Ongoing News

The government has released statistics that tell us ...'approximately 2.9 million UC households (47% of all UC

With the rule changes to PIP still to be decided the government has said- 'It would take 10 years for all claimants on

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to be assessed under the new criteria as many claimants receive 10-year

The Government has said '...58,800 more Pension Credit applications have been awarded since the Winter Fuel Payment announcement than over a comparable period(43 weeks) a year previous.

Book now Benefits for Older People 2025

The government estimates (using its DWP Policy Simulation Model)-

'There are an estimated 1.7 million disabled people of working age who are

in receipt of a means-tested beneft but not in receipt of Personal

From 30/4/2025 the government has reduced the maximum deduction rate for those on Universal Credit down

from 25% to 15% of the standard allowance.

Last week the government explained that the migration of ESA claimants to Universal Credit was going well-

'..5. I would also take this opportunity to share some news about our plans for 2025/26. In light of the good

progress made on ESA cases to date, with over 200,000 already successfully transitioned to UC, I have accepted a

Benefit rates are increasing.

Available from late April 2025 onwards- Benefit Rates Posters 2025/ 2026.

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Envelope with postage for a large envelope to us at:

xxx- email us for address.

In our March 2025 newsletter we explained that 70% of medicals for the work

capability assessment are by telephone. The rest are carried out by video(6%),

in person(11%) or paper based(13%).

Last week the government announced lots of changes to benefits in the future. Here are some of the findings

The government has confirmed a change- 'The Chancellor announced, in the Autumn Budget 2024, that they will

reduce the level of debt repayments that can be taken from a household’s Universal Credit payment each month.

The government has released figures that show how there has been a change

from face to face assessments to telephone ones over the last few years.

Hows it going with migrating over different types of claimants onto Universal

Credit?

The Government has explained how over 100,000 claimants on Employment

and Support Allowance have undergone managed migration to Universal

Credit.

Clients in Supported accommodation still claim Housing Beneft for their housing costs even though they may be

entitled to Universal Credit. If a client starts work , as long as they are still entitled to some Universal Credit, they are

still passported to full Housing Benefts(minus any non eligible charges). If a client earns too much to still get

The new rates from April for War Pensions and

Armed forces Scheme are given here.

Carers Allowance is normally considered a non means tested Benefit. But not for earnings.

The government has explained that most overpayments(70%- about 100,000 claimants) of Carers Allowance are