Ongoing News

The UC sanction rate has increased above pre-pandemic levels when compared to the 11 months preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just to let you know that we are updating our current website.

It will largely work the same in terms of bookings and the members' area. Please Contact us if you have any issues.

Colour course packs- we have changed to getting these printed on recycled paper.

Universal Credit statistics (17 5 2022) tell us that- Numbers on UC- 5.6 million are on UC (4.7 million households)-

The law (regulation 44 and 45)  provides for a 3 month period in which the claimant must claim UC.  The day by which a claim must be made for UC(otherwise legacy benefits will stop) is called the deadline day.  The Secretary of State can extend the deadline day on their own initiative or 

The government has announced 'The process will resume on 9 May and will be carefully managed.

'...biggest drop in 50 years'
Source- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Book now for our updated-
Introduction to Welfare Benefits course

We are currently posting our free posters.

Just send an A4 Stamp Addressed Envelope
with postage for a large envelope to us at: Beneft Rates Posters Social Welfare Training
37 Rockside Drive, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4NU.

2022-23

Free E mail copy- Ensure you get the finalised Benefits Rate Poster for 2022- 2023 (to be sent in mid April 2022) by checking you are subscribed to our free

newsletter click here Free colour hard copy(s)-

(to be sent in late April).

Unusually there were not many announcements about Beneft changes in the Spending review.

The government did give details on the Household Support Fund doubling to £1billion.

This is a one off payment to cover the year from September 2021- October 2022.

People can continue to access support through their Local Authority.

The government has changed the law from 22/3/2022 to allow Ukrainian refugees to claim Universal Credit and disability benefits as soon as they come to the UK.

New Fuel Deductions Ending- the government say '...Energy suppliers may only request new deductions for energy debt arrears and not request new ongoing consumption payments or change existing ongoing consumption payments until 6 April 2023.

Retirement age is currently 66 for both men and women.  It is due to rise to 67 during the period 2026-2028. Retirement age dictates not the age for receiving  State Pension but for other 'above working age' benefits like Winter Fuel Payment,  Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit.

A Report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests-

● '400,000 people could be pulled into poverty by real-terms cut to benefits in

April

● Nine million families who receive benefits due to low incomes will be £500

£billions of cuts were made to the Housing Benefit budget during the austerity cuts of the Government 2010-2015.

Discretionary Housing Payments(DHPs) replace a small amount of that funding and are given out by councils. Councils can choose to top up the fund out of their own resources by up to x 2.5 of their allocated amount.

The government has said-