Benefits news: page 12
- February 2024
Final cost of living payments made in February 2024
The last cost of living payments were made in February 2024, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports, with no further support announced and benefit rates rising 6.7% in April.
Third £299 Cost of Living payment paid in February 2024
The third instalment of the 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment, worth £299, was paid to most eligible households between 6 and 22 February 2024, completing a £900 total for the year.
- January 2024
Minimum Income Floor change for self-employed lead carers brought forward to January 2024
The implementation date for matching the Minimum Income Floor to new employee work rules for self-employed Universal Credit claimants who are lead carers of children aged 3 to 12 moved from April 2024 to January 2024.
Online child benefit claims extended to all eligible parents
HMRC has opened its fully digital child benefit claim service to all eligible parents, after limiting online applications to families with children under six months old since May 2023.
- December 2023
£299 Cost of Living Payment qualifying and payment dates added
The government has published the qualifying dates and payment dates for the final £299 Cost of Living Payment for people on low income benefits and tax credits, paid in February 2024.
Average weekly Pension Credit amount updated to over £75
The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its Pension Credit toolkit, raising the stated average weekly amount of Pension Credit from over £67 to over £75.
Managed migration planned to complete by end of 2023
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has responded to a consultation on draft regulations for moving remaining working-age benefit claimants to Universal Credit, setting out a timetable running from January 2019 to the end of 2023.
- November 2023
Autumn Statement 2023 raises working-age benefits by 6.7% and state pension by 8.5% for 2024-25
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has raised working-age benefits by 6.7% and the State Pension by 8.5% for 2024-25, while tightening sanctions for claimants who do not look for work.
DWP publishes ad hoc statistics estimating families and individuals benefitting from April 2024 benefit uprating
The Department for Work and Pensions has published ad hoc statistics estimating how many families and individuals in Great Britain receive benefits due to be uprated in April 2024.
Energy Bills Support Scheme has ended
The Energy Bills Support Scheme, which gave households £400 off their bills last winter, has ended, the Bevan Foundation said, as energy prices remain high and further rises are forecast.
Consumer Scotland publishes briefing on winter energy bill support options
Consumer Scotland has published a briefing on delivering household energy bill support this winter, setting out options for the Chancellor to consider at the Autumn Statement.
Committee publishes Cost of living support payments report
The Work and Pensions Committee published its first report of the session on cost of living support payments on 14 November 2023, and the Government responded on 12 January 2024.
£300 Winter Fuel Payment boost began reaching pensioners
An extra £300 was added to the Winter Fuel Payment for 2023 to 2024 and paid automatically to around eight million pensioners from 1 November 2023.
£400 energy discount (EBSS) not repeated for winter 2023/24
The £400 energy discount paid to households in monthly instalments between November 2022 and March 2023 is not set to be repeated this winter, Which? reports.
Carer Support Payment first introduced in Scotland
Carer Support Payment replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland, piloted from November 2023, rolled out fully from November 2024 and with case transfer completed in Autumn 2025.
Cold Weather Payment scheme opens for winter 2023-24
The Cold Weather Payment scheme has opened for winter 2023-24, running from 1 November 2023 to 31 March 2024 and paying £25 for each seven-day period of cold weather.
DWP consultation on WCA reforms launched ahead of Autumn Statement
The High Court has ruled that the DWP's 2023 consultation on Work Capability Assessment reforms was unlawful, finding it misleading, rushed and unfair, and that cost savings were a primary rationale.
November 2023 Autumn Statement reforms the Work Capability Assessment
The November 2023 Autumn Statement reformed the Work Capability Assessment, removing the mobilising descriptor and amending the substantial risk and getting about descriptors, the Office for Budget Responsibility has recorded.
- October 2023
Work Capability Assessment consultation closes on 30 October
The government consultation on changing the Work Capability Assessment closed on 30 October, with any resulting proposals able to be costed in time for November's Autumn Statement.
Government changes work rules for single parents with children aged 3 to 12
The government changed the work-related rules for single parents claiming Universal Credit whose youngest child is aged between 3 and 12, with the change taking effect on 25 October 2023.
Individual earnings threshold for main carers of children aged 3 to 12 based on 30 hours a week
From 25 October 2023 the individual earnings threshold for main carers of a child aged between 3 and 12 in Universal Credit is based on 30 hours a week rather than 35 hours.
JRF publishes briefing on an income safety net
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a briefing proposing reforms to the UK social security system, including a new Essentials Guarantee, to stop people being pushed into destitution.
Move to UC migration phase starts in Northern Ireland
The next phase of migration from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, known as Move to UC, began in Northern Ireland on 16 October 2023, the Department for Communities has said.
Move to Universal Credit migration begins in Northern Ireland
The Department for Communities began moving Tax Credit and legacy benefit claimants in Northern Ireland to Universal Credit in October 2023, a process known as Move to Universal Credit.
Second 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment issued
The second means-tested Cost of Living Payment of £300 was paid between 31 October and 19 November 2023, the middle instalment of a £900 award for 2023/24.
Work hour expectations raised for main carers of children aged 3 to 12
Main carers of children aged 3 to 12 claiming Universal Credit can no longer ask for lower expected work hours, after adjustments of 16 and 25 hours a week ended in October 2023.
- September 2023
£300 Cost of Living Payment qualifying and payment dates added
The government added the qualifying dates and payment dates for the £300 Cost of Living Payment for people on low income benefits and tax credits on 20 September 2023.
Warm Home Discount eligibility statement for England and Wales published
The government has published the eligibility statement setting out who qualifies for a Warm Home Discount rebate under Core Group 2 in England and Wales from the 2023 to 2024 scheme year.
Government opens consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment
The government has opened a consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment that would make it less likely some claimants qualify for the LCWRA element of Universal Credit.
Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 come into force
The Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 came into force in September 2023, keeping the higher benefit cap rates set in April 2023 in place in Northern Ireland.