GOING UP
Millions of households on benefits and state pension to get payment boost next month, Spring Budget confirms
MILLIONS of households on benefits and receiving state pension are set to get a payment boost next month.
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed in the Spring Budget today that the uprating of benefits will go ahead in April.
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Mr Hunt said that along with the energy price guarantee continuing to July and one-off cost of living payments, that the increase is "worth £94billion over this year and next – one of the largest support packages in Europe".
He first revealed that payments will be going up in line with inflation in his Autumn Statement.
Benefits including Universal Credit and Child Benefit, will be increasing by last September's inflation rate of 10.1%, as well as State Pension too.
The amount your benefits will rise depends on what you're receiving.
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Catch up with all the latest from the Spring Budget on The Sun's live blog.
There are nine benefits that have to rise in line with the consumer price index (CPI) rate of inflation because it's the law.
But millions on Universal Credit and other benefits will see their payments go up too.
What new measures were announced in today's Budget? Everything you need to know:
- Britain is set to avoid recession this year AND inflation will tumble to just 2.9 per cent
- Local councils will receive £200m to fix potholes in a major win for motorists;
- Massive £5bn boost to defence spending confirmed;
- Fuel duty frozen for the13th year in a row AND the 5p cut has been kept in huge win for the Sun's Sun's Keep it Down campaign;
- Alcohol duty rates is set to rise in line with inflation, hitting punters in the pocket;
- But the Chancellor will cut the duty charged on draught pints in pubs across the UK by 11p in August;
- Energy companies will not be allowed to charge people with prepayment meters extra fees from July 1, bringing them in line with Direct Debit users;
- Households on benefits and receiving state pension will get a payment boost next month with the uprating of benefits set to go ahead in April;
- Millions of households will save £160 on energy bills after the Energy Price Guarantee that freezes the average bill at £2,500 will be extended to July;
- Parents of kids from nine months old will be given 30 hours of free support each week;
- The childcare allowance for parents on Universal Credit will be raised from £646 a month for a single child to £950 - and from £1,108 for two children to £1,630;
- New apprenticeships for over-50s - called "returnerships" - will be created, which will train older workers more quickly to lure them back to jobs;
- The lifetime pensions allowance will be ABOLISHED allowing wealthier Brits like doctors to save tens of thousands more into their retirement pot tax-free to encourage them not to quit work early;
- The minimum amount claimants must work before having to engage with government jobs coaches is set to rise from 15 to 18 hours per week.
It'll come into effect from April and boost the payments for the average family on Universal Credit by £600 a year.
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But the dates they will rise vary depending on the type of benefit and when you normally get paid too.
The Autumn Statement documents also revealed the benefit cap will be raised by 10.1% too - the first time since 2016.
It will be increased from £20,000 to £22,020 for families nationally and from £23,000 to £25,323 in Greater London.
The cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get.
Benefits are already lagging a long way behind rocketing living costs, leaving many pockets squeezed.
Here's the full list of payments getting a boost:
- Personal independence payment (PIP)
- Disability living allowance
- Attendance allowance
- Incapacity benefit
- Housing benefit
- Pension Credit
- Employment support allowance
- Job seeker's allowance
- Maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared paternal pay
- Maternity allowance
- Income support
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
- State pension
- Severe disablement allowance
- Industrial injuries benefit
- Carer's allowance
- Additional state pension
- Guardian's allowance
- Universal Credit
- Child Benefit
It's always worth checking that you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to by using a free benefits checker.
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For exactly how much your payments will go up by see our explainer.
And, to for the exact dates you'll get the boost have a look at our story.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
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