Benefits news: page 9
- October 2024
ESA claimants to migrate to Universal Credit by 2026
The Budget confirms all Employment and Support Allowance claimants will move to Universal Credit by 2026, two years earlier than planned, alongside a 1.7% rise in working-age benefits.
HICBC household-basis reform shelved
The Chancellor has shelved plans to move the High Income Child Benefit Charge to a household basis, after the estimated £1.4 billion cost of doubling the income threshold proved too high.
Pension-age Housing Benefit to end from 2026
The Budget confirmed that pension-age Housing Benefit will end, with all new claims for housing costs from 2026 administered with Pension Credit instead.
Pension Age Disability Payment replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland
Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced Attendance Allowance for people of State Pension age in Scotland, administered by Social Security Scotland with two weekly rates and no mobility component.
Autumn Budget 2024 announces expansion of Help-to-Save eligibility to all working Universal Credit claimants
The Government announced at Autumn Budget 2024 that working Universal Credit claimants will be able to open a Help to Save account from 6 April 2025, replacing the previous 16 hours a week earnings test.
DWP confirms Local Housing Allowance rates and benefit cap frozen from April 2025
The DWP has confirmed that Local Housing Allowance rates and the benefit cap will be frozen from April 2025, while most working-age benefits rise by 1.7 per cent.
ESA and JSA recipients begin Universal Credit migration notices
From October 2024, people receiving income-related ESA or income-based JSA, including those who also get Housing Benefit, start receiving Universal Credit migration notices.
SDP section removed and child element guidance clarified
The Department for Work and Pensions has removed the Severe Disability Premium section from its guidance on the Universal Credit transitional element and clarified how the child element and Child Tax Credit are treated.
Sixth iteration of Household Support Fund opened with £500 million for England
The sixth Household Support Fund opened on 1 October 2024 with £500 million for local authorities in England, running until 31 March 2025 alongside Barnett funding for the devolved governments.
Warm Home Discount Scheme reopens
The Warm Home Discount Scheme reopens in October 2024 for households in England, Wales and Scotland, offering £150 off electricity bills for eligible claimants.
Winter Fuel Payment restricted to benefit recipients for winter 2024-25
For winter 2024-25 the Winter Fuel Payment was restricted to pensioners on income-related benefits such as pension credit, ending the universal payment that had applied until winter 2023-24.
- September 2024
Household Support Fund schemes end
Disability Rights UK states that Household Support Fund schemes end on 30 September 2024, while Turn2us dates the fund's closure to 31 March 2025, leaving the final date unclear.
Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 come into force
The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 came into force on 16th September 2024, setting the qualifying conditions and payment amounts for winter fuel payments in England and Wales.
Warm Home Discount eligibility statement for England and Wales published
The government has published the Warm Home Discount eligibility statement for England and Wales covering scheme year 14, which runs from 2024 to 2025, and future scheme years.
DWP to contact remaining tax credit, Income Support, JSA and housing benefit claimants by September 2024
The Department for Work and Pensions plans to contact 440,000 mixed tax credit households and all Income Support, income-based JSA and housing benefit claimants by September 2024 as managed migration continues.
ESA to UC managed migration underway with completion brought forward to 2026
Employment and Support Allowance claimants have begun moving to Universal Credit, with the Department for Work and Pensions now planning to complete the transfer by 2026 rather than 2028.
Expanded free hours childcare subsidy scheme scheduled to start in England
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's 2024 Minimum Income Standard reports that expanded free hours childcare is scheduled for September 2024 and September 2025, with the scheme's availability uncertain.
Free childcare extended to eligible working parents of children from 9 months to two years
From September 2024 eligible working parents in England with children aged nine months to two years can access 15 hours of government-funded childcare a week, the next stage of a phased expansion.
Household Support Fund extended until September 2024 with extra £500 million
The Household Support Fund received an extra £500 million so it could be extended until September 2024, with the government confirming a further six-month extension in September 2024.
Managed migration opens to income-based Jobseekers Allowance claimants
People claiming income-based Jobseekers Allowance are being sent Migration Notices from September 2024, inviting them to claim Universal Credit as the legacy benefit ends.
PAWHP eligibility restricted to pensioners on qualifying benefits for winter 2024/25
Scottish Ministers have restricted Pension Age Winter Heating Payment eligibility for winter 2024/25 to pensioners receiving qualifying benefits, after the UK Government ended universal Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
Pension age Tax Credits recipients begin Universal Credit migration notices
People above State Pension age who receive Tax Credits began receiving migration notices in September 2024, asking them to apply for Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment to replace Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland from winter 2024
The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaces the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland from winter 2024, paying £200 or £300 to pensioners on relevant benefits, with the DWP delivering it this winter.
September 2024 survey shows rise in arrears among Universal Credit residents
A National Housing Federation survey of housing associations found total rent arrears on Universal Credit claimants' accounts rose 11 per cent to £63m in September 2024, while arrears for residents paying by other means fell 19 per cent to £25m.
Universal Credit rollout invites income-based Jobseekers Allowance claimants
People claiming income-based Jobseekers Allowance are being invited to move to Universal Credit from September 2024, the latest group in the managed migration of legacy benefits.
Working-age benefits to rise 1.7% and pension-age benefits 4.1% from April 2025
Working-age benefits will rise by 1.7% and pension-age benefits by 4.1% from April 2025, the Budget confirmed, while Local Housing Allowance and the benefit cap are frozen again.
- August 2024
Carer Support Payment launches in seven further areas
Carer Support Payment opened for new applications in seven more Scottish council areas on 19 August 2024, ahead of national rollout, with official figures later showing 48,090 applications by 31 March 2026.
Latest DWP Move to UC statistics released
DWP figures released on 13 August 2024 show 34.4% of people sent a migration notice did not claim Universal Credit in time, as notices shift from Tax Credit to DWP benefit claimants.
Qualifying date for automatic Warm Home Discount rebate set
Households receiving Pension Credit or certain means-tested benefits on 11 August 2024 qualify for the automatic £150 Warm Home Discount rebate on electricity bills in winter 2024/25.
PLP sends pre-action letter to DWP on behalf of Work Rights Centre over automated Universal Credit systems
The Public Law Project has sent a pre-action letter to the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the Work Rights Centre, raising eight potential grounds of challenge over automated decision-making in Universal Credit.