DWP information: March 2024 dates for advantages, Universal Credit and pensions | EUROtoday

Get the free Morning Headlines e-mail for information from our reporters internationally

Sign as much as our free Morning Headlines e-mail

Jeremy Hunt gave his spring Budget this month, delivering a 2p National Insurance tax reduce, adjustments to Child Benefit, and a brand new “British Isa”.

However, some specialists have expressed considerations that the chancellor’s new measures unfairly profit greater earners. The Resolution Foundation financial suppose tank who level out that these incomes £50,000 or extra will achieve probably the most from the NI reduce.

Earlier within the month, it was confirmed that the UK formally entered a recession on the finish of 2023. The information got here shortly after figures put inflation regular at 4 per cent, beating the chances of one other rise – however nonetheless distant from the federal government’s goal of two per cent.

Against this difficult financial backdrop, the price of dwelling disaster persists. Bills, meals costs and rents all stay stubbornly excessive as thousands and thousands wrestle to afford the necessities.

Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) reveals that in the direction of the top of final yr, 73 per cent of low-income households on Universal Credit skilled meals insecurity. One in six reported turning off their fridge or freezer in some unspecified time in the future to economize.

Here is a short overview of the state monetary help obtainable to low-income households this March and the dates on which advantages recipients can anticipate their cash to be paid out:

Benefits going out as regular

The regular advantages and pensions funds shall be going out principally as regular in March. These are:

However, in case your fee date falls on Good Friday (29 March), you must obtain your anticipated fee the day earlier than (28 March).

For extra data on how and when state advantages are paid, please go to the federal government’s web site.

Cost of dwelling fee

Despite ongoing monetary pressures, the federal government has not introduced any plans to increase its price of dwelling fee scheme past Febuary 2024.

Peter Matejic, Chief Analyst on the JRF, stated: “The Government’s cost of living payments gave families a short-term reprieve. Without them, they face an income safety net that offers no safety and the ever-rising cost of essentials like food and energy.”

If eligible, the ultimate price of dwelling fee of £299 must be paid to you between February 6, 2024 and February 22, 2024. People receiving sure advantages or tax credit had been eligible for the price of dwelling fee. These embrace: Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension cCedit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit.

This fee follows a number of others made all through 2023:

If you consider you had been eligible for these funds however didn’t obtain them, you must contact the DWP.

Other assist obtainable as price of dwelling funds finish

Local council help

In the spring Budget, Jeremy Hunt confirmed the Household Support Fund (HSF) can be prolonged for six months past the unique 31 March deadline.

The HSF is funding given to all native councils to help weak households of their space. Councils are free to allocate the funds nonetheless they really feel is greatest.

For occasion, some have supplied money grants, grocery store vouchers, or power invoice help. You might want to go to your native council’s web site to seek out out what assist should be obtainable.

To discover out what help is obtainable to you, the End Furniture Poverty charity supply a useful help finder device.

Budgeting advance loans

The authorities presents a ‘budgeting advance loan’ for individuals on Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of cash. Prior to the funds, the reimbursement interval for these loans was 12 months. It has now been doubled to 2 years.

These loans are interest-free, and routinely deducted from Universal Credit funds. You can borrow an ‘advance’ of as much as:

Charitable grants

If you might be struggling financially, you could be eligible for sure charitable grants. There are a variety of grants obtainable relying in your circumstances.

However, these grants will sometimes require you to satisfy particular standards and solely be capable to supply restricted funds.

Charitable grants can be found for people who find themselves disabled or sick, carers, bereaved, unemployed, college students – and plenty of extra. The charity Turn2us has a web based device to seek for grants which can be obtainable to you.

Energy supplier assist

A lot of power suppliers supply assist for these battling their power payments. These embrace Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON and Octopus. It is value contacting your power supplier to seek out out in case you are eligible.

British Gas additionally supply a grant of as much as £2,000 to prospects of any power supplier. You might want to meet particular standards to be eligible, and might apply on the British Gas Energy Trust web site.

Energy Price Cap: Will it go up or down in 2024?

The power value cap is about to drop to £1,690 from 1 Aprildown £238 from the January cap of £1,928.

Analysts on the trusted Cornwall Insight predict this determine will fall in July to £1,462.86, however rise once more barely in October to £1,590.

The power value cap is the utmost quantity power suppliers can cost you for every unit of power in case you’re on a normal variable tariff. That consists of most households. It is expressed as an annual invoice for a median house.

The current decline in costs is reflective of current drops in wholesale power prices – the quantity power companies pay for his or her electrical energy and fuel earlier than supplying it to households.

Although it’s a vital slide from the record-high charges of the final two years, the determine stays virtually £1,000 a yr above pre-pandemic ranges.

Are advantages and pensions going up in 2024?

Benefits and state pension are set to extend in April 2024.

In his autumn assertion, Jeremy Hunt that advantages are going to be elevated by the September price of inflation of 6.7 per cent. He additionally introduced that state pensions shall be elevated by 8.5 per cent across the similar time.

However, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has warned that failure to lift the advantages cap will push extra individuals past its threshold, that means a real-terms reduce for a lot of.

Have you been affected by the inflation enhance or have a narrative to share about your expertise throughout the price of dwelling disaster? Get in contact through e-mail: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk