March 2026 funds dates for common credit score, PIP, advantages and pensions plus value of dwelling assist

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March generally is a troublesome month for a lot of, as we await all of the adjustments – good and unhealthy – that the monetary new yr guarantees to deliver from 1 April.

Inflation went up for the primary time in 5 months in December, rising from 3.2 to three.4 per cent. The small rise means the speed stays practically one per cent larger than the top of 2024, as costs keep persistently excessive within the face of stagnant incomes.

On the similar time, exorbitant family payments are inflicting tens of millions to grapple with money owed to afford the necessities.

Round two-thirds (63 per cent) of Brits say they've needed to in the reduction of on the necessities to deal with the price of dwelling, current evaluation by the Price of Residing Motion group discovered.

In the meantime, 55 per cent of households dwelling in poverty now comprise not less than one working individual, in line with the Decision Basis assume tank, which revealed the dimensions of the problem.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/21/00/6ede8e204820d7f1cbb034277cd6ff81Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU1NzYwMjU0-2.79444091.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/21/00/6ede8e204820d7f1cbb034277cd6ff81Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU1NzYwMjU0-2.79444091.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/21/00/6ede8e204820d7f1cbb034277cd6ff81Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU1NzYwMjU0-2.79444091.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="The state pension is expected to rise by 4.8 per cent from next April in line with annual earnings growth" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

The state pension is predicted to rise by 4.8 per cent from subsequent April consistent with annual earnings progress (PA) Towards this troublesome financial backdrop, households ought to declare all of the assist they're entitled to. There are actually round 24 million folks within the nation claiming some mixture of Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) administered advantages, which embrace these drawing a state pension, representing round one in three folks.

But analysis by Coverage in Apply exhibits that £24bn value of advantages goes unclaimed yearly – you should utilize its useful calculator to work out what you is likely to be entitled to.

Are you fighting the DWP or the price of dwelling? Share your story: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk

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Right here is an summary of the monetary assist out there to households this March and key dates for profit and state pension recipients to look out for:

Profit cost dates in March

Profit funds will probably be going out as regular in March, as there are not any financial institution holidays to concentrate on. These embrace:

Common credit score State pension Pension credit score Youngster profit Incapacity dwelling allowance (DLA)Private independence cost (PIP) Attendance allowance Carer’s allowance Employment assist allowance (ESA)Revenue assist Jobseeker’s allowance For extra data on how and when state advantages are paid, go to the federal government’s web site.

The DWP is aiming to finish the migration of all “legacy advantages” to common credit score by the top of March 2026. These receiving tax credit, revenue assist, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing profit ought to have acquired a discover about transferring to common credit score already.

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

Pension cost dates in March

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

Right here’s when you need to be paid primarily based on these numbers:

00 to 19: Monday 20 to 39: Tuesday 40 to 59: Wednesday 60 to 79: Thursday 80 to 99: Friday The identical financial institution vacation cost date adjustments that apply to most advantages may also apply to state pension funds.

When will profit charges go up?

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

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

Most different advantages ought to be uprated by September’s inflation price alone, rising by 3.8 per cent. This contains PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

Nonetheless, on the similar time, the month-to-month cost price for the health-related aspect of common credit score for brand spanking new claimants will probably be minimize from £105 to £50. The speed for current claimants may also be frozen till 2029.

It is a discount of greater than £200 a month, reducing the extra price by round half. This implies it's advisable for anybody who thinks they is likely to be eligible to use as quickly as they'll.

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

For extra details about the brand new profit charges, you may learn The Impartial’s information.

Different assist out there

Budgeting advance loans

The federal government gives a “budgeting advance mortgage” for folks on common 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 common credit score funds. You possibly can borrow an ‘advance’ of as much as:

£348 should you’re single £464 should you’re a part of a pair £812 should you or your accomplice claims baby profit Following Labour’s 2024 Finances, 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.

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

Discretionary housing cost

Households can apply to their council for a discretionary housing cost (DHP), which gives monetary assist to go in the direction of hire or housing prices.

You possibly can solely get a DHP if you're in receipt of housing profit or the housing aspect of common credit score. It may cowl housing prices for a hire shortfall, hire deposits and hire prematurely if it is advisable transfer residence.

Precise eligibility and the funds out there are selected a council-by-council foundation, so you have to to get in contact along with your native authority to seek out out extra.

Family assist fund

The family assist fund (HSF), distributed by native councils, gives very important help to these going through monetary hardship, complementing normal advantages and grants.

As a part of this authorities initiative, eligible households all through the UK can entry assist reminiscent of important home equipment, contributions in the direction of utility payments, and direct money funds reaching as much as £300.

Native authorities are free to determine the right way to allocate their HSF funding to go well with households of their space, so precisely what is obtainable will fluctuate. To use, households have to contact their council (most provide an internet type).

This nationwide programme is about to run till March 2026. The federal government has dedicated £1bn in funding to transition it right into a ‘Disaster and Resilience Fund’, which may also substitute the DHP.

Charitable grants

If you're struggling financially, it's possible you'll be eligible for sure charitable grants. There may be a variety of grants out there relying in your circumstances.

Nonetheless, these grants will usually require you to satisfy particular standards and can solely have the ability to provide restricted funds.

Charitable grants can be found for people who find themselves disabled or unwell, carers, bereaved, unemployed, college students, and for a lot of different causes. The charity Turn2us has an internet device to seek for grants which can be out there to some.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/26/14/37/01K3JSG3R7NWNM6GK9C26E3PXX.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/26/14/37/01K3JSG3R7NWNM6GK9C26E3PXX.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C128%2C0%2C128&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/26/14/37/01K3JSG3R7NWNM6GK9C26E3PXX.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C128%2C0%2C128&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Some energy suppliers offer assistance to those who aren’t able to afford their bills, including Octopus and British Gas" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Some vitality suppliers provide help to those that aren’t capable of afford their payments, together with Octopus and British Gasoline (PA) Power supplier assist

Numerous vitality suppliers provide assist for these fighting their vitality payments. These embrace British Gasoline, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It's value contacting your vitality supplier to seek out out if you're eligible.

Some additionally provide free units like electrical blankets for households with susceptible residents to maintain heat.

Social tariffs for broadband and water

For these fighting family prices, social tariffs can be found for each broadband and water payments. This can imply a diminished price for sure eligible households.

For water, each firm working within the UK has a social tariff by regulation. Nonetheless, the quantity on provide can fluctuate between areas and, as a result of water suppliers can’t be chosen like vitality suppliers, the assist has been criticised as a “postcode lottery”.

As an illustration, some provide as a lot as 90 per cent off payments, whereas others cap assist at a 20 per cent discount.

To seek out out what assist your water firm gives, it's value checking on its web site or contacting the helpline. In all instances, households will should be deemed to be on a low revenue and/or in receipt of sure advantages.

Equally, many broadband suppliers provide social tariffs to these on sure advantages like common credit score or pension credit score.

Council tax discount

For those who meet sure standards or are on sure advantages, you might be able to apply for a reduction in your council tax of as much as 100 per cent (that is generally referred to as council tax assist).

Your native council should have the ability to give you a discretionary discount should you can display you might be going through extreme hardship and might’t afford to pay your council tax.

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

As much as 30 hours of free childcare

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

Mother and father should apply on-line and reconfirm their eligibility each three months, in time for every college time period. Working dad and mom also can apply for tax-free childcare, giving again 20p for each 80p you set in the direction of childcare, as much as a most of £500 a yr.

Power worth cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s vitality worth cap rose to £1,758 for 1 January to 31 March 2026 – a rise of 0.2 per cent.

This follows an increase of two per cent in October, from £1,720 to £1,755.

The vitality worth cap is the utmost quantity vitality suppliers can cost you for every unit of vitality should you’re on a typical variable tariff. That features most households. It's expressed as an annual invoice for a mean residence.

Many specialists – together with Ofgem itself – are recommending households think about a hard and fast tariff vitality deal, with many available on the market providing decrease than the worth cap price.

Will there be one other value of dwelling cost in 2026?

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

Psychological well being assist

Within the UK and Eire, Samaritans might be contacted 24 hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a yr. You possibly can name them totally free on 116 123, e-mail them at jo@samaritans.org, or go to samaritans.org to seek out your nearest branchMind runs a assist line on 0300 102 1234 which offers a protected and confidential place to speak about the way you’re feeling. There may be additionally an data line on 0300 123 3393 for close by assist, and a welfare advantages line on 0300 222 5782 to assist the psychological well being of these navigating the advantages systemDisability charity Scope has a discussion board the place folks can have supportive chats with others going by the identical experiencesThe NHS gives an internet psychological well being triage service [ad_2] Source link