{"id":101930,"date":"2023-12-16T14:20:47","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T14:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/?p=101930"},"modified":"2023-12-16T14:20:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T14:20:47","slug":"dwp-to-make-big-change-to-services-for-those-on-universal-credit-and-benefits-next-week-are-you-affected-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/lifestyle\/dwp-to-make-big-change-to-services-for-those-on-universal-credit-and-benefits-next-week-are-you-affected-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"DWP to make big change to services for those on Universal Credit and benefits next week – are you affected? | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
THE DWP is making a big change to services for those on Universal Credit and other benefits next week.<\/p>\n
The move will take effect to take into account the Bank Holidays over the busy Christmas period.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is changing the opening hours of certain phone lines and closing local Jobcentre Plus offices on selected days.<\/p>\n
All Jobcentre Plus outlets will shut on the following days:<\/p>\n
\n
Monday, December 25, 2023<\/li>\n
Tuesday, December 26, 2023<\/li>\n
Wednesday, December 27, 2023 (Jobcentres in Scotland will be open as normal)<\/li>\n
Monday, January 1, 2024<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Phone lines will also be closed on the days listed above.<\/p>\n
Read more in money<\/h2>\n
<\/picture>BENEFITS BOOST <\/span><\/p>\n
Exact amount Universal Credit payments will rise by for millions in April<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>CHECK IT <\/span><\/p>\n
Full list of codes on payslips that reveal if you're owed cash \u2013 get \u00a32,585 back<\/h3>\n
Phone lines are open between December 22 and January 2, but they will be operating at reduced hours and will close at 4pm instead of the usual 6 pm cut-off.<\/p>\n
There are 639 Jobcentres in operation across the country and you can locate your closest one by typing in your postcode on the government's website.<\/p>\n
The centres are filled with work coaches to help and support those claiming legacy\u00a0benefits\u00a0and\u00a0Universal Credit.<\/p>\n
Jobcentres are primarily there to assist those on Universal Credit to find and get back into work.<\/p>\n
Most read in Money<\/h2>\n
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Households are getting extra \u00a3170 cost of living payments before Christmas<\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\n
When you apply for\u00a0Universal Credit\u00a0online, you will need to visit your\u00a0local Jobcentre where you'll be assigned a work coach and a dedicated central case manager.<\/p>\n
All the advice and help provided is free of charge and the work coach helps customers look for work that is most suited to their skills.<\/p>\n
Some of the free training courses on offer include\u00a0helping claimants write a CV\u00a0and teaching applicants how to behave during job interviews.<\/p>\n
Thousands of households on benefits will get their payments earlier than usual this week to take into account the Christmas Bank Holidays.<\/p>\n
If your payment is due on a\u00a0bank holiday\u00a0or a day on the weekend, it will be paid the first working day before this date.<\/p>\n
That means if you are due to be paid on December 23, 24, 25 and 26 this year you will receive your payment on December 22 instead.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, if you are due to be paid on December 30, 31 or January 1 the cash will land in your account on December 29.<\/p>\n
You could be affected if you claim any of the following benefits:<\/p>\n
\n
Attendance allowance<\/li>\n
Carer's allowance<\/li>\n
Child benefit<\/li>\n
Disability\u00a0living allowance<\/li>\n
Income support<\/li>\n
Jobseekers allowance<\/li>\n
Pension Credit<\/li>\n
Personal independence payment (PIP)<\/li>\n
State Pension<\/li>\n
Tax credits<\/li>\n
Universal Credit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The amount you get paid should not change.<\/p>\n
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It will be the same as the previous month unless you have had a change of circumstances that has affected how much you are due.<\/p>\n
Remember that if you do get paid early you will need to make that money last, as you will have to wait extra days until your next<\/span> payment date.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/signage-jobcentre-plus-pictured-following-613266350.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rbdmfa-universal-credit-section-gov-577929852-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>BENEFITS BOOST <\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/hmrc-letter-762591457-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>CHECK IT <\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/newspress-collage-t9ms6r611-1702676172720.jpg\")
<\/picture>CASH BOOST <\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/old-lottery-ticket-found-back-866483269.jpg\")
<\/picture>WHAT A WIN <\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/m9jx0b-council-tax-bill-new-705543300-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>TAX RISE <\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/online-picture-gary-stone-24-861753131-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>PUD DEAL <\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/woman-lifestyle-relaxing-using-smartphone-866478778.jpg\")
<\/picture>![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/top-view-unrecognizable-female-hat-864941660.jpg\")
<\/picture>