help to Save scheme opens free cash eligibility to millions

(Photos: Getty Images/Alex Nelson)

Spring Statement: relief but unconvinced - I’m still reeling from cuts

Chancellor Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver her spring statement to Parliament on March 26, 2025 (Photo: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement: will it put more cash in your pocket?

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, leaves 11, Downing Street to deliver her Spring Statement to Parliament on March 26, 2025 (Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images)

8 takeaways from Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement - including welfare
Reeves outlined key changes, with impacts on welfare, household income, and services 💬
Alex Nelson

New Department for Work and Pensions figures show 211 households receiving Universal Credit in Wigan had their income capped in November 2024 – up 26 per cent from 167 a year earlier

Benefit cap affects more local residents

(Photos: Getty Images/Alex Nelson)

Labour's benefits shake-up - my takeaways as a finance specialist

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Universal Credit: health element changes and above-inflation rise news

Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, leaves after attending the weekly Cabinet meeting of ministers at 10 Downing Street on March 18, 2025 (Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images)

Government announces major changes to PIP and Universal Credit

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Financial Matters with John Fairhurst: Spring Statement news: Public spending cu...

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Housing Benefit to rise in April – here's how much more you could get

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show 1,022 people in Wigan who had received one form of ESA had been handed a migration notice as of the end of December

Universal Credit transfer not complete locally

(Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

9 ways you can get council tax support - as millions face huge rises

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Millions receiving Universal Credit can expect increases of £10 soon

(Photo: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Households across the UK to receive up to £500 in cash support

New Year 2024: all the early DWP and HMRC benefit payment dates
Plan ahead this festive season 🎄
Alex Nelson

A study of 2,000 adults found 26 per cent of these have received financial help with presents

4 in 10 households have relied on generosity to get through Christmas

Rachel Reeves poses with the red Budget Box as she leaves 11 Downing Street to present the government's annual Autumn budget to Parliament (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

UK families to get free cash as Household Support Fund is extended

(Photos: Getty Images/SWNS)

'I'm scared' - pensioner warns of 'dire' winter as energy costs rise

The free school breakfast clubs will build on support for families already available, the Department for Education says

When Labour's free school breakfasts will start - what we know so far

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 271 households receiving Universal Credit in Wigan had their income cut off by the policy in May

Huge rise in families hit by benefit cap

(Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

Thousands of households to receive £500 summer holidays payment

The money will people most in need

Families to get £200 via Household Support Fund - but funds are low

Universal Credit was introduced in 2013 to replace several existing benefits

Hundreds lose benefits during Universal Credit switch

Martin Ingram Flowers (60) who broke his leg at work and was told by the DWP to quit his £40k a year job in order to claim benefits.

Watch: DWP told me to quit my job to claim benefits when I broke leg

DWP holiday warning to anyone claiming PIP or Universal Credit

Data from the Department of Housing, Levelling Up and Communities shows 94 households living in supported asylum accommodation in Wigan had received support from the council for being homeless – known as homelessness duties – in the last quarter of 2023.

Almost 100 refugee households facing homelessness locally

What you need to know about the new Universal Credit rules

Benefit fraud gang shower floor with £20 notes

Watch: Benefit fraud gang shower floor with £20 notes

The leap year may impact when people will receive Universal Credit payments

How the 2024 leap year could affect Universal Credit payments

Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue

Yvonne Fovargue MP: We must reduce child poverty

New estimates from the Department for Education suggest parents in Wigan were paying £4.72 an hour in 2023 to have their two-year-olds looked after – less than the England average of £6.07.

Revealed: The cost of childcare

Dozens of celebrities join petition with anti-poverty charities

Find out if you are eligble for Cold Weather Payments.

Who is eligible for Cold Weather Payments?

Universal Credit and other benefit payments will be paid earlier than expected during the Christmas period.

When will Universal Credit be paid during Christmas period

People walk near the Jobcentre in Westminster.

DWP warning over Universal Credit changes coming in October

Project director Warren Done, former Leigh MP Jo Platt, and volunteer Paul Blinkhorn at the stall

Foodbank holds stall to promote new campaign focusing on guranteeing essentials

Atherton and Leigh Foodbank is holding a stall outside St John Baptist's Parish Church to provide more information about the Guarantee our Essentials campaign.

Foodbank joins campaign to ensure everyone can access essential items

There are seven big money changes that could affect your wallet coming in September 2023 including Universal Credit and student loans shake-ups.

Cost of living: 7 money changes to be aware of in September 2023

Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue

Yvonne Fovargue MP: No magic wand when it comes to debt

Which? has revealed the cheapest place to get school uniform this year

Cheapest shop to buy school uniform revealed by Which?

Benefit claimants may find their payments arrive earlier than normal this month.

Universal Credit & benefit claimants hit by another payment change

Here are eight important money changes coming in August 2023.

8 money changes coming in August 2023 including Ofgem price cap

Thousands of Universal Credit claimants are to be affected by new rules that have been introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this week.

Universal Credit rule change launches this week - are you affected?

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