DWP advantages funds: December 2024 dates for Universal Credit and pensions | EUROtoday

Christmas is quick approaching, as tens of millions look to steadiness the expense of the season with ever-increasing family prices. Across the UK, folks proceed to grapple with excessive costs because the rampant inflation of the previous few years has left necessities costing greater than ever earlier than.

Household payments, groceries, mortgages and rents have all hit document highs, because the nation navigates the continuing value of dwelling disaster.

Inflation noticed an unwelcome spike to 2.6 per cent in November, because the late-year steep rise continues. Many had hoped that the determine would sink again beneath the Bank of England’s 2 per cent goal because it did in September, with dwelling prices significantly outpacing wage progress over the previous few years.

In October, Labour unveiled its first Budget in energy with Rachel Reeves promising to “support people with the cost of living.” The chancellor confirmed that the nationwide dwelling wage would rise by 6.7 per cent subsequent yr, whereas the state pension might be uprated by 4.1 per cent, and advantages by 1.7 per cent.

However, the newest tales from low-income households nonetheless paint a bleak image of the UK’s financial state of affairs. Recent analysis from The Joseph Rowntree Foundation 100,000 extra youngsters and 300,000 adults are set to be in poverty by October 2029 if additional motion just isn’t taken by the federal government.

Meanwhile, 1000’s of weak pensioners will face their first winter in many years with out the £200-300 winter gasoline fee as Labour opts to push forward with their controversial stripping again of the measure. Pensioners have till 21 December to safe the profit.

Against this difficult financial backdrop, right here is an summary of the monetary help out there to households this December and key dates for advantages recipients to look out for:

Benefits fee dates in December

The DWP has revealed new dates to anticipate sure profit funds this December, with a number of funds being introduced ahead.

For probably the most half, advantages and pension funds will nonetheless be going out as ordinary in December. These are:

But there are some new exceptions to concentrate on. The DWP has confirmed that individuals as a consequence of obtain Universal Credit and different profit funds on Christmas Day (25 December) can anticipate these to be paid the day earlier than as a substitute, on Christmas Eve.

Payments meant for Boxing Day (26 December) may also be paid on Christmas Eve. And most funds set to exit on 27 December might be paid on Christmas Eve too, apart from Universal Credit which is able to nonetheless be paid on today.

All advantages set to be paid on New Years’ Day (1 January) will as a substitute be paid the day earlier than, on New Years’ Eve (31 December). Most funds set to exit on 2 January will as a substitute be paid on New Years’ Day too, apart from Universal Credit which is able to nonetheless be paid on today.

Parents also needs to remember that Child Benefit set to be paid on 30 December will now be coming a day later, on 31 December.

Many profit claimants may also be receiving a £10 Christmas Bonus from the DWP this month, look out for a fee marked ‘XB’ in your checking account.

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

A report from Policy in Practice this yr reveals that almost £23bn in advantages goes unclaimed a yr – they provide a useful calculator to work out what you may be entitled to.

Have you been having points with the DWP lately? Get in contact through electronic mail: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk

Household help fund

In August, Labour confirmed that they’ll prolong the Conservative-created Household Support Fund (HSF) for an additional six months past the September 30 finish date. This means it ought to now proceed till the tip of March 2025.

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

For occasion, some have offered money grants, grocery store vouchers, or vitality invoice help. Visit your native council’s web site to search out out what assist could also be out there.

To discover out what help is obtainable, the End Furniture Poverty charity presents a useful help finder instrument.

Other assist out there

Budgeting advance loans

The authorities presents a ‘budgeting advance loan’ for folks on Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of cash. The mortgage has a most compensation interval of two years.

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

Following the Labour Budget in October, a brand new cap has been launched on the quantity the DWP can deduct from profit funds to repay loans and money owed, together with budgeting advance loans.

From April 2025, deductions from common credit score might be capped at 15 per cent of the usual allowance, down from 25 per cent.

Charitable grants

If you’re struggling financially, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for sure charitable grants. There are a variety of grants out there relying in your circumstances.

However, these grants will usually require you to fulfill particular standards and solely have the ability to provide restricted funds.

Charitable grants can be found for people who find themselves disabled or sick, carers, bereaved, unemployed, college students – and lots of extra. The charity Turn2us has an internet instrument to seek for grants which can be out there to you.

Energy supplier assist

Numerous vitality suppliers provide assist for these combating their vitality payments. These embrace Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON and Octopus. It is price contacting your vitality supplier to search out out if you’re eligible.

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

Council tax discount

If you meet sure standards or are on sure advantages, you might be able to apply for a reduction in your council tax low cost of as much as 100 per cent.

Your native council should still have the ability to give you a discretionary discount if you’ll be able to show you’re dealing with extreme hardship and may’t afford to pay your council tax.

To apply for a council tax discount, you possibly can contact your native council through the federal government’s web site.

Warm dwelling low cost

The heat dwelling low cost is a one-off £150 low cost in your electrical energy invoice. It might be taken mechanically out of your vitality payments if you’re eligible.

To qualify, the invoice payer should be on a low earnings with excessive vitality prices or get the assure credit score ingredient of pension credit score.

Up to 30 hours of free childcare

All working mother and father within the UK are at the moment entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for youngsters aged 3 to 4. From April 1, this entitlement expanded to incorporate 15 hours of free childcare for 2-year-olds.

From 1 September, this was expanded once more to incorporate all youngsters from the age of 9 months.

You should apply on-line and reconfirm your eligibility each three months, in time for every faculty time period. Working mother and father can even apply for tax-free childcare, giving again 20p for each 80p you place in direction of childcare, as much as a most of £500 a yr.

The closing enlargement to free childcare, coming in September 2025, will see all youngsters beneath 5 eligible for 30 hours.

Will profit charges be going up quickly?

Following the chancellor’s Budget announcement, it was confirmed that each one advantages might be uprated by 1.7 per cent, matching the September CPI determine.

While this isn’t uncommon, campaigners had referred to as for Labour to contemplate a barely larger improve. Inflation had been larger in earlier months, starting at 4 per cent in January. It can be anticipated to rise and stay above 2 per cent once more from October.

The improve will apply to all working-age advantages, together with common credit score, PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

In line with the triple lock, the State Pension will rise by 4.1 per cent – up £472 a yr – matching wage progress in 2024.

Both will increase will take impact from April 2025.

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

Ofgem’s vitality value cap has risen from £1,568 to £1,717 for October to December – a rise of 10 per cent. This will imply larger payments for many households as we head into the colder months.

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

The change in costs is reflective of the price of wholesale vitality – the quantity vitality companies pay for his or her electrical energy and fuel earlier than supplying it to households.