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.

Are you mum wanting to go into business?

If you’re mum with a business idea or want to switch to more flexible working arrangements, you may be considering starting your own business. Even the thought of where to start can be daunting. You may have a business idea but want a partner to join you or maybe you not sure what you want to do but you want something different to the normal 9-5 sort of job.

Changes for Single Parents and Income Support

Letters are going out today from  local jobcentres to 100,000 single parents that are not in paid employment and whose youngest child is 4,5 or 6. They will be told that the conditions for receiving income support are changing and they will now need to attend word focused interviews and will have to claim job seeker’s allowance . This is because their income support will be ending next year as part of the government’s plans to remove income support eligibility for lone parents with a youngest child aged five and over.

Childcare Changes for 2013

Childcare is to be extended to 80,000 more families in 2013. It will be worth up to £175 a week for once child and £300 for two or more. Ministers are saying that scrapping the minimum working hours or the childcare support with benefit 80,000 families.

Save Money via Your Fridge

Had the following sent to my from E.On and thought it useful so passing it on.

The UK could save £95.8 million every year by adjusting fridge and freezer temperatures by just two degrees, according to leading energy supplier, E.ON.  Many people mistakenly keep fridges and freezers as cold as possible assuming that it is better for their food, especially in the summer months.  However it means that households could be missing out on energy savings and it can spoil food.

Going Self Employed as a Single Mum

It used to be the argument should a mum go back to work. Now it seems the argument is how can a mum can return to work. In the current work and economic climate it’s not that easy. Add into the mix being a single parent and it can be a nightmare so could going self employed be the answer for a single mum?

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.