DWP information: July 2025 cost dates for Universal Credit, state pension and PIP | EUROtoday

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Across the UK, thousands and thousands of individuals declare sure advantages to assist them cowl the price of dwelling. Around 24 million folks within the nation at the moment are in receipt of some mixture of DWP-administered advantages, which have gotten extra important than ever to grapple with rising prices.

As we go the halfway level of the 12 months, the unwelcome shock of April’s invoice rises could have settled, however many proceed to wrestle. Increases to advantages, the state pension and the minimal wage may have gone some approach to offset these prices, however inflation continues to outstrip incomes for many.

Latest figures from thousands and thousands of low-income households paint a tough image of the UK’s financial state of affairs. Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation discovered that greater than 1 in 5 folks within the UK (21 per cent) had been in poverty in 2022/23 – 14.3 million folks.

Against this tough financial backdrop, it’s vital that households are claiming all of the assist the they entitled to. Research by Policy in Practice reveals that £23bn price of advantages goes unclaimed yearly – you need to use their useful calculator to work out what you may be entitled to.

Are you having a difficulty with the DWP or price of dwelling? Get in contact by way of e mail: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk

Here is an summary of the monetary assist out there to households this July and key dates for profit and state pension recipients to look out for:

Benefit cost dates in July

Benefit funds shall be going out as regular in July as there are not any financial institution holidays. These embrace:

  • Universal Credit
  • State pension
  • Pension credit score
  • Child profit
  • Disability dwelling allowance
  • Personal independence cost (PIP)
  • Attendance allowance
  • Carer’s allowance
  • Employment assist allowance
  • Income assist
  • Jobseeker’s allowance

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

The DWP is aiming to finish the migration of all ‘legacy benefits’ to Universal Credit by January 2026. Those receiving tax credit, earnings assist, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing profit ought to have obtained a discover about shifting to Universal Credit already.

Many may even be nervous about Labour’s deliberate modifications to the welfare system, which quantity to £5 million in cuts. There remains to be a while earlier than these come into impact, with the charges for Universal Credit altering in April subsequent 12 months, adopted by the standards to say the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) tightening in November.

Are you having points with PIP, Universal Credit, or some other profit? Get in contact by way of e mail: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk

Pension cost dates in July

The primary state pension is paid straight into financial institution accounts just like how advantages are paid. It is normally paid each 4 weeks, with the precise day you obtain it similar to the final two digits of your nationwide insurance coverage (NI) quantity.

Here’s when you have to be paid primarily based on these numbers:

  • 00 to 19: Monday
  • 20 to 39: Tuesday
  • 40 to 59: Wednesday
  • 60 to 79: Thursday
  • 80 to 99: Friday

Have profit charges gone up?

In April, all advantages had been uprated by 1.7 per cent, matching the September 2024 inflation determine. The enhance utilized to all working-age advantages, together with common credit score, PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

Meanwhile, in keeping with the triple lock, the state pension has risen by 4.1 per cent – up £472 a 12 months – matching wage progress in 2024.

Things will change barely for Universal Credit claimants subsequent 12 months following Labour’s welfare bulletins. Everyone receiving the profit’s normal allowance will see a one-off above inflation rise by £7 per week from April 2026, taking it from £91 to £98.

However, the speed of the extra Universal Credit well being factor shall be frozen from 2026 at £97 till 2029/30 (though these on this group will obtain the elevated normal allowance).

Additionally, any new claimants for the well being factor after April 2026 will obtain a massively diminished charge of £50 per week – nearly £2,500 lower than the present stage. This means it’s a good suggestion for anybody who thinks they may be eligible to use as quickly as they will.

Other assist out there

Budgeting advance loans

The authorities provides a ‘budgeting advance loan’ for folks on Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of cash. The mortgage has a most reimbursement 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:

  • £348 if you happen to’re single
  • £464 if you happen to’re a part of a pair
  • £812 if you happen to or your companion declare Child Benefit

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 shall be capped at 15 per cent of the usual allowance, down from 25 per cent.

Discretionary Housing Payment

Households can apply to their council for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP), which provides monetary assist to go in direction of lease or housing prices.

You can solely get a DHP if you’re in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing factor of Universal Credit. It can cowl housing prices for a lease shortfall, lease deposits and lease upfront if you have to transfer residence.

Exact eligibility and the funds out there are selected a council-by-council foundation, so you will want to get in contact together with your native authority to seek out out extra.

Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund (HSF), distributed by native councils, provides important help to these going through monetary hardship, complementing normal advantages and grants.

As a part of this authorities initiative, eligible households all through the UK can entry assist equivalent to important home equipment, contributions in direction of utility payments, and direct money funds reaching as much as £300.

Local authorities are free to determine methods to allocate their HSF funding to go well with households of their space, so precisely what is out there will range. To apply, households must contact their council (most supply a web-based kind).

This nationwide program is ready to run till March 2026. The authorities has dedicated £1 billion in funding to transition it right into a ‘Crisis and Resilience Fund’, which may even change the DHP.

Charitable grants

If you might be struggling financially, chances are 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 satisfy particular standards and solely be capable of supply restricted funds.

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

Energy supplier assist

A variety of vitality suppliers supply assist for these fighting their vitality payments. These embrace British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON and Octopus. It is price contacting your vitality supplier to seek out out if you’re eligible.

Council tax discount

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

Your native council should still be capable of give you a discretionary discount if you’ll be able to exhibit you might be going through extreme hardship and might’t afford to pay your council tax.

To apply for a council tax discount, you may contact your native council by way of the federal government’s web site.

Up to 30 hours of free childcare

All working mother and father within the UK are presently entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for kids aged 3 to 4. From 1 April 2024, 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 kids 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 also can apply for tax-free childcare, giving again 20p for each 80p you set in direction of childcare, as much as a most of £500 a 12 months.

The last growth to free childcare, coming in September 2025, will see all kids beneath 5 eligible for 30 hours.

Energy Price Cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s vitality value cap shall be reducing from £1,849 to £1,720 for July to September – a drop of seven per cent. The welcome fall follows three consecutive rises.

The vitality value cap is the utmost quantity vitality suppliers can cost you for every unit of vitality if you happen to’re on an ordinary variable tariff. That consists of most households. It is expressed as an annual invoice for a median residence.

Mental well being assist

  • In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans may be contacted 24 hours a day, 12 months a 12 months. You can name them totally free on 116 123, e mail them at jo@samaritans.org, or go to samaritans.org to seek out your nearest department.
  • Mind runs a assist line on 0300 102 1234 which gives a secure and confidential place to speak about the way you’re feeling. There can also be an info line on 0300 123 3393 for close by assist, and a welfare advantages line on 0300 222 5782 to assist the psychological well being of these navigating the advantages system.
  • Disability charity Scope has a discussion board the place folks can have supportive chats to others going by the identical experiences.
  • NHS England provides a web-based psychological well being triage service.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dwp-news-cost-of-living-payment-pip-energy-july-2025-b2772882.html