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

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

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

The downward development means costs are rising much less shortly, however for a lot of the price of residing nonetheless stays too excessive.

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 residing, latest evaluation by the Value of Residing Motion group discovered.

In the meantime, 55 per cent of households residing in poverty now comprise no less than one working particular person, in accordance with the Decision Basis suppose tank, which revealed the dimensions of the difficulty.

<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 anticipated to rise by 4.8 per cent from subsequent April according to annual earnings development (PA) In opposition to 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 embody these drawing a state pension, representing round one in three folks.

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

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

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

Profit cost dates in March

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

Common credit score State pension Pension credit score Youngster profit Incapacity residing allowance (DLA)Private independence cost (PIP) Attendance allowance Carer’s allowance Employment assist allowance (ESA)Earnings assist Jobseeker’s allowance For extra info 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 tip of March 2026. These receiving tax credit, revenue assist, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing profit ought to have obtained a discover about transferring to common credit score already.

Are you having points with common credit score, PIP, or some other profit? Get in contact by way of electronic 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 akin to the final two digits of your nationwide insurance coverage (NI) quantity.

Right here’s when you have to be paid based mostly 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 can even 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 particular person over 25, this shall 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 advantages must be uprated by September’s inflation fee alone, growing by 3.8 per cent. This contains PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

Nevertheless, on the identical time, the month-to-month cost fee for the health-related component of common credit score for brand new claimants shall be minimize from £105 to £50. The speed for current claimants can even be frozen till 2029.

This can be a discount of greater than £200 a month, chopping the extra fee by round half. This implies it's advisable for anybody who thinks they may be eligible to use as quickly as they'll.

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

For extra details about the brand new profit charges, you possibly can learn The Unbiased’s information.

Different assist obtainable

Budgeting advance loans

The federal government affords a “budgeting advance mortgage” for folks on common credit score who face an emergency lack of cash. The mortgage has a most reimbursement interval of two years.

These loans are interest-free and are robotically deducted from common credit score funds. You may 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 companion claims little one profit Following Labour’s 2024 Funds, 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 affords monetary assist to go in direction of lease or housing prices.

You may solely get a DHP if you're in receipt of housing profit or the housing component of common credit score. It may possibly cowl housing prices for a lease shortfall, lease deposits and lease upfront if you might want to transfer residence.

Precise eligibility and the funds obtainable are selected a council-by-council foundation, so you'll need 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, affords important help to these dealing with monetary hardship, complementing normal advantages and grants.

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

Native authorities are free to resolve tips on how to allocate their HSF funding to swimsuit households of their space, so precisely what is accessible will range. To use, households must contact their council (most supply a web-based kind).

This nationwide programme is ready to run till March 2026. The federal government has dedicated £1bn in funding to transition it right into a ‘Disaster and Resilience Fund’, which can even exchange 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 obtainable relying in your circumstances.

Nevertheless, these grants will usually require you to satisfy particular standards and can solely be capable to supply 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 a web-based instrument to seek for grants which can be obtainable 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 supply help to those that aren’t capable of afford their payments, together with Octopus and British Fuel (PA) Power supplier assist

Numerous vitality suppliers supply assist for these combating their vitality payments. These embody British Fuel, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It's price contacting your vitality supplier to seek out out if you're eligible.

Some additionally supply free gadgets like electrical blankets for households with weak residents to maintain heat.

Social tariffs for broadband and water

For these combating family prices, social tariffs can be found for each broadband and water payments. This can imply a lowered fee for sure eligible households.

For water, each firm working within the UK has a social tariff by legislation. Nevertheless, the quantity on supply can range 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 example, some supply 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 affords, it's price checking on its web site or contacting the helpline. In all instances, households will must be deemed to be on a low revenue and/or in receipt of sure advantages.

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

Council tax discount

In the event you 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 be capable to give you a discretionary discount should you can display you're dealing with extreme hardship and may’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.

Dad and mom should apply on-line and reconfirm their eligibility each three months, in time for every faculty time period. Working dad and mom also can 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 yr.

Power value cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s vitality value 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 value cap is the utmost quantity vitality suppliers can cost you for every unit of vitality should you’re on a normal 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 contemplate a set tariff vitality deal, with many available on the market providing decrease than the value cap fee.

Will there be one other price of residing cost in 2026?

The DWP has not introduced any continuation of the price of residing 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 may be contacted 24 hours a day, 12 months a yr. You may name them without spending a dime on 116 123, electronic 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 gives a secure and confidential place to speak about the way you’re feeling. There may be additionally an info 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 way of the identical experiencesThe NHS affords a web-based psychological well being triage service [ad_2] Source link