Benefits news: page 11
- April 2024
Universal Credit surplus earnings threshold of £2,500 extended for another year
The £2,500 surplus earnings threshold for Universal Credit will be extended for another year until at least April 2025, instead of falling to £300 as previously planned.
Working age benefits to be uprated by September CPI of 6.7%
Working age benefits will rise by 6.7% from April 2024, the September CPI rate, while pension age benefits rise by 8.5% under the triple lock and the Local Housing Allowance freeze ends.
- March 2024
Universal Credit managed migration letters under way with end-2024 target
The government is sending Migration Notice letters to households still on legacy benefits, telling them to claim Universal Credit by the deadline on the letter or lose their payments.
Consultation announced on household-based child benefit charge
Jeremy Hunt has announced a consultation on moving the high income child benefit charge to a household-based system by April 2026, alongside a rise in the individual earnings thresholds from April 2024.
Spring Budget 2024 announces changes to the High Income Child Benefit Charge thresholds
Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget raised the income threshold at which the High Income Child Benefit Charge starts, from £50,000 to £60,000, and the point at which Child Benefit is fully clawed back, from £60,000 to £80,000.
Pension credit application deadline for final cost of living payment
Nearly 880,000 households could receive the final £299 cost of living payment if they apply for pension credit by Tuesday 5 March 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions has said.
Cost of living schemes other than the three main Cost of Living Payments discontinued in FYE 2024
The Office for National Statistics says cost of living schemes including the Energy Support Scheme, Council Tax rebates and the Alternative Fuel Payment ended in the financial year ending 2024, while three payments continued.
HICBC threshold raised and taper halved at 2024 Spring Budget
The 2024 Spring Budget raised the High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold from £50,000 to £60,000 and halved the taper, so entitlement is now fully withdrawn at £80,000 a year.
Universal Credit surplus earnings threshold extension ends
The £2,500 surplus earnings threshold in Universal Credit, above which excess earnings can be carried into a later assessment period, was extended until March 2024, after which the higher limit lapses.
- February 2024
NAO reports on progress in implementing Universal Credit
The National Audit Office says the Department for Work and Pensions is on track to move most legacy benefit claimants to Universal Credit by the end of 2024, but has extended the timetable and raised costs.
Amendment regulations widen Best Start Foods eligibility
Amendment regulations in force from 26 February 2024 removed income thresholds from some qualifying benefits for Best Start Foods and added Working Tax Credit as a qualifying benefit in its own right.
Best Start Foods amendment regulations come into force in Scotland
Scottish regulations amending Best Start Foods came into force on 26 February 2024, setting the basic weekly rate at £4.95 and widening eligibility to partners, dependants and children under three.
Best Start Foods eligibility changes come into force
Best Start Foods eligibility rules change on 26 February 2024, removing income limits, extending help to younger parents and altering how applications and payments are handled in Scotland.
Best Start Foods income limit removed
The income limit for Best Start Foods was removed in February 2024, widening eligibility for the Scottish benefit that helps with the cost of healthy food during pregnancy and early childhood.
Cost of living schemes discontinued in FYE 2024
The Energy Support Scheme, Council Tax rebate schemes in Great Britain and the Alternative Fuel Payment ended in the financial year ending 2024, while three Cost of Living Payments continued, official figures show.
Final £299 cost of living payment sent to means-tested benefits claimants
The final £299 cost of living payment was sent to around eight million means-tested benefits claimants between 6 and 22 February 2024, completing a £900 package.
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.