Benefits news: page 12
- November 2023
Carer Support Payment first introduced in Scotland
Carer Support Payment replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland, piloted from November 2023, rolled out fully from November 2024 and with case transfer completed in Autumn 2025.
Cold Weather Payment scheme opens for winter 2023-24
The Cold Weather Payment scheme has opened for winter 2023-24, running from 1 November 2023 to 31 March 2024 and paying £25 for each seven-day period of cold weather.
DWP consultation on WCA reforms launched ahead of Autumn Statement
The High Court has ruled that the DWP's 2023 consultation on Work Capability Assessment reforms was unlawful, finding it misleading, rushed and unfair, and that cost savings were a primary rationale.
November 2023 Autumn Statement reforms the Work Capability Assessment
The November 2023 Autumn Statement reformed the Work Capability Assessment, removing the mobilising descriptor and amending the substantial risk and getting about descriptors, the Office for Budget Responsibility has recorded.
- October 2023
Work Capability Assessment consultation closes on 30 October
The government consultation on changing the Work Capability Assessment closed on 30 October, with any resulting proposals able to be costed in time for November's Autumn Statement.
Government changes work rules for single parents with children aged 3 to 12
The government changed the work-related rules for single parents claiming Universal Credit whose youngest child is aged between 3 and 12, with the change taking effect on 25 October 2023.
Individual earnings threshold for main carers of children aged 3 to 12 based on 30 hours a week
From 25 October 2023 the individual earnings threshold for main carers of a child aged between 3 and 12 in Universal Credit is based on 30 hours a week rather than 35 hours.
JRF publishes briefing on an income safety net
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a briefing proposing reforms to the UK social security system, including a new Essentials Guarantee, to stop people being pushed into destitution.
Move to UC migration phase starts in Northern Ireland
The next phase of migration from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, known as Move to UC, began in Northern Ireland on 16 October 2023, the Department for Communities has said.
Move to Universal Credit migration begins in Northern Ireland
The Department for Communities began moving Tax Credit and legacy benefit claimants in Northern Ireland to Universal Credit in October 2023, a process known as Move to Universal Credit.
Second 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment issued
The second means-tested Cost of Living Payment of £300 was paid between 31 October and 19 November 2023, the middle instalment of a £900 award for 2023/24.
Work hour expectations raised for main carers of children aged 3 to 12
Main carers of children aged 3 to 12 claiming Universal Credit can no longer ask for lower expected work hours, after adjustments of 16 and 25 hours a week ended in October 2023.
- September 2023
£300 Cost of Living Payment qualifying and payment dates added
The government added the qualifying dates and payment dates for the £300 Cost of Living Payment for people on low income benefits and tax credits on 20 September 2023.
Warm Home Discount eligibility statement for England and Wales published
The government has published the eligibility statement setting out who qualifies for a Warm Home Discount rebate under Core Group 2 in England and Wales from the 2023 to 2024 scheme year.
Government opens consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment
The government has opened a consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment that would make it less likely some claimants qualify for the LCWRA element of Universal Credit.
Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 come into force
The Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 came into force in September 2023, keeping the higher benefit cap rates set in April 2023 in place in Northern Ireland.
Recent rule change makes 200,000 more benefit claimants eligible for SMI loan
A rule change to the government's Support for Mortgage Interest loan has extended eligibility to 200,000 more benefit claimants, according to Which?, which reports the figure alongside new survey findings on borrower reluctance.
In-work conditionality rules change
From September 2023, people earning above 15 hours a week at the National Living Wage but below full time hours must look for more or better paid work.
In-Work Progression Offer to roll out from September 2023
Low earners on Universal Credit will be required to meet their work coach every quarter under the In-Work Progression Offer, which begins a phased rollout from September 2023.
- July 2023
JRF publishes summary arguing inadequate Universal Credit is a barrier to work and calls for an Essentials Guarantee
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a summary arguing that inadequate Universal Credit acts as a barrier to work, and calling for an Essentials Guarantee setting support against the cost of essentials.
End of £400 universal winter Government energy support
The £400 universal Government energy support paid to households over the winter ended as the Ofgem price cap replaced the Energy Price Guarantee, cutting typical annual bills to £2,074 from July.
Universal Credit childcare maximum amounts to rise
The maximum childcare costs that working parents on Universal Credit can claim rise from July 2023 to £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two or more.
- June 2023
Words in regulation 7(1) substituted by the Social Security, Universal Credit and State Pension (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023
Northern Ireland regulations substituted wording in regulation 7(1) of the 2016 Universal Credit transitional rules with effect from 29 June 2023, alongside matching changes to claims and payments rules.
SMI eligibility rule changes for Universal Credit claimants documented
The Department for Work and Pensions has added information about changes to Support for Mortgage Interest eligibility rules for Universal Credit claimants to its statistics background and methodology note.
Law Centre NI publishes Cost of Living Support Payments 2023-2024 poster
The Law Centre NI has published a poster setting out the amounts, qualifying benefits and dates for the 2023-2024 cost of living support payments, including three means-tested payments and a pensioner payment.
- May 2023
entitledto publishes updated estimates of unclaimed means-tested benefits
entitledto has updated its estimate of unclaimed means-tested benefits, putting the total at £15.06 billion across 5,745,000 families, with Universal Credit accounting for just over £8 billion of that figure.
Most local authorities changing CTR schemes for 2023/24 made them more generous
Of the 39 English councils that changed their Council Tax Reduction schemes for 2023/24, 29 increased maximum support for the poorest households and one reduced it, a survey of all 296 schemes found.
- April 2023
Benefits uprating and benefit cap rise in line with inflation
The UK Government uprated working age benefits and the benefit cap by 10.1 per cent from April 2023, a decision confirmed in the November 2022 Autumn Statement and applied to rates from 10 April 2023.
Backdating of SMI claims limited to 3 April 2023 for claimants with earnings in every assessment period before that date
Official guidance confirms that Universal Credit claimants who had earnings in every assessment period before 3 April 2023 can only backdate a Support for Mortgage Interest loan to that date.
SMI opened to employed Universal Credit claimants
The Department for Work and Pensions has changed Support for Mortgage Interest so employed Universal Credit claimants can qualify, cutting the waiting period from nine months to three.