Benefits news: page 17
- March 2022
Healthy Start scheme fully digitalised with prepaid card replacing paper vouchers
The NHS Healthy Start scheme completed its move from paper vouchers to a prepaid card in March 2022, with participation rising from 60% to 72% during the rollout across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Managed migration expected to complete March 2022
The managed migration of existing benefit and tax credit claimants onto Universal Credit was expected to be completed in March 2022, according to a published rollout timetable.
- February 2022
England Test and Trace Support scheme end date
The Test and Trace Support payment in England closed to new self-isolation periods on 24 February 2022, with claims for earlier periods still open for 42 days.
Northern Ireland Welfare Mitigation scheme expanded
Northern Ireland's Welfare Mitigation scheme was expanded on 8 February 2022 to cover more households affected by the bedroom tax or the Benefit Cap, with further changes following on 10 February.
Job search restriction period reduced for new Universal Credit and JSA claimants
From 5 February 2022 new Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance claimants can restrict their job search to fields where they have previous experience for four weeks rather than thirteen.
Chancellor announces cost of living support package
Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out a package of council tax rebates, repayable energy bill credits and an expanded Warm Home Discount on 3 February 2022, after Ofgem announced a £693 rise in the energy price cap.
DWP updates staff guidance on waiving overpayment recovery
The Department for Work and Pensions updated its staff guidance in February 2022 on when to waive recovery of benefit overpayments, adding factors to consider but limiting waiver to severe welfare cases.
Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022 debated
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022 was debated in February 2022, and a later Commons committee report said the Government did not mention legacy IT problems when uprating was discussed.
Welsh Government announces £150 Winter Fuel Payment and £25m Discretionary Fund
The Welsh Government has announced a £150 payment for households in council tax bands A to D and a £25m Discretionary Fund for local authorities, alongside a doubled Winter Fuel Support Scheme payment.
Winter Fuel Support Scheme Payment doubled to £200
The Welsh Government has doubled its Winter Fuel Support Scheme Payment to £200, the Bevan Foundation reported on 24 February 2022, as energy bills rise and more Welsh households are expected to fall into fuel poverty.
- January 2022
Abstract of DWP benefit rate statistics 2021 published
The Department for Work and Pensions has published its annual abstract of benefit rate statistics for 2021, covering uprating history, the value of benefits over time and historical figures back to 1948.