Change description : 2025-04-11 12:07:00: Updated the forms to change the bank details of a creditor or supplier (Excel and ODS). Also updated the Universal Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook to remove references to ‘tax credits’ in the introduction section. [Guidance and regulation]
In certain circumstances, DWP can deduct money from a claimant’s benefit and pay it to a creditor or supplier to clear a debt for:
Council Tax
fuel costs
rent and service charges
water charges
The payments are called ‘third party payments’. This guidance is for creditors and suppliers receiving a third party payment. It explains how the scheme works for deductions from:
Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Pension Credit
Universal Credit
How to apply
Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit
Updated Form ePRS03 -- change customer reference numbers (Excel and ODS). An email address has been corrected.
24 July 2024
Published updated Excel and open document versions of form ePRS03 to change customer reference numbers. The update is a change to the email address to send details of any money received incorrectly.
13 May 2024
Updated form to change the name or address of a creditor or supplier - eprs01 (XLX and ODS).
5 March 2024
In Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Pension Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook, updated Pensions Service closing time to 6pm.
4 March 2024
Updated Pension Service opening times in 'Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Pension Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook'
26 September 2023
Updated the "Universal Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook". Added information to the following sections 'Housing cost payments - responsibilities', 'Changing creditor/supplier details' and 'Change of bank forms (only for payments made through the Third Party Payment scheme every 28 days)'.
22 August 2023
Updated the Pensions Service telephone opening times in the 'Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Pension Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook' to Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm.
8 November 2022
Updated the 'Third Party Payments enquiry form' (Word and ODT formats). The new version is labelled - version 1.4 and dated 4/11/2022.
29 April 2022
Updated the 'Third Party Payments enquiry form' (both Word and ODT formats). The new version is labelled
version 1.3 and dated 28/04/2022.
1 April 2022
Added information to the following sections: 'Types of arrears recovered from benefit' (updated the bullet point about Housing Rent Arrears), 'Housing cost (APA) payments' (updated the section and the bullet point about allocating all payments to the correct customer account), 'Private landlord payment queries' (added information about the way pay rent arrears are paid to Private Landlords), and 'Other creditor and supplier payment queries' (updated the section and the bullet point about Private Landlords).
14 January 2022
Updated introductory chapter of 'Universal Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook'.
6 September 2021
Updated the 'form to change the name or address of a creditor or supplier' and the 'form to change the bank details of a creditor or supplier'.
21 June 2021
Updated the 'Third Party Payments enquiry form' with the new turnaround target of 5 working days.
3 June 2021
Updated the email address for local authorities receiving electronic schedules through Transfer Your File to request a duplicate schedule.
26 March 2021
Updated the 'Useful contacts' section of the 'Universal Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook' to clarify when to contact Universal Credit and when to contact Third Party Payments.
19 August 2020
Updated the Third Party Payment (TPP) enquiry form.
17 July 2020
Added form to use when contacting Third Party Payments.
16 June 2020
You now need to contact the Third Party Payments call centre by phone. You can no longer email them at tpp-call-centre@dwp.gov.uk.
9 June 2020
DWP is able to accept new requests again for creditors and suppliers to receive payment schedules electronically.
3 June 2020
Creditors and suppliers can now contact Third Party Payments telephone again.
19 May 2020
Updated the guides to explain the Third Party Payment phone line has temporarily closed because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Creditors and suppliers should email enquiries instead.
28 April 2020
Updated guidance to explain that DWP cannot accept new requests for electronic payment schedules at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
11 March 2020
Updated the forms to change the name and address of a creditor or supplier and to change the bank details of a creditor or supplier to make it clearer which parts of the form creditors and suppliers need to complete.
10 February 2020
Updated the paragraph on electronic payment schedules in the guidance 'Universal Credit: Third party payments creditor and supplier handbook'.
6 August 2019
Published separate guides: one for Universal Credit and one for Employment and support Allowance, Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.
20 June 2018
Amended how the Third Party Payments scheme works: a handbook for creditors or suppliers and forms ePRS01 and 2. We've added change of name to the form as well as change of address. And where the forms should be sent to, from Payment Resolution Service to Payment Services.
6 June 2018
Published latest version of the Third Party Payments creditor/supplier handbook with revised contact centre information throughout. (June 2018).
22 May 2018
Added revised deductions from benefit scheme form – 'Form to amend customer reference numbers'. Removed some test data (ePRS03).
14 May 2018
Published revised Form to amend customer reference numbers – fields increased to include more characters (ePRS03).
27 April 2018
Added revised deductions from benefit scheme form – 'Form to amend customer reference numbers' (ePRS03).
12 April 2018
Revised deductions from benefit scheme form – 'Form to amend customer reference numbers' (ePRS03).
20 February 2018
Published latest version of the Third Party Payments creditor/supplier handbook with revised contact and payment schedule information and general updates throughout.
19 January 2018
Revised deductions from benefit scheme form to amend customer reference numbers - ref: ePRS03.
6 February 2017
Published latest version of the Third Party Payments creditor/supplier handbook with revised opening hours of helpline.
20 January 2016
Replaced ePRS02 third party creditor supplier change of bank detail form with revised version.
12 March 2015
Published latest version of the Third Party Payments creditor/supplier handbook to include contact details for Universal Credit.
25 February 2015
Replaced "How the Third Party Payments scheme works: a handbook for creditors or suppliers" with a revised version that includes guidance for Universal Credit.
10 November 2014
Published new form for creditors or suppliers to notify DWP of a change to a customer's reference number.
10 October 2014
Published updated guidance and added forms for creditors or suppliers to notify DWP of a change of address or a change of bank details.
24 September 2013
Guide updated for new procedures for amending creditors' records and changing a customer's reference number and new contact details.