April 2025 Easter weekend cost dates for advantages and pensions | EUROtoday

Spring has formally begun, and with it a brand new monetary yr which guarantees greater incomes for hundreds of thousands – offset by greater prices. This is as a result of April can also be the time of yr the place most payments rise, making it important to remain on high of all of the assist you would be receiving.

Households have gained from a number of revenue boosts this April, for each these out and in of labor. All DWP-administered advantages rose 1.7 per cent because the state pension rose by 4.1 per cent according to the triple lock. The minimal wage additionally elevated by an inflation-busting 6.7 per cent, giving hundreds of thousands of employees a bumper £1,400 pay rise.

But there’s some dangerous information, too. Household payments have now seen huge rises throughout the board, together with vitality, water and council tax.

Many will even be anxious about Labour’s recently-announced adjustments to the welfare system. Amounting to £5 million in cuts, these will see the charges for Universal Credit change subsequent yr, adopted by the factors to say the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) tightening.

Meanwhile, the newest figures from hundreds of thousands of low-income households paint a bleak image of the UK’s financial state of affairs. Latest analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation discovered that greater than 1 in 5 folks within the UK (21 per cent) have been in poverty in 2022/23 – 14.3 million folks. This comprised 8.1 million working-age adults, 4.3 million kids, and 1.9 million pensioners.

Against this troublesome financial backdrop, right here is an outline of the monetary assist obtainable to households this April and key dates for profit and state pension recipients to look out for:

Benefit cost dates in April

Benefit funds will likely be going out as regular in April for probably the most half, however there are some exceptions to concentrate on over the Easter Weekend. Those who’re anticipating a cost on 18 April (Good Friday) or 21 April (Easter Monday) ought to as an alternative be paid on Thursday 17 April.

Benefit funds embrace:

For extra data 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, revenue assist, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing profit ought to have obtained a discover about transferring to Universal Credit already.

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

Have you been having points with the DWP just lately? Get in contact by way of electronic mail: albert.toth@unbiased.co.uk

Pension cost dates in March

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 comparable to the final two digits of your nationwide insurance coverage (NI) quantity.

Here’s when try to be paid based mostly on these numbers:

Will profit charges be going up in April?

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

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

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

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

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

Other assist obtainable

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 compensation interval of two years.

These loans are interest-free, and robotically 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 will likely be capped at 15 per cent of the usual allowance, down from 25 per cent.

Charitable grants

If you’re struggling financially, chances are you’ll be eligible for sure charitable grants. There are a variety of grants obtainable relying in your circumstances.

However, these grants will usually require you to fulfill particular standards and solely be capable to provide restricted funds.

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

Energy supplier assist

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

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

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 be capable to give you a discretionary discount if you’ll be able to reveal you’re dealing with extreme hardship and might’t afford to pay your council tax.

To apply for a council tax discount, you possibly can 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 youngsters 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 college time period. Working mother and father may also 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 kids beneath 5 eligible for 30 hours.

Energy Price Cap: Is it going up in April?

Ofgem’s vitality value cap has risen from £1,738 to £1,849 for April to June – a rise of 6.4. This marks the third consecutive enhance within the determine, and can imply a mean enhance of £9.25 per thirty days from the present price.

The vitality value cap is the utmost quantity vitality suppliers can cost you for every unit of vitality for those who’re on a typical variable tariff. That contains most households. It is expressed as an annual invoice for a mean house.

Mental well being assist