Benefits news: page 4
- January 2026
PIP waiting times reach 20 weeks, highest in almost four years
Average waits for a new Personal Independence Payment decision have reached 20 weeks, the longest in almost four years, with more than 710,000 people waiting for an outcome as of January 2026.
- December 2025
Government publishes Child Poverty Strategy
The government has published its Child Poverty Strategy, Our Children, Our Future, restating the removal of the two-child limit on Universal Credit and setting out measures on child maintenance, childcare and family incomes.
Resolution Foundation corrects Budget special welfare spending figure
The Resolution Foundation has corrected its Budget analysis, saying welfare policy over this Parliament cuts spending by £0.5 billion in 2029-30 rather than increasing it by £0.7 billion.
Announcement that the 2-child limit will end from April 2026
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that the Universal Credit two-child limit will end from April 2026, with the extra child amount paid for every child from that point.
30 free hours childcare extended in England
From September 2025 eligible working parents in England can claim 30 hours of free childcare a week for children aged nine months to school age, extended from the previous 15 hours.
DWP to send all migration notices by end of December 2025
The Department for Work and Pensions has said all migration notices should be sent by the end of December 2025, with the managed migration process completed by Spring 2026.
ESA claimants to be invited to claim Universal Credit by end of 2025
People still receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance will be invited to claim Universal Credit by the end of 2025, according to Age UK's record of benefits changes.
High-cost-to-heat threshold removed for Warm Home Discount in England and Wales for winter 2025/26
The high-cost-to-heat test for Warm Home Discount eligibility in England and Wales was removed for winter 2025/26, with around 6 million households estimated to receive the £150 rebate.
Planned PIP eligibility changes postponed from November 2026
The government has dropped plans to tighten the daily living scoring rules for Personal Independence Payment from November 2026, replacing them with a wider review of the benefit.
Scottish core group criteria aligned with Winter heating payment benefits
Ofgem has confirmed that the Warm Home Discount core group criteria in Scotland are aligned with the qualifying benefits used for the Scottish Winter heating payment as of December 2025.
Winter Heating Payment 2025/26 payments begin
Winter Heating Payment for 2025/26 began reaching eligible households in Scotland from mid December 2025, with most payments completed by the end of February 2026.
Winter heating payment to be paid in Scotland from December 2025
Scotland's winter heating payment, a one-off £59.75 for eligible households, is being paid from December 2025, with most payments completed by the end of February 2026.
- November 2025
Government announces removal of the two-child benefit cap in Budget
The Chancellor announced in the Autumn Budget that the two-child limit in Universal Credit will be abolished from April 2026, with legislation now before Parliament and Northern Ireland consent sought.
Publication of child low income poverty projections to FYE 2030
The Department for Work and Pensions has published projections of child low income poverty trends to the financial year ending 2030, accounting for the removal of the two-child limit announced in November 2025.
Publication of poverty impact estimates for Budget 2025 social security changes
The government has published estimates of how removing the two-child limit from April 2026 would affect low income poverty levels, alongside figures on affected households by nation and constituency.
Government accepts key recommendations of Sayce review on Carer's Allowance overpayments
The government has accepted key recommendations of the Sayce review into Carer's Allowance overpayments, with most affected carers to have their cases reassessed automatically and repayments potentially refunded.
Independent Review of Carer's Allowance Overpayments published with government response
The government has published an independent review into Carer's Allowance earnings-related overpayments, led by Liz Sayce OBE, alongside its response, with a reassessment exercise beginning 13 April 2026.
Public Law Project publishes report on Universal Credit sanctions regime
The Public Law Project published a report on 12 November 2025 titled "Sanctionable Failures", which characterises the Universal Credit sanctions regime as failing and refers to harm it causes.
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules changed
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility was widened last winter so that people over State Pension age no longer need to receive a means-tested benefit, with payments recovered from those on incomes above £35,000.
New ADP applications required for remaining PIP claimants in Scotland
People in Scotland still receiving Personal Independence Payment must apply for Adult Disability Payment themselves from 6 November 2025, after Social Security Scotland finished transferring claimants.
Cold Weather Payment 2025 scheme opens
The Cold Weather Payment scheme for 2025 opens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in November, one of a series of benefit changes listed in a timetable published by Turn2us.
UK government announces removal of the two-child limit
The UK government has announced the two-child limit will be removed from April 2026, so families can receive the Universal Credit child element for all children regardless of family size.
Help to Save made permanent and set for expansion
The Government has confirmed Help to Save will become permanently available to new savers and will be widened from April 2028 to all Universal Credit households receiving the child or carer's element.
LHA failed to cover rent for over half of private renters on Universal Credit in England
Local Housing Allowance did not cover rent for 54% of private renters claiming Universal Credit in England by November 2025, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has reported.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment expected to launch in Scotland
Scotland's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaced the Winter Fuel Payment, with the first payments made in the winter of 2025 and rates for 2026/27 set by age and household circumstance.
Warm Home Discount scheme opens for 2025-26 winter
The Warm Home Discount scheme for winter 2025-26 is open, giving eligible households in England, Wales and Scotland a one-off £150 discount on their energy bill.
Winter Fuel Payments to be made from November 2025
Winter Fuel Payments become universal in England and Wales from winter 2025/26 under regulations laid in August 2025, with payments from November 2025 and recovery from pensioners with taxable income over £35,000.
- October 2025
Attendance Allowance replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland
Attendance Allowance has been replaced in Scotland by Pension Age Disability Payment, a devolved benefit for people over State Pension age with care needs, paid at two weekly rates.
Work and Pensions Committee publishes Government response to Pathways to Work report
The Work and Pensions Committee has published the Government's response to its Pathways to work report, with its Chair warning that UC Health changes could push disabled people into poverty.
NAO publishes value for money report on DWP's tackling of benefit overpayments due to fraud and error
The National Audit Office says benefit overpayment levels remain too high but improved in 2024-25, and that the Department for Work and Pensions must now turn its strategy into effective implementation.