-
Benefit changes in 2013
Benefit changes in 2013
Taken from The Money Advice Service, Most links link back to their webpage.....https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/?locale=en
A number of changes to the benefits system take effect in 2013. Universal Credit is being introduced. Disability Living Allowance and Council Tax Benefit are being replaced. There are also changes to Housing Benefit and the Social Fund. And an overall cap is being introduced to the amount you can get in benefits.
Universal Credit introduced from 2013
Universal Credit is a new simpler, single monthly payment for people looking for work or on a low income. It will replace some of the benefits and tax credits you might be getting now.
Personal Independence Payment replacing Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
. Personal Independence Payment is designed to help towards some of the extra costs you may have because of a long-term health condition or disability.
Who will be affected?
The change only applies if you’re aged 16 to 64. Children and people aged 65 or over who are already getting DLA will be unaffected.
How will this affect you?
Just because you are getting DLA does not mean you will automatically get Personal Independence Payment between 8 April 2013 and October 2017.
Council Tax Benefit abolished
Council Tax Benefit was abolished on 1 April 2013. Local councils are bringing in their own Council Tax Support Scheme to replace it.
How will this affect you?
If you’re a pensioner on a low income there will be no reduction in the amount you get.
For everyone else, how you will be affected will depend on where you live.
- If you live in England contact your local council to find out more about their scheme.
- If you live in Wales or Scotland you will get the same amount of help with your Council Tax as you did under the old system. This will be the case until at least April 2014.
- If you live in Northern Ireland these changes will not affect you.
Benefit cap introduced
If you’re aged 16 to 64, there will be a limit put on the total amount of benefit you can get. This is called a benefit cap and is being introduced from April 2013 for some London boroughs, and from September 2013 for the rest of the country.
Housing Benefit cuts for social housing tenants
From April 2013, if you’re renting from a local authority, housing association or registered social landlord, then your Housing Benefit may be cut if you are considered to have a spare bedroom. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘Bedroom Tax’, the ‘under-occupation penalty’ or the ‘removal of the spare room subsidy’.
Changes to the Social Fund
Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans
Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans were abolished on 1 April 2013. They are being replaced by support provided by your local authority in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales.
Budgeting Loans
From April 2013 onwards, as people are moved onto Universal Credit, Budgeting Loans will be replaced by a new system of Budgeting Advances.
Get a PDF about Budgeting Advances from the DWP website
If you’re not yet getting Universal Credit you can still claim Budgeting Loans.
