Life Events news
54 stories on life events, newest first. Every story is dated and cites its sources.
- September 2026
1,500 people quit work to care every day, a 150% increase in seven years
Carers UK says 1,500 people a day are leaving work to care for older and disabled relatives, a 150% rise in seven years, with separate Scottish polling putting the figure at 362,182.
- June 2026
Government launches cohabitation law reform consultation
The government has opened a consultation on cohabitation law reform in England and Wales, seeking views on property, pension and inheritance rights for around 3.5 million unmarried couples.
- April 2026
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 interests brought into inheritance tax from 6 April 2027
Pension pots and other pension death benefits will form part of a person's estate for inheritance tax purposes for deaths on or after 6 April 2027, under the Finance Act 2026.
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.
- March 2026
SLC opens application service for 26/27 academic year
The Student Loans Company has opened applications for 26/27 full-time undergraduate student finance in England, with Tuition Fee Loans of up to £9,790 and Maintenance Loans for living costs.
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.
- February 2026
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.
- December 2025
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.
- 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.
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.
- October 2025
Public Services Committee publishes Reforming the Child Maintenance Service report
The House of Lords Public Services Committee has published a report on reforming the Child Maintenance Service, calling for changes to calculations, enforcement and communication after an inquiry.
- September 2025
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.
- 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.
- June 2025
DWP to reassess Carer's Allowance overpayment cases after review found it acted unfairly
The DWP will reassess Carer's Allowance overpayments made between April 2015 and September 2025, after an independent review found it acted unfairly, with debts reduced, cancelled or refunded.
- May 2025
Maternity pay flat rate falls to less than half the National Living Wage
Maternity Action's 2025 report finds the flat rate of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance was 44% of the National Living Wage in April 2025, down from 63% of the minimum wage in 2012.
- April 2025
Carer's Allowance in Scotland being replaced by Carer Support Payment
Carer's Allowance is being replaced in Scotland by Carer Support Payment, a weekly payment of £86.45 for people caring at least 35 hours a week, with extra Scottish support paid alongside it.
Scottish assistance payment amounts increase from 1 April 2025
Scottish Ministers have uprated a range of devolved social security payments, with most new amounts taking effect from 1 April 2025 and some disability payments changing from 7 April 2025.
Child benefit rates rise by 1.7% for 2025-26
Child benefit rose to £26.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.25 for each additional child from 6 April 2025, a 1.7% increase, as HMRC figures show claims at their lowest since 2003.
Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit to rise from £151 to £196
The weekly earnings limit for Carer's Allowance rises from £151 to £196 in April 2025, set at the amount earned by 16 hours at the National Living Wage, and will track future wage increases.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland
Carer's Allowance has been replaced in Scotland by Carer Support Payment, with existing claimants moved across automatically and new claimants told to apply for the Scottish payment instead.
DWP to check all Carer's Allowance overpayment alerts
From April 2025 the Department for Work and Pensions will check every Carer's Allowance overpayment alert it receives and investigate past overpayments, after years in which not all cases were reviewed.
- January 2025
MaPS reports over half of UK adults do not have a will
The Money and Pensions Service has published survey findings showing 56% of UK adults aged 18 and over do not have a will, including 53% of adults aged 50 to 64.
- November 2024
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.
- October 2024
Unspent pension pots to be included in estates for inheritance tax from April 2027
Unspent pension pots will count towards a person's estate for inheritance tax from April 2027, under a change announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget.
- September 2024
Expanded free hours childcare subsidy scheme scheduled to start in England
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's 2024 Minimum Income Standard reports that expanded free hours childcare is scheduled for September 2024 and September 2025, with the scheme's availability uncertain.
- August 2024
Carer Support Payment launches in seven further areas
Carer Support Payment opened for new applications in seven more Scottish council areas on 19 August 2024, ahead of national rollout, with official figures later showing 48,090 applications by 31 March 2026.
- July 2024
Chancellor announces English social care reforms dropped
Chancellor Rachel Reeves cancelled planned reforms to social care funding in England on 29 July 2024, dropping a lifetime cap on personal care costs and changes to council funding thresholds.