Ongoing News

The government has announced 4 of the 5 contracts for the procurement of new health and disability beneft assessment contracts(across all disability benefts)—the Functional Assessment Services contracts—for the period 2024 to 2029.

The law has increased the time needed for terminal illness/ life expectancy from 6 to 12 months
for DLA- Disability Living Allowance / PIP- Personal Independence Payment/ AA- Attendance Allowance.

The change should make it easier to qualify from 3/4/2023.

The State Pension age review 2023 has been published by the government. Retirement age is currently 66 for men and women.

State Pension age rise to 67 will take place as planned between 2026-2028. Review within two years of next Parliament to reconsider rise to age 68.

The government has issued more information on the roll out of managed migration for Universal Credit.

Designed to help you keep track of new rules in the Welfare System,  here's our guide to Benefit changes announced in the Spring Budget.

The government has given a few more details on the Cost of Living Payments for 2023.

£301 – First 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023

£842 million of additional funding will be allocated from 1st April 2024 to help the most vulnerable households across England.

In our last newsletter, we reported

'Local Housing Allowances (LHA) have been frozen again for 2023/24. They help determine how much Housing Beneft or Universal Credit Housing costs will be payable for rent. The last time they were increased was in 2020/21 when they were set to cover the lowest 30% of rents.'

Recent figures show a large increase in claimants not returning their PIP renewal forms and then their beneft being disallowed. In 2021 this affected 40,000 claimants. As a safe guard, some claimants(AS) won't have their award stopped until they have a medical assessment.

Each council in England and Wales has a DHP(discretionary housing payment) budget. The national budget has been set for 2023/24 and also 2024/25 at £100 million per year.

Government statistics

say there were 5.8 million people on Universal Credit in October 2022

Local Housing Allowances (LHA) have been frozen again. They help determine how much Housing Beneft or Universal Credit Housing costs will be payable for rent. The last time they were increased was in 2020/21 when they were set to cover the lowest 30% of rents.

Book now Housing Costs and Universal Credit 2023

Those with Limited Capability for Work(sick) on Universal Credit are generally rising in number. government statistics. Most get a LCWRA element as part of their Universal Credit as they are in the support group.

The DWP is about to extend Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance to working age parents who were not married or in a civil partnership with their late partner.