Benefits news: page 3
- April 2026
Warm Home Discount scheme proposed to continue from 2026/27 to 2030/31
The government has proposed continuing the Warm Home Discount for five more years from winter 2026 to 2027, with options for Scotland including automatic data matching.
- March 2026
Legacy benefits end as managed migration completes
Legacy benefits ended on 31 March 2026 after the managed migration process to Universal Credit was completed, with claims closed and claimants invited to apply for the newer benefit.
Current Warm Home Discount regulations end on 31 March 2026
The regulations underpinning the Warm Home Discount end on 31 March 2026, and replacement rules for England and Wales have been made to run the scheme to 2031.
Scottish social security up-rating regulations made
The Scottish Ministers have made two sets of regulations uprating Scottish social security payments, including Scottish child payment, disability and carer benefits, with most increases taking effect from 6 April 2026.
GB consequential regulations made and laid
The Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 were made and laid before Parliament on 19 March 2026, coming into force on 6 April 2026.
Timms Review call for evidence launched
The Timms Review steering group opened a ten-week call for evidence on Personal Independence Payment on 19 March 2026, inviting views on the role and purpose of PIP, assessment, decision-making and the claimant experience.
Royal Assent granted to the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill
The Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 18 March 2026, removing the two child limit on the child element for assessment periods starting on or after 6 April 2026.
Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 made
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026, made on 2 March 2026, raises state pensions and benefits and sets new statutory pay rates, with most changes taking effect in April 2026.
Break and bereavement improvements to Carer Support Payment introduced
Social Security Scotland has confirmed that Carer Support Payment changes introduced in March 2026 removed the set caring period for temporary breaks and extended bereavement support to 12 weeks.
Broader Group application process in Scotland proposed for replacement by data matching from winter 2026/27
Consumer Scotland has backed replacing the application-based Broader Group in Scotland with automatic data matching from winter 2026/27, warning that some previous recipients could lose the Warm Home Discount.
DWP launches Timms Review into PIP
The Department for Work and Pensions launched the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment in March 2026, covering its purpose, eligibility and the claiming experience, with evidence closing on 28 May 2026.
ESA caseload falls 39% as claimants move to Universal Credit
Employment and Support Allowance claimants fell 39.0% to 810,000 between February 2025 and March 2026, as the Department for Work and Pensions reported the move to Universal Credit is close to being complete.
Government announces £53m support for heating oil customers in vulnerable situations
The government announced £53m in March 2026 to help heating oil customers in vulnerable situations, with support delivered differently in each UK nation and a £9,000 heat pump grant opening in July.
Household Support Fund extended to end of March 2026
The Household Support Fund, a government-funded cost-of-living scheme run by local councils, is running until the end of March 2026 after being extended in the Spring Budget.
Housing Benefit claims fall 23.2% to 1.4 million
Housing Benefit claims fell 23.2 per cent to 1.4 million between February 2025 and March 2026, as the Department for Work and Pensions moves working age claimants onto Universal Credit.
Legacy benefit payments due to end by 31 March 2026
The remaining legacy benefits are due to end by 31 March 2026, with claimants told to move to universal credit by the deadline in their migration letter or see payments stop.
Managed migration to be completed by Spring 2026
The DWP has said all migration notices should be sent by the end of December 2025 and the managed migration process completed by Spring 2026, with income-related Employment and Support Allowance claimants last to move.
- February 2026
Evaluation report on managed migration from tax credits to Universal Credit published
The Department for Work and Pensions has published an evaluation of households receiving tax credits only who were invited to move to Universal Credit, covering the period up to April 2025.
DWP begins Automated claimant reviews of Universal Credit claims
The Department for Work and Pensions has started selecting Universal Credit claims for Automated claimant reviews, which can occur at any time and may lead to payments being stopped if claimants do not respond.
DWP publishes Move to UC statistics to end December 2025
The Department for Work and Pensions has published figures showing 2,352,886 individuals were sent migration notices between July 2022 and December 2025, with 356,521 not claiming Universal Credit and having legacy claims closed.
Living Standards Outlook 2026 published
The Resolution Foundation forecasts typical non-pensioner incomes will grow 1.2 per cent in 2026-27, with lower-income families seeing gains of 4.7 per cent as benefit uprating and the two-child limit change take effect.
Minister commits to accept Benefit Fraud and Error Task and Finish Group recommendations
Northern Ireland's Communities Minister has accepted the Benefit Fraud and Error Task and Finish Group's recommendations, pledging around 200 extra staff and a new advertising campaign.
Funeral Support Payment eligibility widened by around 40%
A new nearest relative eligibility test for Scotland's Funeral Support Payment is expected to widen eligibility by around 40 per cent, reaching an estimated 5,000 people each year.
- January 2026
Government confirms Warm Home Discount Scheme will continue for five years to 2030/31
The Government has confirmed the Warm Home Discount will run for a further five years from 2026/27 to 2030/31, merging the two Core Groups in England and Wales and expanding data-matched eligibility in Scotland.
Government responds to Warm Home Discount consultation without increasing the £150 rebate
The Government has published its response to the Warm Home Discount consultation, extending the scheme to 2031 but leaving the £150 rebate unchanged and eligibility rules as they are.
Universal Credit LHA rates 2026 to 2027 published
The Department for Work and Pensions has published Universal Credit Local Housing Allowance rates for England, Scotland and Wales covering April 2026 to March 2027, with a date error corrected in April.
Legislative Consent Memorandum laid for Universal Credit two-child limit removal Bill
The Minister for Communities has laid a legislative consent memorandum asking the Northern Ireland Assembly to agree that the Universal Credit two-child limit removal Bill extends to Northern Ireland.
MPs to question DWP officials amid complaints controversy
The Work and Pensions Committee will question Department for Work and Pensions officials on 16 January 2026 about paused remedial actions, carers allowance overpayment debts and the department's annual reports and accounts.
Household Support Fund replaced by Crisis and Resilience Fund
Official guidance on Cost of Living Payments now points households to the Crisis and Resilience Fund, after the Household Support Fund was replaced in an update published on 1 April 2026.
Consumer Scotland opposes moving Warm Home Discount costs to the unit rate
Consumer Scotland has told the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero that the cost of the Warm Home Discount should stay on the standing charge rather than move to the unit rate.