Benefit Changes from April 2016
Its coming up to April so thought I best recap some of the benefit changes that are due to take place from April 2016. Some may be subject to change or approval.
April 2016
- Benefit and tax credit rates frozen for four years (does not apply to pensioner, carer and disability benefits)
- Benefit cap lowered (postponed to Autumn 2016)
- Tax Credits in year increase in income disregard cut from £5,000 to £2,500
- Universal Credit Work Allowances removed for non-disabled claimants without children and reduced for claimants who have childcare responsibilities and/or a disability
- Housing Benefit family premium abolished for new claims and new births from 1st May 2016
- Housing Benefit backdating period reduced from six months to one month
- Reducing length of time for claiming Housing Benefit during absence abroad
- Mortgage Interest Help waiting period extended
- New National Living Wage of £7.20 an hour for over 25 introduced
- New State Pension introduced for people reaching pension age from 6 April. Entitlement to new pension will not allow claims for Savings Credit of Pension Credit.
Due to Come in 2017 …again could be changed but thought I would add to give some warning.
- April 2017 Tax credits and Universal Credit will be limited to two children. Same changes made in Housing Benefit too.
- Universal Credit will require parents, including lone parents to look for work once youngest child reaches the age of 3 if they want to claim Universal Credit.
- Free childcare extended . Entitlement will be doubled from 15 hours to 30 hours a week for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds from September 2017.