Latest news with #PolicyInPractice
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
July 2025 benefits and pension payments dates plus cost of living support
Across the UK, millions of people claim certain benefits to help them cover the cost of living. Around 24 million people in the country are now in receipt of some combination of DWP -administered benefits, which are becoming more essential than ever to grapple with rising costs. As we pass the midway point of the year, the unwelcome shock of April's bill rises may have settled, but many continue to struggle. Increases to benefits, the state pension and the minimum wage will have gone some way to offset these costs, but inflation continues to outstrip incomes for most. Latest figures from millions of low-income households paint a difficult picture of the UK's economic situation. Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that more than 1 in 5 people in the UK (21 per cent) were in poverty in 2022/23 – 14.3 million people. Against this difficult economic backdrop, it's important that households are claiming all the support the they entitled to. Research by Policy in Practice shows that £23bn worth of benefits goes unclaimed every year – you can use their helpful calculator to work out what you might be entitled to. Are you having an issue with the DWP or cost of living? Get in touch via email: Here is an overview of the financial support available to households this July and key dates for benefit and state pension recipients to look out for: Benefit payment dates in July Benefit payments will be going out as normal in July as there are no bank holidays. These include: Universal Credit State pension Pension credit Child benefit Disability living allowance Personal independence payment (PIP) Attendance allowance Carer's allowance Employment support allowance Income support Jobseeker's allowance For more information on how and when state benefits are paid, visit the government's website. The DWP is aiming to complete the migration of all 'legacy benefits' to Universal Credit by January 2026. Those receiving tax credits, income support, jobseeker's allowance, and housing benefit should have received a notice about moving to Universal Credit already. Many will also be worried about Labour's planned changes to the welfare system, which amount to £5 million in cuts. There is still some time before these come into effect, with the rates for Universal Credit changing in April next year, followed by the criteria to claim the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) tightening in November. Pension payment dates in July The basic state pension is paid straight into bank accounts similar to how benefits are paid. It is usually paid every four weeks, with the exact day you receive it corresponding to the last two digits of your national insurance (NI) number. Here's when you should be paid based on those numbers: 00 to 19: Monday 20 to 39: Tuesday 40 to 59: Wednesday 60 to 79: Thursday 80 to 99: Friday Have benefit rates gone up? In April, all benefits were uprated by 1.7 per cent, matching the September 2024 inflation figure. The increase applied to all working-age benefits, including universal credit, PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer's allowance, ESA and more. Meanwhile, in line with the triple lock, the state pension has risen by 4.1 per cent – up £472 a year – matching wage growth in 2024. Things will change slightly for Universal Credit claimants next year following Labour's welfare announcements. Everyone receiving the benefit's standard allowance will see a one-off above inflation rise by £7 a week from April 2026, taking it from £91 to £98. However, the rate of the additional Universal Credit health element will be frozen from 2026 at £97 until 2029/30 (although those in this group will receive the increased standard allowance). Additionally, any new claimants for the health element after April 2026 will receive a massively reduced rate of £50 a week – almost £2,500 less than the current level. This means it is a good idea for anyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply as soon as they can. Other help available Budgeting advance loans The government offers a 'budgeting advance loan' for people on Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of money. The loan has a maximum repayment period of two years. These loans are interest-free, and automatically deducted from Universal Credit payments. You can borrow an 'advance' of up to: £348 if you're single £464 if you're part of a couple £812 if you or your partner claim Child Benefit Following the Labour Budget in October, a new cap has been introduced on the amount the DWP can deduct from benefit payments to repay loans and debts, including budgeting advance loans. From April 2025, deductions from universal credit will be capped at 15 per cent of the standard allowance, down from 25 per cent. Discretionary Housing Payment Households can apply to their council for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP), which offers financial support to go towards rent or housing costs. You can only get a DHP if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. It can cover housing costs for a rent shortfall, rent deposits and rent in advance if you need to move home. Exact eligibility and the funds available are decided on a council-by-council basis, so you will need to get in touch with your local authority to find out more. Household Support Fund The Household Support Fund (HSF), distributed by local councils, offers vital assistance to those facing financial hardship, complementing standard benefits and grants. As part of this government initiative, eligible households throughout the UK can access support such as essential appliances, contributions towards utility bills, and direct cash payments reaching up to £300. Local authorities are free to decide how to allocate their HSF funding to suit households in their area, so exactly what is available will vary. To apply, households need to contact their council (most offer an online form). This nationwide program is set to run until March 2026. The government has committed £1 billion in funding to transition it into a 'Crisis and Resilience Fund', which will also replace the DHP. Charitable grants If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible for certain charitable grants. There are a wide range of grants available depending on your circumstances. However, these grants will typically require you to meet specific criteria and only be able to offer limited funds. Charitable grants are available for people who are disabled or ill, carers, bereaved, unemployed, students – and many more. The charity Turn2us has an online tool to search for grants which may be available to you. Energy provider help A number of energy suppliers offer help for those struggling with their energy bills. These include British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF, and Octopus. It is worth contacting your energy provider to find out if you are eligible. Council tax reduction If you meet certain criteria or are on certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a discount on your council tax discount of up to 100 per cent. Your local council may still be able to offer you a discretionary reduction if you are able to demonstrate you are facing severe hardship and can't afford to pay your council tax. To apply for a council tax reduction, you can contact your local council via the government's website. All working parents in the UK are currently entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for children aged 3 to 4. From 1 April 2024, this entitlement expanded to include 15 hours of free childcare for 2-year-olds. From 1 September, this was expanded again to include all children from the age of nine months. You must apply online and reconfirm your eligibility every three months, in time for each school term. Working parents can also apply for tax-free childcare, giving back 20p for every 80p you put towards childcare, up to a maximum of £500 a year. The final expansion to free childcare, coming in September 2025, will see all children under five eligible for 30 hours. Energy Price Cap: Is it going up? Ofgem's energy price cap will be decreasing from £1,849 to £1,720 for July to September – a drop of 7 per cent. The welcome fall follows three consecutive rises. The energy price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge you for each unit of energy if you're on a standard variable tariff. That includes most households. It is expressed as an annual bill for an average home. Mental health support In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@ or visit to find your nearest branch. Mind runs a support line on 0300 102 1234 which provides a safe and confidential place to talk about how you're feeling. There is also an information line on 0300 123 3393 for nearby support, and a welfare benefits line on 0300 222 5782 to support the mental health of those navigating the benefits system. Disability charity Scope has a forum where people can have supportive chats to others going through the same experiences. NHS England offers an online mental health triage service.
The Guardian
08-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Disability benefit cuts will affect Wales disproportionately, campaigners say
Disability benefit cuts planned by the UK government will disproportionately impact the lives of people in Wales, campaigners have said. Research released by the data analytics company Policy in Practice last week estimated that 190,000 people – 6% of the population – could have their incomes slashed by up to 60% by the end of this parliament if eligibility for personal independence payments (Pip) is tightened as proposed in a March green paper. The proposals, which are still at the consultation stage, would further compound poverty and exclusion for disabled people in Wales, according to the chief executive of Disability Wales, Rhian Davies. 'It's not just individuals who will be out of pocket, entire communities will be affected. Our survey of members showed that people are angry and terrified and some reported suicidal thoughts, which is very concerning,' she said. 'We must address the systemic failures that keep disabled people out of work and public life before we start looking at reforming the benefits system.' About 900,000 people, or 27% of Wales' population, live with a disability, according to Public Health Network Cymru – higher than the UK average of 22% – and 11% of working-age people, compared with 7% in England. The proposed changes would have a markedly uneven impact across the UK, earlier Policy in Practice analysis found. In Wales, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot are the worst-affected areas per capita. Trevor Palmer, an entrepreneur from Newport diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, said losing access to Pip would 'severely restrict' his day-to-day life and in effect shut down his charity ResponseABLE Assistance, which works on equality issues for disabled people around the world. 'It would ruin my life, to be honest. I'm 70 and I have a pension, but Pip is about 60% of my income. I'm a full-time wheelchair user and I use it for transport and things like adaptations to the car. Without it, I wouldn't be able to go out.' A UK government spokesperson said that most people currently getting Pip would continue to receive it. A review of the Pip assessment would involve 'working with disabled people and key organisations representing them – including in Wales – to consider how best to do this', they said. 'We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and that their income is protected,' the spokesperson added. When the changes to disability benefits were proposed in March, Wales' first minister, Eluned Morgan, called on the UK government to conduct a Wales-specific impact assessment, which the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) declined to do. The proposals have caused friction between the Senedd and the government in Westminster, which promised a 'partnership in power' in which the two Labour administrations would 'work in lockstep' after Keir Starmer led the party to a national election victory last year. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Morgan, the first minister and leader of the Welsh Labour party, told the Guardian last month that she was 'losing patience' with UK Labour as she struggles to counter a growing threat from Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in next May's Senedd elections. Recent polling suggested Labour was trailing in third place, with its worst vote share – 18% – since devolution 25 years ago. UK government ministers have said the changes to disability benefits are essential to overhaul a 'broken system' amid growing numbers of working-age people claiming health-related benefits. More than 3m UK households will be hit by the changes to disability and incapacity benefits starting from next year. Official estimates forecast 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, will be pushed into poverty as a result. In Wales, a comprehensive 10-year disabled people's rights plan is under consultation at the Senedd. The DWP also took part in a recent inquiry into Wales' outsized disability employment gap, which Davies of Disability Wales said made the proposed cuts 'all the more perplexing'. 'It's like these changes have arrived in a vacuum,' she said. The Welsh government said: 'These welfare reforms are impacting people in Wales, and we are listening closely to those with lived experience, as well as the organisations that represent them. Our response to the green paper will reflect the concerns we've heard, and we urge the UK government to also listen carefully to what people in Wales are saying.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wales could lose 'half a billion' in welfare reforms
The UK government's disability welfare reforms could cut the incomes of people in Wales by £466m by 2029-30 according to new analytics company Policy in Practice told Walescast that almost 190,000 people are likely to be affected - 6% of the Evans from Swansea, who receives support for multiple health problems, said the uncertainty meant he was constantly anxious with "the worry of what's going to happen to me".The Department for Work and Pensions said it would not compromise on protecting people "who need our support", and that reforms "will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work". Mr Evans, 62, receives the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for which eligibility will be tightened under the was designed to cover the extra costs of being disabled, and Mr Evans uses it to run his mobility car, which he fears losing."I haven't got a television because I can't afford one, everything's being spent," he said."So if things are cut back any further I really don't know how I'll manage." When the changes were proposed in March, First Minister Eluned Morgan asked the UK government for an assessment of their impact on Wales Department for Work and Pensions has published an impact assessment for England and analysis by Policy in Practice, which has been working with the Welsh government and local authorities in Wales to encourage people to claim the benefits they are eligible for, breaks down the impact of the reforms on each Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot were the worst affected areas per head of Fathers, of Policy in Practice, told Walescast that for some people the reforms could mean "knocking 60% of their income out in one hit" and cutting thousands of pounds per year among people on some of the lowest incomes in the he urged people not to panic because the proposals were currently at the consultation stage. Messaging 'the wrong way round' The number of working-age people claiming health-related benefits in the UK has increased by 45% since UK government proposed the reforms to save £5bn a year by 2020-30, though the number of claims is still expected to have said the plans would offer a £1bn package of extra support for people to return to the workplace, with a "try before you buy" approach enabling people to try a job without automatically losing benefits. "Anything that will get people back into work is welcome," said Mr Fathers, but he added that even "the very best campaigns around employability with disabled people have got about 5% more people into work".He said Policy in Practice had modelled the impact of getting up to 10% of claimants back into work and even in that scenario Wales would see "an increase in the levels of poverty".Labour Member of the Senedd, Mick Antoniw, called for the UK government to work with the Welsh government to reform the welfare system."Some of these things aren't thought out," he said. "What we don't have is a clear anti-poverty agenda that is the driving force of policy change.""A Labour government is there to resolve poverty and help people into work," said Antoniw."There are a lot of good things that are happening, I just think that the messaging has been the wrong way round and the driving force has probably been the wrong way round." The Department for Work and Pensions said: "The majority of people who are currently getting PIP will continue to receive it."We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and their income is protected."We have also announced a review of the PIP assessment, and we will be working with disabled people and key organisations representing them - including in Wales - to consider how best to do this." Watch Walescast at 22:40 BST on BBC One Wales or catch up on iPlayer. It is also available on BBC Sounds.
