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Working people on universal credit will be entitled to higher welfare payments from Wednesday after changes to the taper rate and work allowance come into force.

The new measures are being introduced universal 1 credit union week ahead of the 1 December deadline set by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Budget.

The taper rate – the amount a claimant’s universal credit is universal 1 credit union by when their earnings increase – has dropped from 63 per cent to 55 per cent, saving a claimant £9 a week.

Changes to work allowances – which apply to households with a child or someone with limited capability for work – means the amount a claimant can earn before their universal credit is reduced will increase universal 1 credit union £500 per year.

The Government said this would leave almost two million of the lowest-income working households around £1,000 better off.

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey universal 1 credit union that by bringing in the changes a week ahead of schedule, it meant “up to 500,000 more households can benefit before Christmas”.

Labour welcomed the changes but said it was “no substitute” for a “fairer” welfare system.

Karen Buck, Labour’s shadow Social Security Minister, said: “Labour called for better work incentives through a reduction in the taper rate before the Budget and it’s a welcome help, but is no substitute for a proper social security system that offers certainty to families in hard times.

“The Chancellor’s decisions this autumn universal 1 credit union still left millions of people who work part-time or are unable to work facing a devastating cut to support this winter.

“The Government must learn the lessons of the pandemic and better prepare this country for the challenges of the future. Labour would replace universal credit with a fairer social security system people can rely on.”

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the reforms would mean another 600,000 families would become entitled to claim at least some universal credit.

But think tank the Resolution Foundation said the move did not replace the £20-a-week uplift introduced during the pandemic.

The Government has issued an urgent warning to 24,000 people claiming Child Benefit, Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits and Guardian's Allowance.

HMRC says claimants of these benefits have less than one week left to provide new payment details before the November 5 interest savings account canada deadline, or risk having payments temporarily stopped.

From December 1, 2021, HMRC will no longer make payments to Post Office card accounts - and the deadline is coming up fast.

READ MORE: HMRC warning as thousands of families losing £9k a year over Child Benefit rules

Around 24,000 HMRC customers with a Post Office card account now have just days to give officials their new account information before the Universal 1 credit union 30 deadline, or risk having payments paused.

HMRC is urging account holders to contact them to update their bank account details to continue receiving payments without disruption.

Customers can choose to receive their benefits and credits payments to a bank, building society or credit union account instead.

Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance customers can use universal 1 credit union Personal Tax Account to provide revised account details, change their bank account details via GOV.UK or by contacting the Child Benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100.

Tax credits safety 1st grow and go reviews can change their bank account details by contacting the tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900. If customers cannot open a bank account, they should contact Universal 1 credit union.

READ MORE: DWP could pay up to £1000 emergency Christmas cash to anyone on these benefits

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: "Time is running out for customers who have been using a Post Office card account to get payments from us. They need to give us their new account details now to avoid their payments being suspended.

"They can update their details online or by calling us, and they need to be very careful to avoid handing over personal details to fraudsters contacting them claiming to be from HMRC."

If a customer misses the November 30 deadline, their payments will be paused until the customer notifies HMRC of their new account details.

The Money Advice and Pensions Service offers information and advice about how to choose the right current account and how to open an account.

READ MORE: HMRC warns self-employed people they may need to pay back SEISS grants

HMRC says it has been writing to affected customers to notify them that their Post Office card accounts will be closing.

It has also urged everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information, due to the high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department.

The Post Office account closures won't affect those on DWP benefits for another year.

In September 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that it has agreed a 12-month extension for its universal 1 credit union who use a Post Office card account.

If any HMRC customers also receive DWP payments, this extension only applies to DWP-related payments.

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