Free vehicle tax change

Changes are being introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) to improve the way free vehicle tax is obtained.

More information can be found on the Directgov website Vehicle tax for disabled people

 Certificate of Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be introduced.

The changes introduce a simpler one page Certificate of Entitlement to DLA, which will support the Free Vehicle Tax services that are provided through Post Offices, Motor Dealerships, DVLA Offices and on-line DVLA services.

The new certificate will mean eligible DLA benefit recipients can claim their free vehicle tax for as long as they remain entitled to the Higher Rate Mobility Component (HRMC) of DLA. Therefore, there is no longer a need to renew certificates annually.

New claims awarded DLA HRMC, and existing DLA HRMC recipients who are replacing their current DLA404 or annual Certificate of Entitlement, will receive the new certificate. A new DVLA information leaflet INS216, will also be issued with each new certificate providing more information on how to obtain their free vehicle tax.

Recipients can continue to use their existing DLA404 Certificate or annual Certificate of Entitlement until they expire and need to be replaced.

The only time an individual will need to contact us to obtain a new Certificate of Entitlement to DLA would be if:

• the Certificate of Entitlement to DLA is lost, damaged or stolen

• the vehicle or registered keeper changes

• their DLA404 has expired and needs to be replaced.

Changes to the way Jobseeker’s Allowance is administered

Jobcentre Plus is developing new ways for claimants to maintain their Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) online.

It offers increased flexibility and opportunity to contact the DWP and access  services in a way that suits them. Research has shown that many claimants prefer to use online services to deal with their queries.

From this autumn, some claimants claiming JSA in the North West and North East of England will be invited to take part in a pilot test of this service. They will participate in reporting a number of changes to their claim online, for example, part-time work, change of address and method of payment, which will be processed automatically. They will also be able to request a proof of benefit letter online.

Participation in the pilot will be by invitation only as a small number of changes are being tested.

Support will be provided throughout this test by Jobcentre Plus staff, for those who need it.

In order to provide a secure service, the invited claimants will first need to register with the Government Gateway on Directgov.

Findings from this pilot will develop plans for the national roll out of the Pathfinder functionality which will start later this year.

Current ways of contacting the Department such as telephony and face-to-face will remain in place for those claimants who cannot access the online services or prefer not to.