Benefits news: page 2
- April 2026
Equality screening published for Northern Ireland two child limit consequential amendments regulations
The Department for Communities has published an equality screening of the Northern Ireland regulations that accompany the removal of the two child limit in Universal Credit, and has decided against a full EQIA.
Maximum UC debt deduction amounts updated for April 2026
Shelter has published the maximum amounts that can be deducted from Universal Credit standard allowance for debt from April 2026, with limits ranging from £51 to £100 a month by claim type.
Paternity leave becomes a day one right for employees
Paternity leave became a day one employment right on 6 April 2026, with the previous qualifying period removed and a rule that removed entitlement on taking shared parental leave scrapped.
Pension Credit toolkit updated with 2026 to 2027 benefit and pension figures
The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its Pension Credit toolkit with benefit and pension figures for 2026 to 2027, in English and Welsh, adding new posters and YouTube videos.
New tax year changes take effect from Monday
The new tax year begins on Monday 6 April 2026 with frozen thresholds, the lifting of the two child limit, and day one rights to statutory sick pay and unpaid parental leave.
New UC and ESA IR rates come into operation in Northern Ireland
New regulations setting Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance rates for Northern Ireland come into operation on 6 April 2026, in parity with the equivalent Great Britain instrument.
Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payment in Scotland
The Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, paying £62 automatically to people on qualifying benefits between December and February.
2026/27 DLA and CDP child rates published
The 2026/27 rates for the care and mobility components of Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment have been published, with weekly care payments of up to £114.60.
Benefit cap earnings threshold raised to £881
The monthly earnings threshold at which households escape the benefit cap rose to £881 from April 2026, up from £846, under Universal Credit rules that also changed disability and work allowance amounts.
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods rates updated from April 2026
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods rates in Scotland rise from April 2026, with the Pregnancy and Baby Payment at £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for each subsequent child.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland
Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland and is now available across the country, with three further payments for carers also in place.
Certain Universal Credit and ESA rates handled under separate legislation
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 sets most State Pension and benefit rates for April 2026, while certain Universal Credit and ESA rates are handled separately.
Crisis and Resilience Fund launched as successor to Household Support Fund
The Crisis and Resilience Fund opened in April 2026 as the replacement for the Household Support Fund in England, running until March 2029 with crisis payments and resilience support from local councils.
DHPs in England incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund
Discretionary Housing Payments in England were incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund from April 2026, with the DWP confirming DHP statistics will continue as a Wales-only series.
Discretionary Housing Payments become CRF Housing Payments in England
Discretionary Housing Payments in England have been folded into the Crisis and Resilience Fund and renamed CRF Housing Payments from 1 April 2026, under a scheme funded for three years.
Guidance updated and Discretionary Housing Payments information removed
The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its Housing Benefit rent factsheet, removing Discretionary Housing Payments information and pointing claimants to their local council instead.
LHA rates frozen for 2026 to 2027
Local Housing Allowance rates used to work out housing support for private renters will stay at their 2025 to 2026 levels for the year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Non dependant deduction rates from April 2026
Shelter has published the weekly housing benefit deductions councils can take from claimants who share a home with other adults, ranging from £20.40 to £131.45 from April 2026.
Pension Age Disability Payment fully rolled out in Scotland as replacement for Attendance Allowance
Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland, with awards transferred automatically from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland.
New PIP award durations take effect for people aged 25 or over
Most new PIP awards to people aged 25 or over are now for four years with a review after three, and the same durations apply to existing claims from 16 June 2026.
PIP and DLA rates up-rated from April 2026
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 raises Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance weekly rates from April, with the daily living enhanced rate reaching £114.60.
Scottish income limit for free school meals takes effect from 1st April 2026
The household income limit for Universal Credit claimants applying for free school meals in Scotland rises to £11,940 a year, or £995 a month, from 1st April 2026.
SDP transitional element rates set from April 2026
The SDP transitional element rates paid to some Universal Credit claimants who moved from legacy benefits will be £148.82, £353.44 or £502.27 a month from April 2026.
ShPP rate and earnings threshold set for April 2026 to April 2027
Statutory Shared Parental Pay will be £194.32 a week or 90% of average earnings, whichever is lower, with a £129 weekly earnings test, for April 2026 to April 2027.
Social security benefits uprated by 3.8%
Social security benefits across the UK rise by 3.8% from April 2026, alongside a 4.8% state pension increase, Universal Credit changes and the end of legacy benefits.
State Pension age begins rising from 66 to 67
The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 on a phased basis between April 2026 and March 2028, with the exact date set by date of birth.
Surplus earnings figures for 2026/27 set out
Turn2us has published the Universal Credit element amounts, work allowances and thresholds used to calculate surplus earnings for 2026/27, setting out how earlier months of earnings can reduce or stop payments.
Third party deduction amounts change from April 2026
Third party deductions from universal credit, taken to repay energy, water and council tax debts, are set at new monthly amounts from April 2026, ranging from £17 to £33 depending on age and household type.
UC Health support for new claimants to halve from April 2026
New Universal Credit health claimants will receive £54 a week from April 2026, half the £105 a week paid to people with the same condition in March 2026, the Work and Pensions Committee has said.
Uprated council tax reduction figures apply from schemes beginning on or after 1 April 2026
Welsh ministers have laid regulations uprating council tax reduction figures and adding new disregards, applying to council tax reduction schemes made for financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2026.