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

[ad_1] Your help helps us to inform the story From reproductive rights to local weather change to Huge 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 lightweight on the American ladies combating for reproductive rights, we all know how necessary it's to parse out the details from the messaging.

At such a important second in US historical past, we'd like reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.

The Unbiased is trusted by People throughout the complete political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock People 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 help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra The 12 months has acquired off to a biting begin, as sub-zero temperatures and stormy circumstances power thousands and thousands to remain indoors and switch the heating up.

A rise in power payments mixed with the post-Christmas monetary hunch signifies that it's proving a tough time for a lot of, making it all of the extra necessary to concentrate on the help that’s on provide.

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 – and so they stay persistently excessive within the face of stagnant wages.

On the identical time, exorbitant family payments imply thousands and 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 not afford it, latest 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.

In opposition to this tough financial backdrop, it is crucial that households declare all of the help they're entitled to. There are actually 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 4.8 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 according to annual earnings progress (PA) But analysis by Coverage in Follow reveals that £24bn price of advantages goes unclaimed yearly – you should utilize its useful calculator to work out what you could be entitled to.

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

Right here is an summary 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 will probably be going out as regular in February, as there aren't any financial institution holidays to concentrate on. These embrace:

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

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, revenue help, 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 another profit? Get in contact through electronic mail: albert.toth@unbiased.co.uk

Pension cost dates in February

The essential state pension is paid straight into financial institution accounts, just 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 try 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 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 will probably be a £6 per week enhance, rising from £92 to £98.

For {couples} with one or each accomplice 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 fee alone, growing by 3.8 per cent. This consists of PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

Nonetheless, on the identical time, the month-to-month cost fee for the health-related factor of common credit score for brand spanking new claimants will probably be reduce from £105 to £50. The speed for present claimants may even be frozen till 2029.

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

The state pension will rise by 4.8 per cent from subsequent April according to annual earnings progress, the federal government has confirmed. It will convey 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

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.

It is 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, overlaying areas of England, Wales and Northern Eire.

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

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 may borrow an “advance” of as much as:

£348 when you’re single £464 when you’re a part of a pair £812 when 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 Cost

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

You may solely get a DHP in case you are in receipt of housing profit or the housing factor of common credit score. It will possibly cowl housing prices for a lease shortfall, lease deposits and lease prematurely if you'll want to transfer house.

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

Family Help Fund

The family help fund (HSF), distributed by native councils, provides very 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 help equivalent 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 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 must contact their council (most provide an internet 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 may even exchange the DHP.

Charitable grants

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

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

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

Various power suppliers provide assist for these fighting their power payments. These embrace British Gasoline, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It's price contacting your power supplier to search out out in case you are eligible.

Some additionally provide free units like electrical blankets for households with weak 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. It will imply a decreased fee for sure eligible households.

For water, each firm working within the UK has a social tariff by legislation. Nonetheless, the quantity on provide 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”.

For example, some provide as a lot as 90 per cent off payments, whereas others cap help at a 20 per cent discount.

To search out out what help your water firm provides, 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 provide social tariffs to these on sure advantages like common credit score or pension credit score. Regulator Ofcom has a information to what's on provide.

Council tax discount

When 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 known as council tax help).

Your native council should be capable to give you a discretionary discount when 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 through 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 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 12 months.

Vitality 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 when you’re on a regular variable tariff. That features most households. It's expressed as an annual invoice for a median house.

Many consultants – together with Ofgem itself – are recommending households contemplate a set tariff power deal, with many available on the market providing decrease than the value cap fee.

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

The DWP haven't introduced any continuation of the Value 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 help

Within the UK and Eire, Samaritans may be contacted 24 hours a day, one year a 12 months. You may name them free of charge on 116 123, electronic mail them at jo@samaritans.org, or go to samaritans.org to search out your nearest branchMind runs a help line on 0300 102 1234 which supplies a protected and confidential place to speak about the way you’re feeling. There's 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 individuals can have supportive chats with others going via the identical experiencesThe NHS provides an internet psychological well being triage service [ad_2] Source link