Universal Credit expanded to benefit more Tax Credit claimants

MORE Tax Credit claimants will soon be asked to claim Universal Credit, as the Government expands the movement of legacy benefit claimants to the modern benefit system. By migrating to Universal Credit, with the support of the Department for Work and Pensions, claimants will continue to receive the benefit they are entitled to through a future proofed modern benefits system.

Universal Credit provides a vital safety net for millions of people every year, enabling them to support themselves and their families through an agile digital system, and to access their benefits more easily as well as amend their claim should there be a change in their circumstances.

In most cases, individuals will be better off following a move from legacy benefits to UC. However, where an individual's entitlement to Universal Credit would be lower than their legacy benefits entitlement, in the vast majority of cases, they will be entitled to a top-up payment known as Transitional Protection. This means that their Universal Credit entitlement will be the same as their legacy benefit entitlement at the point they move.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP said:- "Universal Credit has proven itself as a benefits system fit for the modern age, having dealt with the unprecedented demand of 3.7 million claims during the pandemic. The movement of those on legacy benefits to Universal Credit will ensure we can continue to provide the best level of support to benefit recipients through an effective and streamlined system. This Government remains committed to supporting the most vulnerable in society. I want to encourage all those who receive their migration notices to take action to ensure that they continue to receive the benefits they are entitled to."

The Government remains committed to moving all legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit, starting with claimants on Tax Credits. From April, there will be an increase in letters known as Migration Notices being issued. Recipients who fail to act risk losing their current benefit entitlements.

The move of claimants on legacy benefits to Universal Credit was paused during the pandemic following record demand so that DWP could process increased application volumes. Since its introduction some claimants have naturally moved to Universal Credit following a change in their circumstances and claimants have always been able to make a claim for Universal Credit if they wish to do so. The Department is now increasing the number of legacy claimants being asked to move to Universal Credit.

New scheme for cheaper Hormone Replacement Therapy

WOMEN experiencing symptoms of the menopause can now access cheaper hormone replacement therapy (HRT); the main treatment for menopause symptoms; helping to save hundreds of pounds in prescription charges.

The new HRT Prepayment Certificate (PPC) has been rolled out, and will reduce prescription costs to just:- £19.30 per year and can be used against a list of eligible HRT items which includes:- patches, tablets and topical preparations. Patients can use the HRT PPC as many times as they need across the year.

Making HRT more accessible, by reducing the cost, is 1 of the ways the Government is making menopause support more readily available to women, alongside working with suppliers to encourage and support HRT supply to meet growing demand.

Health and Social Secretary Steve Barclay said:- "Menopause care is essential healthcare, and we are ensuring cost is no longer a barrier to women getting the medicines they need. Better access to HRT will improve the lives of millions and gives women the freedom to take control of their symptoms. We've rightly put women's health at the top of the agenda through our Women's Health Strategy – and continue to deliver on our commitments."

Minister for Women's Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield said:- "Since we launched the Women's Health Strategy last summer, we have made great progress in raising the profile of health issues affecting women, including symptoms of the menopause. Often its necessary to use more than 1 type of HRT, and many women I have spoken to needed to try a few different types to get the right medication that works for them. Everyone is different, and price should not be a barrier to treatment – reducing the price of a year's worth of HRT to under £20 is a huge moment of levelling the playing field."

Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Women's Health Ambassador for England said:- "Many women do not realise that they are going through the menopause. Helping to make them aware about the inevitability of becoming menopausal, is an important 1st step. The next step is improving awareness that HRT may be an option to help women manage this stage of their life course. Making HRT easier to access will significantly improve the lives of many women who choose to use it, enabling them to reach their full potential."

Helen Simmons, a woman who is benefitting from the scheme:- "As an enthusiastic supporter of any advance in menopause care I think the HRT PPC is a great start to helping women access good care and support. I will definitely benefit from buying an HRT PPC as I currently have multiple HRT prescriptions every 3 months, with the majority being on the list that the PPC will cover. The application for the certificate was easy to navigate online and I have already shared information about it on my social media pages." 

HRT is a safe and effective treatment for most women going through menopause and perimenopause. It can help relieve menopause and perimenopause symptoms, including:- hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog, joint pains, mood swings and vaginal dryness.

Taking HRT can also reduce the risk of hormone related health problems including osteoporosis and heart disease.

Michael Brodie, chief executive of the NHS Business Services Authority, which delivers the HRT PPC service on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care, said:- "We are proud to be delivering the HRT PPC, which is a great addition to the range of NHS services we offer to help people manage their health costs. It is so important that those who rely on HRT have a more cost-effective way of accessing it."

The NHS England National Menopause Care Improvement Programme is working to improve clinical menopause care in England and reduce disparities in access to treatment. The NHS is also developing an education and training package on menopause for healthcare professionals.   

The introduction of the HRT PPC delivers 1 of our year 1 priorities for the Women's Health Strategy for England. Published last summer, the strategy sets out an ambitious new agenda for improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls, and to improve how the health and care system listens to women. Menopause was announced as a priority area within the strategy.

To ensure all women get the support they need, we recently announced a £25 million investment in women's health hubs. Women's health hubs provide integrated services for women in the community, enabling easier access to essential women's health services such as menstrual health, contraception, pelvic pain and menopause care.

Menopause can impact all areas of a woman's life, we recently appointed Helen Tomlinson as the Government's 1st Menopause Employment Champion; and have awarded grant funding to charities across England to help employers make changes to their workplace to support women's reproductive health, which includes menopause.

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