Money news: page 53
- April 2022
SDRP consultation opens on draft regulations
The government has opened a consultation on draft regulations for a statutory debt repayment plan, a new repayment-based debt solution for England and Wales, running until 5 August 2022.
Guidance updated with rates effective from 11 April 2022
Government guidance on the new State Pension and New Style Employment and Support Allowance was updated with benefit rates effective from 11 April 2022, part of the annual uprating of benefit amounts.
Mortgage Charter published covering UK mortgage borrowers including Scotland
The UK government has published the Mortgage Charter, setting out standards lenders will follow to help borrowers worried about higher rates, and it covers mortgage holders in Scotland.
Flat fee charge protections inserted
Regulations in force from 6 April 2022 inserted new provisions into the 2015 charges and governance rules for occupational pension schemes, covering flat fee charges and related governance duties.
Income Tax rates updated for 2022 to 2023
HM Revenue & Customs updated its published Income Tax rates, allowances and duties for the 2022 to 2023 tax year on 6 April 2022, with a correction to basic rate band values following on 13 April 2022.
State Pension uprated by 3.1% under suspended triple lock
The State Pension rose by 3.1% on 6 April 2022 after the earnings element of the triple lock was suspended for a year, giving pensioners an annual boost of up to £289.
Post Office Card Account access to benefits payments ends
From 5 April 2022 people receiving tax credits, child benefit and other statutory payments could no longer collect them through the Post Office, after the DWP contract with Post Office Limited ended.
1.25% NICs rate increase comes into effect in April 2022
The 1.25% National Insurance increase takes effect in April 2022, and analysis of the Spring Statement shows it cancels out the higher threshold for workers earning above £35,000.
£150 Council Tax rebate payments begin for Bands A to D in England
Payments of a £150 Council Tax rebate began on 1 April 2022 for households in Bands A to D in England, part of a package of support announced in February.
All members moved to the 2015 CARE scheme and final salary closed to accrual
The final salary sections of the NHS Pension Scheme in Scotland closed to further accrual on 1 April 2022, with all members moved into the 2015 career average scheme for future service.
Amendments to Best Start Grant, Best Start Foods and Scottish Child Payment regulations laid
Scottish ministers have laid amending regulations changing child responsibility, kinship carer definitions, automatic awards and payment timing across Best Start Grant, Best Start Foods and Scottish Child Payment.
Around 210,000 disability benefit claimants set to lose Warm Home Discount
Around 210,000 people claiming disability benefits are set to lose the Warm Home Discount under changes to the scheme, Fair By Design says, as the rebate rises from £140 to £150.
Basic rate of statutory maternity and parental pay set at £156.66 per week from April 2022
The basic rate of statutory maternity and parental pay stands at £156.66 a week from April 2022, equal to 47% of the National Living Wage for a 35-hour week, according to a maternity charity survey.
Benefits uprated by 3.1% while inflation stood at 9%
Most working-age benefits and the State Pension rose by 3.1 per cent in April 2022, based on September 2021 inflation, while the cost of living was already rising far faster.
Benefits to be uprated by September 2021 inflation in April 2022
Benefits including Universal Credit were uprated in April 2022 by September 2021's inflation rate, a figure likely to sit below the inflation households faced over the winter.
Cold weather payments responsibility transferred to the Scottish Government
Responsibility for cold weather payments in Scotland moved to the Scottish Government at the start of 2022-23, the Office for Budget Responsibility has confirmed in its latest welfare report.
Cost of living increase becomes second most cited reason for debt among StepChange clients
StepChange's April 2022 monthly client data shows 15% of new clients cited a cost of living increase among their main reasons for debt, up from 7% in September 2021.
Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 2021 come into force
The Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 2021, made on 23 June 2021 and laid before the Scottish Parliament on 25 June 2021, came into force on 1 April 2022 for the financial year beginning on that date.
CPI inflation reaches 40-year high
UK consumer price inflation reached 9% in April 2022, a 40-year high driven by energy bills and food prices, according to a Scottish Parliament committee report published in July 2022.
New debt packaging rules could come into force
The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed banning referral fees for debt packagers, with new rules expected to come into force in April 2022 subject to a consultation that closed in December 2021.
DWP launches ongoing Pension Credit awareness campaign
The Department for Work and Pensions ran an ongoing Pension Credit awareness campaign from April 2022, with increased advertising, as later figures showed take-up falling and unclaimed amounts rising.
DWP publishes Completing the Move to UC policy document
DWP statistics published in February 2026 show 2.35 million people in 1.82 million households were sent migration notices moving them from legacy benefits to Universal Credit between July 2022 and December 2025.
DWP requires consent for new or increased Fuel Direct deductions for ongoing energy costs
From 1 April 2022 the Department for Work and Pensions will only agree to new or increased deductions for ongoing energy costs from benefits where the customer gives consent.
ECO4 scheme starts with changes to benefit eligibility
The fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation begins on 1 April 2022, removing several disability benefits from automatic eligibility and requiring claimants to receive another qualifying benefit.
Energy bills support scheme announced
The UK government announced the Energy Bills Support Scheme in April 2022, a £400 payment to eligible households, alongside a separate guarantee that fixed the Ofgem price cap.
Face-to-face support for initial Universal Credit claims ended
Face-to-face support for the initial Universal Credit claim ended in April 2022, the TUC has said, as part of a submission warning that benefit levels remain inadequate.
FCA warning list additions up over a third year on year
The Financial Conduct Authority added 1,966 possible scams to its consumer warning list between May 2021 and April 2022, over a third more than in the same period a year earlier.
Four-year Income Tax threshold freeze to begin
The four-year freeze on Income Tax thresholds begins in April 2022, part of a package of tax and energy cost increases that the Resolution Foundation says will hit the typical household by over £1,000 a year.
Fuel Direct scheme paused
The Fuel Direct scheme, which allowed energy and water bills to be paid directly from benefits, was paused in April 2022, so suppliers can no longer approach the Jobcentre Plus to arrange payments.
UK Government announced energy support package for almost all GB households
The UK government announced a support package in April 2022 for almost all households in Great Britain, including the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme and a guarantee capping the unit price for a typical bill.