DWP payment date changes for Easter 2026 universal credit, benefits and pensions plus cost of living support

April is across the nook, and with it a brand new monetary 12 months that guarantees to convey tons of change to households throughout the UK.

Cost of living concerns have grown as battle within the Middle East all of a sudden threatens to hit Britain’s economic system. The state of affairs has severely disrupted the worldwide oil commerce, bringing knock-on effects to the worth of necessities like power and meals.

Economists say that the worst impacts will be prevented ought to the battle finish quickly, however uncertainty stays because the trade of fireplace continues.

In optimistic information for family funds, inflation noticed a steep drop in January to three per cent, marking a ten month low. Some analysts now predict the speed may hit the Bank of England’s goal of 2 per cent by April, which was final seen briefly in 2024.

The downward pattern means costs are rising much less shortly, however for many the cost of living nonetheless stays too excessive.

Around two-thirds (63 per cent) of Brits say they’ve needed to reduce on the necessities to deal with the cost of living, recent analysis by the Cost of Living Action group discovered.

Meanwhile, 55 per cent of households living in poverty now include a minimum of one working individual, based on the Resolution Foundation suppose tank, which revealed the scale of the issue.

Against this tough financial backdrop, households ought to declare all of the support they’re entitled to. There at the moment are round 24 million folks within the nation claiming some mixture of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) administered benefits, which embrace these drawing a state pension, representing round one in three folks.

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Yet analysis by Policy in Practice reveals that £24bn price of benefits goes unclaimed yearly – you should use its helpful calculator to work out what you is likely to be entitled to.

Are you combating the DWP or the cost of living? Share your story: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk

Here is an summary of the monetary support accessible to households this April and key dates for profit and state pension recipients to look out for:

Benefit payment dates in April

Benefit funds will exit as typical in April, besides on two key dates. Anyone due a profit payment on Friday 3 April (Good Friday) or Monday 6 April (Easter Monday), ought to as a substitute obtain this on Thursday 2 April.

This contains:

For extra info on how and when state benefits are paid, visit the government’s website.

The DWP is aiming to finish the migration of all “legacy benefits” to universal credit by the tip of March 2026. Those receiving tax credit, earnings support, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing profit ought to have acquired a discover about transferring to universal credit score already.

Are you having points with universal credit score, PIP, or another profit? Get in contact by way of e-mail: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk

Pension payment dates in April

The basic state pension is paid straight into financial institution accounts, just like how benefits are paid. It is often paid each 4 weeks, with the precise day you obtain it equivalent to the final two digits of your nationwide insurance coverage (NI) quantity.

Here’s when you need to be paid based mostly on these numbers:

The identical financial institution vacation payment date changes that apply to most benefits may even apply to state pension funds.

When will profit charges go up?

In April 2026, all universal credit score claimants will obtain an above-inflation earnings enhance of round 6.2 per cent to the usual allowance. For a single individual over 25, this can be a £6 per week enhance, rising from £92 to £98.

For {couples} with one or each companions over 25, will probably be a rise of £9 per week, rising from £145 to £154.

Most different benefits needs to be uprated by September’s inflation charge alone, growing by 3.8 per cent. This contains PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

However, on the identical time, the month-to-month payment charge for the health-related component of universal credit score for new claimants can be lower from £105 to £50. The charge for current claimants may even be frozen till 2029.

This is a discount of greater than £200 a month, reducing the extra charge by round half. This means it’s advisable for anybody who thinks they is likely to be eligible to use as quickly as they will.

The state pension will rise by 4.8 per cent from subsequent April consistent with annual earnings development, the federal government has confirmed. This will convey the weekly quantity to £241.05.

For extra details about the brand new profit charges, you can read The Independent’s guide.

Other assist accessible

Crisis and Resilience Fund

From April, councils will be capable of administer Labour’s new ‘Crisis and Resilience Fund’, designed to support low-income households at occasions when affording the necessities turns into a wrestle.

It will change each the family support fund and discretionary housing funds.

Crisis payment

The first half of the brand new scheme can be a ‘crisis payment’ to to support low-income households which have skilled a monetary shock, or are in danger of coming into disaster.

Like the Household Support Fund, councils will proceed to have discretion over the precise eligibility standards. However, the federal government’s steerage says it shouldn’t be restricted simply to these in receipt of benefits.

The DWP has requested that councils take a ‘cash-first’ method to the disaster payment, that means money funds needs to be awarded except there’s a honest cause not to take action.

Housing payment

A brand new ‘housing payment’ may even be launched throughout the UK, geared toward offering monetary support in direction of housing prices for these in want.

This will often be associated to lease, resembling needing lease upfront, a rental deposit, or shortfall. It may additionally cowl a lump sum related to housing, just like the cost of transferring.

Unlike the disaster payment, the housing payment can be restricted to these in receipt of sure benefits. These are both housing profit, or universal credit score with the housing component for rental prices. However, DWP says those that don’t qualify however are nonetheless in want may very well be thought of for a disaster payment as a substitute.

Budgeting advance loans

The authorities presents a “budgeting advance loan” for folks on universal credit score who face an emergency lack of cash. The mortgage has a most compensation interval of two years.

These loans are interest-free and are mechanically deducted from universal credit score funds. You can borrow an ‘advance’ of as much as:

Following Labour’s 2024 Budget, a brand new cap was launched on the quantity the DWP can deduct from profit funds to repay loans and money owed, together with budgeting advance loans.

Beginning in April 2025, deductions from universal credit score have been capped at 15 per cent of the usual allowance, down from 25 per cent.

Charitable grants

If you’re struggling financially, you might be eligible for sure charitable grants. There is a variety of grants accessible relying in your circumstances.

However, these grants will sometimes require you to satisfy particular standards and will solely be capable of supply restricted funds.

Charitable grants can be found for people who find themselves disabled or in poor health, carers, bereaved, unemployed, college students, and for many different causes. The charity Turn2us has an online tool to look for grants which can be accessible to some.

Energy supplier assist

A quantity of power suppliers supply assist for these combating their power payments. These embrace British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It is price contacting your power supplier to search out out if you’re eligible.

Some additionally supply free devices like electric blankets for households with susceptible residents to maintain heat.

Social tariffs for broadband and water

For these combating family prices, social tariffs can be found for both broadband and water bills. This will imply a decreased charge for sure eligible households.

For water, each firm working within the UK has a social tariff by regulation. However, the quantity on supply can differ between areas and, as a result of water suppliers can’t be chosen like power suppliers, the support has been criticised as a “postcode lottery”.

For occasion, some supply as a lot as 90 per cent off payments, whereas others cap support at a 20 per cent discount.

To discover out what support your water firm presents, it’s price checking on its web site or contacting the helpline. In all instances, households will should be deemed to be on a low earnings and/or in receipt of sure benefits.

Similarly, many broadband suppliers supply social tariffs to these on sure benefits like universal credit score or pension credit score.

Council tax discount

If you meet sure standards or are on sure benefits, you might be able to apply for a reduction in your council tax of as much as 100 per cent (that is typically referred to as council tax support).

Your native council should be capable of give you a discretionary discount in the event you can show you’re going through extreme hardship and can’t afford to pay your council tax.

To apply for a council tax discount, contact your native council by way of the federal government’s web site.

Up to 30 hours of free childcare

From 1 September 2025, all working dad and mom within the UK grew to become entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for kids as much as the age of 4. This concluded a gradual set of expansions that started in April 2024.

Parents should apply on-line and reconfirm their eligibility each three months, in time for every college time period. Working dad and mom may apply for tax-free childcare, giving again 20p for each 80p you place in direction of childcare, as much as a most of £500 a 12 months.

Energy value cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s power value cap will drop to £1,641 for 1 April to 31 June 2026 – lowering by round seven per cent, or £117. It will stay at £1,758 till 31 March.

The power value cap is the utmost quantity power suppliers can cost you for every unit of power in the event you’re on a normal variable tariff. That contains most households. It is expressed as an annual invoice for a median house.

Many specialists – together with Ofgem itself – are recommending households take into account a hard and fast tariff power deal, with many in the marketplace providing decrease than the worth cap charge.

Ofgem will announce its cap for July to September by 27 May. This may very well be a steep enhance of as a lot as 10 per cent, or £160, enhance as a result of state of affairs within the Middle East, power consultancy Cornwall Insight has warned.

Will there be one other cost of living payment in 2026?

The DWP has not introduced any continuation of the cost of living payment scheme that ran between 2022 and 2024. The ultimate payment ought to have been made to eligible households between 6 February and 22 February 2024.

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