Budget 2016 welfare & money advice announcements

HMRC to provide a 7-day a week service by 2017. 

Face-to-face support from Jobcentre Advisors for self-employed working tax credit claimants will be trialed. 

The government plan to improve support for ESA and Universal Credit work-related activity group claimants. 

The 52 week work time limit on permitted work rules for ESA claimants in the work-related activity group will be removed from April 2017.

From Autumn 2016, the government will introduce exemptions for recipients of guardians allowance, carer’s allowance and the carers element of universal credit from the household benefit cap. 

New or renewed tenancies in the social sector subject to the cap on housing benefit at the relevant local housing allowance rate will be deferred for supported accommodation from April 2016 to April 2017.

The ending of payments of housing benefit and pension credit to claimants who travel outside of Great Britain for longer than 4 weeks consecutively will now come into force in May 2016

The government will increase the number of presenting officers in attendance at employment and support allowance and personal independence payment tribunal hearings from 2017.

The government will introduce a new Help to Save scheme for those on low incomes who wish to regularly set aside some of their income.

The government will restructure statutory financial guidance providers the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.

Planned PIP changes to the assessment as outlined in the budget should NOT now be going ahead, but this is subject to official government confirmation. Look out for further updates.  

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2016 welfare changes

Benefit rates frozen - download the new and updated Rightsnet 2016/2017
rates sheet and check out the new tax credits rates from HMRC

Benefit Cap reduction changes due to kick in from Autumn 2016 so look out for further updates

Housing Benefit 'Family Premium' removed from 1 May 2016

Housing Benefit can only be backdated for 4 weeks from April 2016

From April 2016 the tax credits income disregard will be reduced from Â£5000 to £2500 (please be careful to avoid overpayments)

New State Pension available from 6 April - see the latest Age UK information on the new pensions reforms

Universal Credit work allowances reduced from 6th April

Government to provide an extra £200 million of childcare costs support within Universal Credit from April 2016

Support for mortgage interest waiting time within working age benefits changing back to 39 weeks from April 2016

From 6 April 2016 - Savings Credit closed to people reaching state pension age on or after 6 April and assessed income periods abolished. Remember Savings Credit MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE if state pension age prior to 6 April

4 year freeze to Local Housing Allowance from April 2016

For more information and changes visit the Turn2us benefits update page

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