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

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra The 12 months has received off to a biting begin, as sub-zero temperatures and stormy circumstances drive thousands and thousands to remain indoors and switch the heating up.

A rise in vitality payments mixed with the post-Christmas monetary stoop implies 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 rapidly – not falling – they usually stay persistently excessive within the face of stagnant wages.

On the similar 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't afford it, latest analysis by the Trussell Belief discovered. In the meantime, vitality arrears have greater than doubled over the previous 5 years, rising to £4.4bn by the top of June.

In opposition to this troublesome financial backdrop, it will be significant 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 anticipated to rise by 4.8 per cent from subsequent April consistent with annual earnings progress (PA) But analysis by Coverage in Follow reveals that £24bn value 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 residing? Share your story: albert.toth@impartial.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 fee dates in February

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

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

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Common credit score State pension Pension credit score Baby profit Incapacity residing allowance (DLA)Private independence fee (PIP) Attendance allowance Carer’s allowance Employment help allowance (ESA)Revenue help 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 March 2026. These receiving tax credit, revenue 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@impartial.co.uk

Pension fee dates in February

The essential 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 try 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 fee date modifications 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 individual over 25, this will probably be a £6 per week improve, 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 price alone, rising by 3.8 per cent. This consists of PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

Nevertheless, on the similar time, the month-to-month fee price for the health-related ingredient of common credit score for brand spanking new claimants will probably be lower from £105 to £50. The speed for current claimants can even be frozen till 2029.

This can be a discount of over £200 a month, chopping the extra price 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 consistent with annual earnings progress, the federal government has confirmed. This can convey 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 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 fee scheme.

This can be a one-off fee of £25 that's triggered for each seven-day interval the place the temperature in an space is at or under 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 fee, with these areas break up throughout the UK, masking areas of England, Wales and Northern Eire.

For extra info and a full record of space affected, go to The Unbiased’s repeatedly up to date postcode checker.

Budgeting advance loans

The federal government presents a “budgeting advance mortgage” for individuals 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 if you happen to’re single £464 if you happen to’re a part of a pair £812 if you happen to or your accomplice claims youngster 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 fee (DHP), which presents monetary help to go in the direction of hire or housing prices.

You may solely get a DHP in case you are in receipt of housing profit or the housing ingredient of common credit score. It may cowl housing prices for a hire shortfall, hire deposits and hire upfront if it is advisable transfer house.

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

Family Assist Fund

The family help fund (HSF), distributed by native councils, presents 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 help akin 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 the best way to allocate their HSF funding to go well with households of their space, so precisely what is accessible will fluctuate. To use, households must 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 can even change the DHP.

Charitable grants

In case you are struggling financially, it's possible you'll 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 ailing, 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 vitality suppliers supply help to those that aren’t capable of afford their payments, together with Octopus and British Fuel (PA) Vitality supplier assist

Plenty of vitality suppliers supply assist for these fighting their vitality payments. These embrace British Fuel, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It's value contacting your vitality supplier to search 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 fighting family prices, social tariffs can be found for each broadband and water payments. This can imply a decreased price for sure eligible households.

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

For 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 presents, it's value checking on its web site or contacting the helpline. In all instances, 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

Should 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 help).

Your native council should have the ability to give you a discretionary discount if you happen to can reveal you're going through 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 grew to become 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 dad and mom may also 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 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 if you happen to’re on an ordinary variable tariff. That features most households. It's expressed as an annual invoice for a mean house.

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

Will there be one other value of residing fee in 2026?

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 help

Within the UK and Eire, Samaritans might be contacted 24 hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a 12 months. You may name them at no cost on 116 123, e-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 offers 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 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 by way of the identical experiencesThe NHS presents a web-based psychological well being triage service [ad_2] Source link