Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) Update

Thousands of parents to benefit from more work coach support

 
From 24 July 2023, parents of children aged 1 and 2 on Universal Credit will start to benefit from meeting more frequently with work coaches to help them prepare for work.

 
Parents with a one-year-old will start to have a work-focused meeting with their work coach every three months instead of the current every six months.

Parents with a two-year-old will start meeting with their work coach every month instead of the current every three months.

Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) - Veterans' Adjustment Passports

New Adjustments Passports will support hundreds of sick and disabled Armed Forces leavers’ to start and stay in work, delivering on a key Government priority to remove barriers to the labour market and grow the economy.

The scheme, announced by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday 11 July, will help those leaving service with an injury, disability or health condition move more smoothly into employment.

Find out more HERE​

Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) Update

 ost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 

Guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits. 

5 July 2023 - Added guidance on how to report a missing £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment. 

 

New law to ensure domestic abuse victims receive child maintenance gets Royal Assent 

A Bill ensuring victims of domestic abuse can receive child maintenance without contact from their abuser has received Royal Assent on Thursday, 29 June 2023. 

 DWP launches new Midlife MOT website 

A new online Midlife MOT has been launched to help older workers with financial planning, health guidance, and to assess what their skills mean for their careers and futures. 

Armed Forces Access to Jobcentre Plus Services Update

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has initiatives that help current and former armed forces personnel and your families access Jobcentre Plus services.

This includes having an armed forces champion in every Jobcentre Plus district who ensures that we provide support that meets your needs.

Use this link to read the guidance.

How to Buy Your Own Home' Free Webinars - Sundays 2 Jul to 27 Aug

  Each Sunday from 2nd Jul to 27th Aug Join a military Mortgage advice webinar.

Forces Pension Society Brief (AFPS 75/05/15) - Online on 11 Jul 0930

This FPS brief will help you to better understand:

• The benefits of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and what it means for you and your family
• The latest information on key pension policy issues including the AFPS15 remedy (McCloud)
• How to access information on pension entitlements
• Tips to enable you plan your financial future

To Join via Microsoft Teams:
​Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 385 589 375 59
Passcode: ngZa6o
Download Teams| Join on the web

Armed Forces Pay Review Body Would Like to Speak to You!

We are seeking 10 – 15 spouses of Sennelager Garrison based Military personnel to inform the Army Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) visit about the issues that matter to them.

The body are independent and impartial, looking to gather evidence and information about serving Personnel and their families to support and influence their recommendations on future pay and charges.

Some of the topics will include spousal employment, X-Factor, lived experience, service pay.

It is a fantastic opportunity to be the voice of your community and help to enact change for our families.

The discussion will take place at Normandy Conference Centre at 1000 on Thursday 29^th June and will last for approximately 1 hour.

If you are interested in taking part in the focus group please complete the below registration form.

https://forms.office.com/e/JxZ1MCsXsM

Registration closes on Thursday 22^nd June.

All applicants will be contacted after the closing date to inform them if they have been selected.

Serve and Protect Credit Union: Social Media Competition - May 2023

Serve and Protect CU are running a social media competition to win a £250 Virgin Experience Days voucher!

All participants need to do is follow the three steps outlined in our competition post. Participants can enter on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to increase their chances of winning.

​One lucky winner will be selected at random from one platform. The competition ends at 23:59 on Wednesday 31st May.

Facebook post
Instagram post
Twitter post

Guidance on Service Pupil Premium - Updated 19 May

Updated guidance on the Service Pupil Premium is now on Gov.uk at this link: Service Pupil Premium: what you need to know - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Sparkasse Shutdown

 


On April 1, 2023, the Savings Banks Paderborn-Detmold, Höxter and Delbrück merged. 

Due to the pending technical merger, there will be restrictions on the use of the Sparkassen-Card (debit card) for Customers of Sparkasse in Paderborn, Detmold, Hoxter and Delbrück branches.

All other Sparkasse locations are unaffected.

This disruption will stop the following services:

•  cash deposits
•  withdrawals 
•  card payments in retail 

In addition, the account statement printers and self-service terminals are not available. Online banking and the Sparkasse app cannot then be used either. 

If necessary, please provide yourself with cash in good time or pay with your credit card. After this weekend, all our services will be available to you again as usual. 

Further information

Service Community Information on Universal Credit and Other DWP Benefits

 

Tax Credits are Ending

Tax Credits are ending and are being replaced by Universal Credit - claimants will be notified when they have to reclaim

Migration notices will be issued to all Tax Credit claimants over the next two years. Claimants will need to take action to ensure their benefits do not stop.

For further information please click here​

Tax Credits are ending and are being replaced by Universal Credit - claimants will be notified when they have to reclaim.

Migration notices will be issued to all Tax Credit claimants over the next two years. Claimants will need to take action to ensure their benefits do not stop.

For further information please click here​

Service Community Information on Universal Credit and Other DWP Benefits

click on images to enlarge

Free financial webinars from Serve and Protect Credit Union

Click here for details of upcoming free webinars around financial resilience, cost of living support, budgeting and borrowing.

Help for households and cost of living payments

QR codes should be scanned from a personal non-MOD device only

Please click the following link for further information: Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Personal Accident and Life Insurance Schemes for Service Personnel

MOD is re-evaluating the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme and Life Insurance Scheme offer for personnel. A procurement exercise has been completed and we are pleased to announce that a new Broker, The Risk Factor, has been appointed. Initial discussions have taken place, and our priority is the continuation of appropriate cover for existing policyholders with as little disruption as possible.

As this is a new supplier, insurance products will no longer be branded as PAX. Existing PAX Personal Accident Insurance Scheme members should note that a replacement Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (providing similar benefits) will be introduced on 1 June 2023, for which they will need to apply if they wish to maintain Personal Accident Insurance cover. There will be no automatic transfer from PAX to the new provider.

There is no action for policyholders to take at this point. Once arrangements for how to join the new Insurance Scheme(s) have been finalised these details will be made available along with the new Scheme’s policy terms and conditions so individuals can make an informed choice based on their requirements (we expect this to be mid-May).

MOD personnel: please see 2023DIN01-023

New Savings Account For Military SP

Serve and Protect Credit Union has launched an exciting new product, called the Fixed Saver with up to 3.50% AER, with terms available for 6 or 12 months.

Current SP, MOD civil servants and Veterans can apply.

This is the first time in the credit union’s history that a fixed-rate savings account has been offered to members. 

X-Forces Enterprise - Forces Start Up Fund

X-Forces Enterprise is proud to announce that as of 1st April 2023 the organisation has been confirmed as a Business Support Partner to British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme.

The contract renewal is a fantastic endorsement of the work done by X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) over the last 10 years as a Delivery Partner for Start Up Loans.

Looking for Advice on How to Save Money on your Energy Bills?

Click here to visit the website for further detail on how energy saving actions and more can add up to big savings.