December 2025 funds dates for PIP, advantages and pensions plus price of residing assist

[ad_1] Your assist helps us to inform the story From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, 'The A Phrase', which shines a light-weight on the American ladies combating for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it's to parse out the information from the messaging.

At such a crucial second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to either side of the story.

The Unbiased is trusted by Individuals throughout the whole political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock Individuals out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism ought to be accessible to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.

Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra As the tip of 2025 attracts nearer, larger payments mixed with decrease temperatures imply many might be dealing with elevated prices within the strategy to Christmas.

For tens of millions throughout the nation, managing the price of residing stays a every day battle as costs proceed to rise sooner than family incomes.

Regardless of inflation returning to pre-pandemic ranges, the price of items has remained persistently excessive within the face of stagnant wages. On the similar time, exorbitant family payments imply tens of millions are grappling with money owed to afford the necessities.

Round 14 million adults are going with out meals as a result of they can't afford it, current analysis by the Trussell Belief discovered. In the meantime, power arrears have greater than doubled over the previous 5 years, rising to £4.4bn by the tip of June.

Anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Basis has stated that low-income households within the UK are on track for the worst fall in residing requirements on document by the subsequent election in 2029.

Towards this tough financial backdrop, it will be significant that households declare all of the assist they're entitled to. There at the moment are round 24 million individuals within the nation claiming some mixture of DWP-administered advantages, which embrace these drawing a state pension, representing round one in three individuals.

<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 4.7 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 4.7 per cent from subsequent April in keeping with annual earnings development (PA) But new analysis by Coverage in Observe exhibits that £24bn price of advantages goes unclaimed yearly – you should use its useful calculator to work out what you could be entitled to.

Are you battling the DWP or price of residing this Christmas? Share your story: albert.toth@unbiased.co.uk

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

Get a free fractional share price as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and circumstances apply.

Go to web site ADVERTISEMENT

Get a free fractional share price as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and circumstances apply.

Go to web site ADVERTISEMENT

Profit fee dates in December

For essentially the most half, profit funds might be going out as regular in December. These embrace:

Common credit score State pension Pension credit score Little one profit Incapacity residing allowance (DLA)Private independence fee (PIP) Attendance allowance Carer’s allowance Employment assist allowance (ESA)Earnings assist Jobseeker’s allowance Nonetheless, there are a number of key financial institution holidays to pay attention to, as they may have an effect on fee dates.

Anybody due a fee on Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) ought to as a substitute obtain it on Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve). Likewise, anybody due a fee on Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) also needs to obtain it on Christmas Eve.

Just a few days later, Thursday 1 January (New 12 months’s Day) can also be a financial institution vacation and so will even have an effect on fee dates. Anybody as a result of obtain a fee on at the present time ought to as a substitute obtain it on Wednesday 31 December (New 12 months’s Eve).

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 January 2026. These receiving tax credit, revenue assist, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing profit ought to have acquired a discover about shifting to common credit score already.

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

Pension fee dates in December

The essential state pension is paid straight into financial institution accounts, equally to how advantages are paid. It's 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.

Right here’s when you ought 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 fee date adjustments that apply to most advantages will 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 might be a £6 per week enhance, rising from £92 to £98.

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

Most different advantages ought to be uprated by September’s inflation charge alone, growing by 3.8 per cent. This consists of PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

Nonetheless, on the similar time, the month-to-month fee charge for the health-related ingredient of common credit score for brand spanking new claimants might be minimize from £105 to £50. The speed for current claimants will even be frozen till 2029.

This can be a discount of over £200 a month, reducing the extra charge by round half. This implies it's advisable for anybody who thinks they could be eligible to use as quickly as they'll.

The state pension will to rise by 4.8 per cent from subsequent April in keeping with 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 may learn The Unbiased’s information.

Different assist accessible

Budgeting advance loans

The federal government provides a “budgeting advance mortgage” for individuals 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 associate claims baby profit Following Labour’s 2024 Price range, 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 fee (DHP), which provides monetary assist to go in the direction of lease or housing prices.

You possibly can solely get a DHP in case you are in receipt of housing profit or the housing ingredient of common credit score. It could possibly cowl housing prices for a lease shortfall, lease deposits and lease upfront if you'll want to transfer dwelling.

Precise eligibility and the funds accessible 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, provides important help to these dealing with monetary hardship, complementing customary advantages and grants.

As a part of this authorities initiative, eligible households all through the UK can entry assist corresponding to 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 how you can allocate their HSF funding to go well with households of their space, so precisely what is on the market will differ. To use, households must contact their council (most supply a web-based 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 is able to exchange the DHP.

Charitable grants

If you're struggling financially, you could be eligible for sure charitable grants. There's a variety of grants accessible relying in your circumstances.

Nonetheless, these grants will sometimes require you to satisfy particular standards and are solely in a position to supply restricted funds.

Charitable grants can be found for people who find themselves disabled or ailing, 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 accessible 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 power suppliers supply help to those that aren’t in a position to afford their payments, together with Octopus and British Gasoline (PA) Power supplier assist

Numerous power suppliers supply assist for these battling their power payments. These embrace British Gasoline, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON and Octopus. It's price contacting your power supplier to seek out out in case you are eligible.

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

Social tariffs for broadband and water

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

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

As an illustration, 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 provides, it's price checking on its web site or contacting the helpline. In all circumstances, households will have to 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. Regulator Ofcom has a information to what's on supply.

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 typically referred to as council tax assist).

Your native council should still be capable to give you a discretionary discount should you can show you might be dealing with 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 mother and father within the UK grew to become 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 college time period. Working mother and father may also apply for tax-free childcare, giving again 20p for each 80p you place in the direction of childcare, as much as a most of £500 a yr.

Power worth cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s power worth cap rose by two per cent in October, from £1,720 to £1,755. The £35 rise comes after a extra sizeable seven per cent lower for July to September, from £1,849 to £1,720.

For 1 January to 31 March 2026, it is going to go as much as £1,758, Ofgem has confirmed – a rise of 0.2 per cent.

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

Many specialists – together with Ofgem itself – are recommending households think about a set tariff power deal, with many available on the market providing decrease than the worth cap charge.

Will there be one other price of residing fee in 2025?

The DWP haven't introduced any continuation of the Price of Dwelling Cost scheme that ran between 2022 and 2024. The ultimate fee 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 will be contacted 24 hours a day, one year a yr. You possibly can name them at no cost 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 gives a secure and confidential place to speak about the way you’re feeling. There's 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 individuals can have supportive chats with others going by means of the identical experiencesThe NHS provides a web-based psychological well being triage service [ad_2] Source link