From April 2013 a limit will be put on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called a benefit cap. If you’re affected, your Housing Benefit will go down to make sure that the total amount of benefit you get isn’t more than the cap level. If you’re already getting benefits and could be affected by the cap you’ll be contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They’ll let you know what will happen to your benefits. ... VIEW POST
Benefit Cap
What I Am Doing
In the back of Confessions of a Single Mum I am rather busy updating the benefit section. It’s well over due and New Year, new start and all that. There have been a few benefit changes and I learnt of two other benefits that parents with children might not be aware of, Care to Learn and Parents Learning Allowance. The new benefit section will be up shortly. But in the meantime here are the two benefits that I have learnt about. ... VIEW POST
Universal Credit
In 2013 a new benefit called Universal Credit will gradually replace the current, complex system of working-age benefits and Tax Credits. What is Universal Credit? Universal Credit will be means tested for people of working age. It will be one credit for people whatever their employment status. Its aim is to be simpler than the complex system we have at the moment where separate benefits are administered by different agencies. From 2013/14 Universal Credit will replace ... VIEW POST
In Work Credit and Return to Work Credit Change
Someone asked me if the In Work Credit was still available. It is . There are two different credits. Return to Work Credit - for those with a health condition or disability In Work Credit - for those without a health condition or disability. This is from the Direct Gov website ... Return to Work Credit is a tax-free payment of £40 per week for people that have, or have had, a health condition or disability. It can be payable for up to 52 weeks as long as: ... VIEW POST
Which Benefits are Changing and When
I keep getting asked what benefits are changing and when. So with kind permission from Turn2us I have added the list of which benefits are changing and when. In 2010 the Government announced several cuts to welfare spending to make welfare more affordable, bringing the total welfare savings to £18 billion per year by 2014-15. A calendar of the main changes to benefits and the benefits system is provided below. ... VIEW POST
Benefit Changes that will affect New Parents
The government are making cuts to a several key grants and other welfare entitlements for new parents. Including Health in Pregnancy Grant Sure Start Maternity Grant Baby element of Child Tax Credits Toddler element of Child Tax Credit Child Trust Fund For some this can be a worth up to £1735 over a pregnancy and the child's first year. These loses aren't being offset by other benefits so there loss of money will be felt. ... VIEW POST