Benefits news: page 8
- March 2025
Warm Home Discount rebates to be applied to bills by end of March 2025
Confirmed Warm Home Discount rebates of £150 for winter 2024/25 should be applied automatically to electricity bills in England, Wales and Scotland by the end of March 2025.
- February 2025
Government consults on removing the high cost to heat threshold for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales
The government is consulting on removing the high cost to heat threshold for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales, which would make all households on means-tested benefits eligible for the £150 rebate.
Shelter Cymru warns of increased homelessness risk from UK Government housing benefit freeze
Shelter Cymru says the UK Government's freeze on housing benefit levels will leave low-income renting households in Wales facing average shortfalls of £604 a year and raise the risk of homelessness.
Transfer process to Pension Age Disability Payment begins
Social Security Scotland will start moving existing Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance claims in Scotland to Pension Age Disability Payment from February 2025, with no reapplication needed.
Universal Credit receipt among clients rises to 41%
Two in five clients seeking debt advice from StepChange in February 2025 were receiving Universal Credit, up from 39% in January 2025 and 37% in February 2024.
- January 2025
New bar on tax credit claims for tax year 2025-26 inserted
Northern Ireland regulations have inserted a new rule barring claims for tax credits for the tax year beginning 6 April 2025 and any later tax year, under the Universal Credit transitional provisions.
DWP publishes Abstract of benefit rate statistics 2024
The Department for Work and Pensions has published its annual abstract of benefit rate statistics, covering uprating history, the value of benefits over time and price and earnings indices for Great Britain.
Lords committee calls for urgent reform of health-related benefits
The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has called for urgent reform of health-related benefits, saying the system is financially unsustainable and that work does not pay for claimants.
High Court rules DWP consultation on Work Capability Assessment reforms unlawful
The High Court has ruled the DWP's 2023 consultation on Work Capability Assessment reforms unlawful, finding it misleading, rushed and unfair for failing to disclose cost savings as a primary rationale.
Route map for phase 1 of Streamlining Welsh Benefits published
The Welsh Government has published a route map for the first phase of its work to streamline Welsh benefits, covering Council Tax Reduction, Free School Meals and the Schools Essentials Grant up to April 2026.
Adult Disability Payment replaces PIP in Scotland
Adult Disability Payment, run by Social Security Scotland, has replaced Personal Independence Payment in Scotland, with existing PIP claimants transferred and DLA claimants moved before 21 March 2025.
Legislation for welfare mitigation scheme extension planned
The Minister for Communities has secured agreement to extend Northern Ireland's welfare mitigation schemes, which were due to end on 31 March 2025, by a further three years to 31 March 2028.
Scottish Attendance Allowance transfers to Pension Age Disability Payment begin
People in Scotland receiving Attendance Allowance are being moved automatically to Pension Age Disability Payment, a new Scottish benefit paid at the same two weekly rates.
Work Capability Assessment changes planned from 2025
The government plans to change the activities and descriptors used to pass a Work Capability Assessment from 2025 for new claimants of new style ESA and some Universal Credit elements.
- December 2024
Welfare Supplementary Payment schemes extended to 31 March 2028
The Minister for Communities has extended Northern Ireland's Welfare Supplementary Payment mitigation schemes, which were due to end on 31 March 2025, for a further three years to 31 March 2028.
Budgeting Advance repayment period extended to 24 months
Budgeting Advance loans taken out from December 2024 can be repaid over 24 months rather than 12, under a change announced in the March 2024 Budget.
Scottish Budget 2024 unveiled at Holyrood
Shona Robison's Scottish Budget raises income tax thresholds, funds a new pensioner winter payment and sets out plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap from 2026.
December 2024 survey shows total arrears down 8% on Universal Credit accounts
The National Housing Federation's December 2024 survey found total rent arrears on Universal Credit accounts fell 8% to £58m, with arrears for residents paying by other means also down 8% to £23m.
Government sets out Get Britain Working plan alongside £3 billion disability benefit cuts
The government has set out a Get Britain Working plan of jobcentre and employment support reforms, alongside £3 billion of disability benefit cuts announced at the autumn budget.
Government target to finish moving existing claimants onto Universal Credit
The government hopes to complete managed migration of existing benefit and tax credit claimants, except those on income-related Employment and Support Allowance, onto Universal Credit by the end of 2024.
Pension credit processing delays peaked at 87 working days
DWP pension credit processing times peaked at 87 working days in December 2024, when 85,600 claims were outstanding, according to figures reported by Which? on 2 September 2025.
- November 2024
Genuine and sufficient link wording omitted from regulations 9A and 9B
Words in regulations 9A(1)(c) and 9B(c) of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976 were omitted in England, Wales and Scotland from 7 November 2024, with corresponding Scottish regulations.
Carer Support Payment rolled out nationally
Carer Support Payment, Scotland's replacement for Carer's Allowance, became available across all 32 council areas on 4 November 2024 after a year of pilot rollouts.
Autumn Budget cuts Winter Fuel Payment and adds NHS and social care funding
Age UK has said the Autumn Budget leaves the Winter Fuel Payment cut in place for most pensioners, while announcing extra NHS and social care funding and changes to Carer's Allowance.
Cold Weather Payment 2024 scheme opens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Cold Weather Payment scheme for 2024 has opened in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with eligible households receiving payments during periods of very cold weather.
DWP approves refreshed fraud and error strategy
The Department for Work and Pensions approved a refreshed fraud and error strategy in November 2024, setting five objectives focused on preventing inaccurate benefit payments.
Mandatory work placements for Universal Credit claimants in England and Wales from late 2024
People in England and Wales who have not found work after 18 months on Universal Credit will have to take mandatory work placements from late 2024, or risk their claim being closed.
Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payment in Scotland
Scotland's Winter Heating Payment has replaced the DWP Cold Weather Payment, paying £58.75 automatically to people on qualifying low-income benefits, with payments expected each February.
- October 2024
Benefit uprating statistics first published
The Department for Work and Pensions has published ad hoc statistics estimating how many families and individuals would benefit from the uprating of benefits from April 2025, covering England, Scotland and Wales.
Budget confirms working-age benefits uprating of 1.7%
The Chancellor's Budget statement on 30 October 2024 confirmed working-age benefits will rise by 1.7% in April, less than half the 4.1% increase for pensioners.