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

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March could be a tough month for a lot of, as we await all of the modifications – good and unhealthy – that the monetary new 12 months guarantees to deliver from 1 April.

In constructive 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 rapidly, 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, current evaluation by the Value of Residing Motion group discovered.

In the meantime, 55 per cent of households residing in poverty now comprise a minimum of one working particular person, in accordance with the Decision Basis suppose tank, which revealed the size of the problem.

<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) Towards this tough 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 embrace these drawing a state pension, representing round one in three folks.

But analysis by Coverage in Follow 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 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 out there to households this March and key dates for profit and state pension recipients to look out for:

Profit cost dates in March

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

Common credit score State pension Pension credit score Baby 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 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 the tip of March 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 common credit score, PIP, or every other profit? Get in contact by way of e-mail: albert.toth@impartial.co.uk

Pension cost dates in March

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 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 modifications 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 revenue enhance 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 improve, 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 price alone, growing by 3.8 per cent. This contains PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and extra.

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

It is a discount of greater than £200 a month, reducing 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'll.

The state pension will rise by 4.8 per cent from subsequent April according to annual earnings progress, the federal government has confirmed. This may deliver 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 out there

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 robotically deducted from common credit score funds. You may borrow an ‘advance’ of as much as:

£348 for those who’re single £464 for those who’re a part of a pair £812 for those who or your associate claims little one 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 cost (DHP), which gives monetary assist 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 aspect of common credit score. It will possibly cowl housing prices for a lease shortfall, lease deposits and lease upfront if you might want to transfer house.

Precise eligibility and the funds out there 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, gives very important help to these going through monetary hardship, complementing commonplace advantages and grants.

As a part of this authorities initiative, eligible households all through the UK can entry assist similar 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 swimsuit households of their space, so precisely what is obtainable will range. To use, households must contact their council (most provide 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 may also change the DHP.

Charitable grants

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

Nonetheless, these grants will usually require you to satisfy particular standards and can solely have the ability to provide 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 out there 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 capable of afford their payments, together with Octopus and British Fuel (PA) Vitality supplier assist

Quite a few power suppliers provide assist for these battling their power payments. These embrace British Fuel, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It's price contacting your power supplier to seek out out in case you are eligible.

Some additionally provide free gadgets like electrical blankets for households with weak 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 may imply a diminished price for sure eligible households.

For water, each firm working within the UK has a social tariff by regulation. Nonetheless, the quantity on provide can range 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 example, some provide as a lot as 90 per cent off payments, whereas others cap assist at a 20 per cent discount.

To search out out what assist your water firm gives, 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 provide social tariffs to these on sure advantages like common credit score or pension credit score.

Council tax discount

For those who 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 generally known as council tax assist).

Your native council should still have the ability to give you a discretionary discount for those who can exhibit you might be 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.

Mother and father should apply on-line and reconfirm their eligibility each three months, in time for every faculty time period. Working dad and mom 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 12 months.

Vitality worth cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s power worth 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 worth cap is the utmost quantity power suppliers can cost you for every unit of power for those who’re on a normal 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 contemplate a hard and fast tariff power deal, with many in the marketplace providing decrease than the worth cap price.

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, 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 seek out your nearest branchMind runs a assist line on 0300 102 1234 which offers a secure and confidential place to speak about the way you’re feeling. There's additionally an data 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 via the identical experiencesThe NHS gives a web based psychological well being triage service [ad_2] Source link