Benefits news: page 8
- December 2024
Welfare Supplementary Payment schemes extended to 31 March 2028
The Minister for Communities has extended Northern Ireland's Welfare Supplementary Payment mitigation schemes, which were due to end on 31 March 2025, for a further three years to 31 March 2028.
Budgeting Advance repayment period extended to 24 months
Budgeting Advance loans taken out from December 2024 can be repaid over 24 months rather than 12, under a change announced in the March 2024 Budget.
Scottish Budget 2024 unveiled at Holyrood
Shona Robison's Scottish Budget raises income tax thresholds, funds a new pensioner winter payment and sets out plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap from 2026.
December 2024 survey shows total arrears down 8% on Universal Credit accounts
The National Housing Federation's December 2024 survey found total rent arrears on Universal Credit accounts fell 8% to £58m, with arrears for residents paying by other means also down 8% to £23m.
Government sets out Get Britain Working plan alongside £3 billion disability benefit cuts
The government has set out a Get Britain Working plan of jobcentre and employment support reforms, alongside £3 billion of disability benefit cuts announced at the autumn budget.
Government target to finish moving existing claimants onto Universal Credit
The government hopes to complete managed migration of existing benefit and tax credit claimants, except those on income-related Employment and Support Allowance, onto Universal Credit by the end of 2024.
Pension credit processing delays peaked at 87 working days
DWP pension credit processing times peaked at 87 working days in December 2024, when 85,600 claims were outstanding, according to figures reported by Which? on 2 September 2025.
- November 2024
Genuine and sufficient link wording omitted from regulations 9A and 9B
Words in regulations 9A(1)(c) and 9B(c) of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976 were omitted in England, Wales and Scotland from 7 November 2024, with corresponding Scottish regulations.
Carer Support Payment rolled out nationally
Carer Support Payment, Scotland's replacement for Carer's Allowance, became available across all 32 council areas on 4 November 2024 after a year of pilot rollouts.
Autumn Budget cuts Winter Fuel Payment and adds NHS and social care funding
Age UK has said the Autumn Budget leaves the Winter Fuel Payment cut in place for most pensioners, while announcing extra NHS and social care funding and changes to Carer's Allowance.
Cold Weather Payment 2024 scheme opens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Cold Weather Payment scheme for 2024 has opened in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with eligible households receiving payments during periods of very cold weather.
DWP approves refreshed fraud and error strategy
The Department for Work and Pensions approved a refreshed fraud and error strategy in November 2024, setting five objectives focused on preventing inaccurate benefit payments.
Mandatory work placements for Universal Credit claimants in England and Wales from late 2024
People in England and Wales who have not found work after 18 months on Universal Credit will have to take mandatory work placements from late 2024, or risk their claim being closed.
Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payment in Scotland
Scotland's Winter Heating Payment has replaced the DWP Cold Weather Payment, paying £58.75 automatically to people on qualifying low-income benefits, with payments expected each February.
- October 2024
Benefit uprating statistics first published
The Department for Work and Pensions has published ad hoc statistics estimating how many families and individuals would benefit from the uprating of benefits from April 2025, covering England, Scotland and Wales.
Budget confirms working-age benefits uprating of 1.7%
The Chancellor's Budget statement on 30 October 2024 confirmed working-age benefits will rise by 1.7% in April, less than half the 4.1% increase for pensioners.
ESA claimants to migrate to Universal Credit by 2026
The Budget confirms all Employment and Support Allowance claimants will move to Universal Credit by 2026, two years earlier than planned, alongside a 1.7% rise in working-age benefits.
HICBC household-basis reform shelved
The Chancellor has shelved plans to move the High Income Child Benefit Charge to a household basis, after the estimated £1.4 billion cost of doubling the income threshold proved too high.
Pension-age Housing Benefit to end from 2026
The Budget confirmed that pension-age Housing Benefit will end, with all new claims for housing costs from 2026 administered with Pension Credit instead.
Pension Age Disability Payment replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland
Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced Attendance Allowance for people of State Pension age in Scotland, administered by Social Security Scotland with two weekly rates and no mobility component.
Autumn Budget 2024 announces expansion of Help-to-Save eligibility to all working Universal Credit claimants
The Government announced at Autumn Budget 2024 that working Universal Credit claimants will be able to open a Help to Save account from 6 April 2025, replacing the previous 16 hours a week earnings test.
DWP confirms Local Housing Allowance rates and benefit cap frozen from April 2025
The DWP has confirmed that Local Housing Allowance rates and the benefit cap will be frozen from April 2025, while most working-age benefits rise by 1.7 per cent.
ESA and JSA recipients begin Universal Credit migration notices
From October 2024, people receiving income-related ESA or income-based JSA, including those who also get Housing Benefit, start receiving Universal Credit migration notices.
SDP section removed and child element guidance clarified
The Department for Work and Pensions has removed the Severe Disability Premium section from its guidance on the Universal Credit transitional element and clarified how the child element and Child Tax Credit are treated.
Sixth iteration of Household Support Fund opened with £500 million for England
The sixth Household Support Fund opened on 1 October 2024 with £500 million for local authorities in England, running until 31 March 2025 alongside Barnett funding for the devolved governments.
Warm Home Discount Scheme reopens
The Warm Home Discount Scheme reopens in October 2024 for households in England, Wales and Scotland, offering £150 off electricity bills for eligible claimants.
Winter Fuel Payment restricted to benefit recipients for winter 2024-25
For winter 2024-25 the Winter Fuel Payment was restricted to pensioners on income-related benefits such as pension credit, ending the universal payment that had applied until winter 2023-24.
- September 2024
Household Support Fund schemes end
Disability Rights UK states that Household Support Fund schemes end on 30 September 2024, while Turn2us dates the fund's closure to 31 March 2025, leaving the final date unclear.
Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 come into force
The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 came into force on 16th September 2024, setting the qualifying conditions and payment amounts for winter fuel payments in England and Wales.
Warm Home Discount eligibility statement for England and Wales published
The government has published the Warm Home Discount eligibility statement for England and Wales covering scheme year 14, which runs from 2024 to 2025, and future scheme years.