Benefits news: page 10
- May 2024
Regulations made abolishing tax credits for state pension age claimants
Regulations made on 7 May 2024 end tax credit awards for claimants who have reached state pension age, moving some to universal credit and others to pension credit with transitional protection.
Administrative Earnings Threshold rise took place in May 2024
The Administrative Earnings Threshold rose in May 2024, a change the Department for Work and Pensions says should be read alongside the shift in Universal Credit conditionality recorded in 2024.
Administrative Earnings Threshold rises to £892 and £1,437 per month
The Administrative Earnings Threshold for Universal Credit rose to £892 a month for single people and £1,437 a month for couples in May 2024, following an earlier April increase.
Annual survey of English Council Tax Reduction schemes for 2024/25 published
entitledto's annual survey of English Council Tax Reduction schemes found 41 of 296 local authorities changed how they calculate support for 2024/25, with more raising help than cutting it.
DWP announces enhanced notification strategy for potential overpayments
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced an enhanced notification strategy for potential benefit overpayments, exploring targeted texts or emails to alert claimants, amid scrutiny of Carer's Allowance repayments.
Managed migration opens to Income Support claimants
People claiming Income Support begin receiving Migration Notices from May 2024, moving them onto Universal Credit under managed migration, with transitional protection for eligible claimants.
- April 2024
Fair Repayment Rate comes into force
The Fair Repayment Rate took effect on 30 April 2024, capping deductions from Universal Credit at 15% of the standard allowance, down from the previous 25% limit.
Publication of estimated claimant numbers affected by Work Capability Assessment reforms
The Department for Work and Pensions has published updated estimates of the number of claimants affected by Work Capability Assessment reforms announced at Autumn Statement 2023, revised to match Spring Budget 2024 forecasts.
Government announces reforms to ill-health test in Universal Credit
The Government has announced reforms to the ill-health test in Universal Credit, as a Resolution Foundation assessment finds 71 per cent of eligible families are worse off in real terms than under the legacy system.
Benefit cap earnings threshold rises to £793 a month
The earnings threshold used to decide whether the benefit cap grace period applies rose from £722 to £793 a month on 8 April 2024, affecting working age claimants who lose work.
Guidance updated with rates effective from 8 April 2024
Government guidance pages for the State Pension, Pension Credit and New Style Employment and Support Allowance were updated with benefit rates effective from 8 April 2024, the April uprating date for that year.
High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold increases to £60,000
The High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold rose from £50,000 to £60,000 on 6 April 2024, with the taper halved so the charge reaches the full Child Benefit amount at £80,000.
15 hours free childcare for working parents of 2-year-olds from April 2024
Working parents of two-year-olds in England can access 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare from 1 April 2024, the first stage of an expansion reaching 30 hours by September 2025.
Administrative Earnings Threshold rises to £743 and £1,189 per month
The Administrative Earnings Threshold for Universal Credit rose to £743 a month for single people and £1,189 a month for couples in April 2024, with a further increase following in May.
Attendance Allowance rates for April 2024 to March 2025
Attendance Allowance pays £72.65 a week at the lower rate and £108.55 a week at the higher rate from April 2024 to March 2025, for people over State Pension age who need help because of disability.
Benefit rates to rise by 6.7% and State Pension and Pension Credit rates by 8.5%
Most benefit rates will rise by 6.7% and State Pension and Pension Credit rates by 8.5% from April 2024, subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government has confirmed.
Benefits uprated by 6.7% in April 2024
Benefits rose by 6.7 per cent in April 2024 under the annual uprating, but Council Tax, water and broadband prices also increased that month, according to a living standards study.
Deadline for ending legacy benefits brought forward to March 2026
The deadline for moving remaining legacy benefit claimants to universal credit was brought forward to March 2026, with payments due to end by 31 March 2026.
Free childcare expansion to be rolled out in phases from April 2024
A £4bn expansion of free childcare, giving an extra 30 hours a week to parents of one and two year olds, will be rolled out in phases from April 2024, Toynbee Hall has said.
Household Support Fund extended to September 2024
The Household Support Fund, which pays for local food and energy help, has been extended for six months to September 2024 with an extra £500 million split between councils across the UK.
Inflation-linked benefits uprated by 6.7% and State Pension by 8.5%
Inflation-linked Department for Work and Pensions benefits rose by 6.7% in April 2024, while the basic and new State Pension increased by 8.5% for 2024/25.
LHA re-pegged to 30th percentile of local rents after four-year freeze
Local Housing Allowance was re-pegged to the 30th percentile of local rents in April 2024, four years after a freeze, cutting the share of Universal Credit families whose housing costs were not fully covered.
Local Housing Allowance freeze to be lifted
Local Housing Allowance maximum amounts were raised to the 30th percentile of local market rents from April 2024, ending a freeze on rates that had been in place since 2020.
Local Housing Allowance unfrozen and raised to 30th percentile of rents
Local Housing Allowance has been unfrozen and raised to the 30th percentile of rents, the Autumn Statement confirmed, alongside benefit uprating of 6.7% and state pension uprating of 8.5% from April 2024.
Managed migration opens to Tax Credits claimants with Housing Benefit
Tax Credit claimants who also receive Housing Benefit began receiving Universal Credit migration notices from April 2024, the first group in a wider timetable that runs through to 2028/29.
PAWHP to replace Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland from winter 2024/25
The Scottish Government is replacing the UK Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland with Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland, with payments due from winter 2024/25.
Regulations amended for migration of tax credit claimants to universal credit
Regulations amending tax credit income rules and universal credit payment provisions took effect from 6 April 2024, as part of the managed migration of tax credit claimants to universal credit.
Statutory maternity and parental pay rates set at £184.03 weekly from April 2024
Statutory maternity and parental pay rose to £184.03 a week from April 2024, as a survey of 1,039 mothers found money worries and debt rising during maternity leave.
New Style JSA payment rates for April 2024 to March 2025
New Style Jobseeker's Allowance pays up to £71.70 a week for under 25s and up to £90.50 a week for those aged 25 or over from April 2024 to March 2025, according to Mencap.
Third £299 means-tested cost of living payment due in spring 2024
The final instalment of the £900 means-tested cost of living payment, worth £299, is due to be paid by spring 2024, following two earlier payments in 2023.