February 2026 funds dates for PIP, advantages and pensions plus price of dwelling help

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra The yr has received off to a biting begin, as sub-zero temperatures and stormy situations drive hundreds of thousands to remain indoors and switch the heating up.

A rise in power payments mixed with the post-Christmas monetary droop signifies that it's proving a troublesome time for a lot of, making it all of the extra essential to pay attention to the help that’s on supply.

In welcome information, inflation dropped sharply to three.2 per cent in November, down from 3.6, helped largely by falling prices of clothes and meals. However this does simply imply that costs are rising much less shortly – not falling – they usually stay persistently excessive within the face of stagnant wages.

On the similar time, exorbitant family payments imply hundreds of thousands 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.

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

<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 in keeping with annual earnings development (PA) But analysis by Coverage in Observe exhibits that £24bn price of advantages goes unclaimed yearly – you should utilize its useful calculator to work out what you is perhaps entitled to.

Are you scuffling with the DWP or price of dwelling? Share your story: albert.toth@unbiased.co.uk

Right here is an outline of the monetary help accessible to households this February and key dates for profit and state pension recipients to look out for:

Profit cost dates in February

Profit funds shall be going out as regular in February, as there are not any financial institution holidays to pay attention to. These embrace:

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

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

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Common credit score State pension Pension credit score Baby profit Incapacity dwelling allowance (DLA)Private independence cost (PIP) Attendance allowance Carer’s allowance Employment help allowance (ESA)Revenue help 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 March 2026. These receiving tax credit, earnings help, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing profit ought to have obtained a discover about shifting to common credit score already.

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

Pension cost dates in February

The fundamental state pension is paid straight into financial institution accounts, just like how advantages are paid. It's often paid each 4 weeks, with the precise day you obtain it similar 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 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 earnings enhance of round 6.2 per cent to the usual allowance. For a single individual over 25, this shall be a £6 per week enhance, rising from £92 to £98.

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

Most different advantages must 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.

Nevertheless, on the similar time, the month-to-month cost charge for the health-related ingredient of common credit score for brand new claimants shall be reduce from £105 to £50. The speed for current claimants may also be frozen till 2029.

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

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

For extra details about the brand new profit charges, you'll be able to learn The Impartial’s information.

Different assist accessible

Chilly climate funds

As 2026 will get of to a cold begin, reaching lows of -12C, the DWP has relaunched its annual chilly climate cost scheme.

This can be a one-off cost of £25 that's triggered for each seven-day interval the place the temperature in an space is at or beneath zero levels. To be eligible, people should meet the standards, together with being in receipt of sure advantages.

Over a million households throughout greater than 800 postcode areas are actually estimated to obtain a cost, with these areas break up throughout the UK, masking areas of England, Wales and Northern Eire.

For extra data and a full checklist of space affected, go to The Impartial’s repeatedly up to date postcode checker.

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 in the event you’re single £464 in the event you’re a part of a pair £812 in the event you or your accomplice claims little one 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 Fee

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

You possibly can solely get a DHP if you're in receipt of housing profit or the housing ingredient of common credit score. It may cowl housing prices for a lease shortfall, lease deposits and lease upfront if you must transfer dwelling.

Actual eligibility and the funds accessible are selected a council-by-council foundation, so you will want to get in contact along with your native authority to seek out out extra.

Family Help Fund

The family help fund (HSF), distributed by native councils, gives very 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 help 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 resolve learn how to allocate their HSF funding to go well with households of their space, so precisely what is out there will range. To use, households have to contact their council (most supply a web based type).

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 may also substitute the DHP.

Charitable grants

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

Nevertheless, these grants will sometimes require you to satisfy particular standards and are solely 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 a lot of different causes. The charity Turn2us has a web based software 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 capable of afford their payments, together with Octopus and British Gasoline (PA) Power supplier assist

A variety of power suppliers supply assist for these scuffling with their power payments. These embrace British Gasoline, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It's price contacting your power 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 scuffling with family prices, social tariffs can be found for each broadband and water payments. This may imply a decreased charge 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 power suppliers, the help has been criticised as a “postcode lottery”.

As an example, some supply as a lot as 90 per cent off payments, whereas others cap help at a 20 per cent discount.

To seek out out what help your water firm gives, it's price checking on its web site or contacting the helpline. In all circumstances, households will should be deemed to be on a low earnings 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

If you happen to meet sure standards or are on sure advantages, you could possibly apply for a reduction in your council tax of as much as 100 per cent (that is typically referred to as council tax help).

Your native council should have the ability to give you a discretionary discount in the event you can display 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 turned entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for kids 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 mother and father can even 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 value cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s power 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 power value cap is the utmost quantity power suppliers can cost you for every unit of power in the event you’re on a regular variable tariff. That features most households. It's expressed as an annual invoice for a median dwelling.

Many consultants – together with Ofgem itself – are recommending households take into account a hard and fast tariff power deal, with many available on the market providing decrease than the value cap charge.

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

The DWP haven't introduced any continuation of the Price of Residing Fee 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 help

Within the UK and Eire, Samaritans could be contacted 24 hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days 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 help line on 0300 102 1234 which gives 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 help, and a welfare advantages line on 0300 222 5782 to help 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 means of the identical experiencesThe NHS gives a web based psychological well being triage service [ad_2] Source link