Benefits news: page 5
- October 2025
Original version of this briefing published
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has republished its Universal Credit briefing after the two-child limit was scrapped, correcting a coding error that affected the poverty impacts in the original version.
Age UK updates winter money guidance for winter 2025-26
Age UK has updated its winter money guidance for 2025-26, confirming that households with someone born on or before 21 September 1959 can receive the Winter Fuel Payment without claiming a means-tested benefit.
Payments made automatically from early October 2025
Most Child Winter Heating Payments in Scotland are being made automatically from early October 2025, with the payment set at £255.80 for winter 2025/26.
Warm home discount scheme reopens for winter 2025
The Warm Home Discount, which gives £150 off electricity bills in England, Scotland and Wales, reopens in October 2025 after being closed, according to two advice organisations.
- September 2025
Consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme opens
The government has confirmed the Warm Home Discount will continue for a new five-year period from winter 2026/27 to 2030/31, after a consultation that ran from 25 September to 20 November 2025 and drew 93 responses.
Warm Home Discount Regulations amended by S.I. 2025/1031
The Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amended the England and Wales scheme rules on 18 September 2025, changing which supplier duties and Secretary of State powers continue after the scheme period ends.
Opt-out deadline for Winter Fuel Payment falls on 15 September 2025
Pensioners who do not want this winter's Winter Fuel Payment have until midnight on 15 September 2025 to opt out, or they will receive it and repay it through tax if their income exceeds £35,000.
Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 revoked in England and Wales by the 2025 Regulations
The 2024 Winter Fuel Payment rules for England and Wales were revoked on 15 September 2025 and replaced by regulations making payments universal from winter 2025/26, with recovery from higher income pensioners.
Work and Pensions Committee publishes report on Jobcentre reforms calling for conditionality overhaul
The Work and Pensions Committee has called for an overhaul of Universal Credit conditionality, proposing a personalised action plan to replace the Claimant Commitment and a longer permitted job-search period.
Universal Credit Act 2025 receives Royal Assent
The Universal Credit Act 2025, which sets the formulae for uprating Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance, received Royal Assent on 3 September 2025, with its rate changes taking effect from 6 April 2026.
DWP reassessing Carer's Allowance overpayments from 2015 to 2025
The Department for Work and Pensions is reassessing Carer's Allowance overpayments made between 10 April 2015 and 2 September 2025, with affected claimants possibly due a refund or a reduced or cancelled debt.
30 hours free childcare for children aged 9 months to 3 years from September 2025
From September 2025 working parents in England of children aged nine months to three years can access 30 hours of government-funded childcare a week, completing a rollout that began in April 2024.
Child Benefit education and training condition changes come into force
Amendments to Child Benefit rules for young people in education or training took effect on 1 September 2025, changing the hours and types of study that can support a claim beyond age 16.
Final Universal Credit migration notices issued to ESA claimants
The final migration notices in the Move to Universal Credit campaign were issued in the week beginning 1 September 2025, ending the managed transfer of Employment and Support Allowance claimants onto Universal Credit.
Scotland to introduce Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from winter 2025/26
Scotland will replace the UK Winter Fuel Payment with the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from winter 2025/26, paid by Social Security Scotland to all pensioner households, with higher rates for those on certain benefits.
UC rollout expected to complete by September 2025
The Office for Budget Responsibility expects the Universal Credit rollout, excluding some income-based ESA claimants, to finish by September 2025, eight years later than originally planned.
- August 2025
Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2025 laid before Parliament
The Department for Work and Pensions laid regulations on 22 August 2025 making Winter Fuel Payment universal in England and Wales from winter 2025/26, raising the number entitled from 1.5 million to 10.9 million.
- July 2025
MPs open Child Maintenance Service inquiry
The Work and Pensions Committee has opened an inquiry into the Child Maintenance Service, examining payment compliance, how it treats families, payment levels and proposed changes to Direct Pay and Collect and Pay.
Work and Pensions Committee publishes Pathways to Work report raising concerns about UC health cuts
The Work and Pensions Committee has published its Pathways to Work report, warning that planned cuts to the Universal Credit health component could push disabled people into poverty and calling for a delay.
Guidance added on repaying the Winter Fuel Payment
HMRC has added guidance explaining who must repay the Winter Fuel Payment and how the money will be recovered through tax codes or Self Assessment returns.
MPs call for national strategy to tackle pensioner poverty
The Work and Pensions Committee has called for a UK-wide cross-government strategy on ageing, a Pension Credit take-up strategy for England by the end of 2025 and a Government-set minimum retirement income.
Guide updated following changes to Winter Fuel Payment
The Department for Work and Pensions updated its detailed Pension Credit guide for advisers on 14 July 2025 to reflect changes to Winter Fuel Payment, with further rate updates following in 2026.
Toolkit updated to remove Winter Fuel Payment link to Pension Credit
The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its Pension Credit toolkit to remove the link between Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Credit, saying entitlement to the payment no longer depends on the benefit.
PIP eligibility rules unchanged pending Timms review
PIP reforms in the 2025 Welfare Reform Bill have been temporarily removed pending a review, with eligibility rules unchanged until that review is completed.
DWP publishes fairness analysis of machine learning model for the first time
The Department for Work and Pensions has published detailed information on its fairness analysis of a machine learning model used to flag potentially fraudulent benefit claims, showing some groups are over-referred for review.
- June 2025
DWP publishes updated poverty impact analysis for Spring Statement social security changes
The Department for Work and Pensions has published revised estimates showing the Spring Statement social security changes would put an extra 150,000 working age adults in relative poverty by 2030.
Scottish Child Payment recipients automatically assessed for Best Start Grant payments
People in Scotland who receive Scottish Child Payment are now automatically assessed for the Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment, removing the need to submit a separate claim.
Government response to Warm Home Discount expansion consultation published
The Government has confirmed changes to the Warm Home Discount for winter 2025/26, removing the high cost to heat threshold in England and Wales and increasing spending in Scotland.
Government announces expanded Winter Fuel Payment eligibility and new tax charge
The government expanded Winter Fuel Payment eligibility from winter 2025 to pensioners with total income up to £35,000, and introduced a tax charge recovering the payment from those above that threshold.
Amending regulations laid for 2025 to 2026 Warm Home Discount expansion
Amending regulations laid in June 2025 remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold for Warm Home Discount Core Group 2 in England and Wales and raise Broader Group funding in Scotland, with around 6 million households expected to receive the £150 rebate.