From 2013 there are many changes to benefits, and some of the
changes are being introduced over a long period of time so they will not affect
everyone at the same time. These are just some of the main ones.
Some changes have already happened, such as abolition of the
social fund and changes to retirement age and housing benefit
rules.
From April 2013
Council Tax Benefit is abolished, and replaced by Council Tax
Support from your local authority.
They will also take over responsibility for a Local Assistance Scheme
which replaces the Social Fund.
The Bedroom Tax will start to be applied, which means that you
will be assessed to see if you have ‘spare’ bedrooms in your house if you are
living in social housing. There is
a formula for how many rooms you will be allowed.
If they decide you have ‘spare’ rooms, you will receive less Housing
Benefit.
From June 2013
If you are between 16 and retirement age and want to claim a
disability benefit for the first time, you will no longer be able to claim
Disability Living Allowance. You
will need to start a claim for Personal independence Payment, which is the
replacement for DLA. This does not apply to children, as DLA for children will continue.
It also does not apply to anyone over 65, as Attendance Allowance will continue.
From September 2013
Some people on means-tested benefits will have a ‘benefit cap’
applied, which for a couple means they will not be able to receive more than
£500 per week in benefits, and single people will not be able to receive more
than £350 per week. This will not
be applied to anyone who is working, receiving disability benefits or receiving
Employment and Support Allowance if they are in the support
group.
From October 2013
If you are receiving Disability Living Allowance and your award
is due to run out during any time from October onwards, then you will be invited
to claim Personal Independence Paymentinstead. The same thing
will apply if you need to report a change in your circumstances.
The new benefit Universal Credit will also be starting for new claimants who at the
moment would be expected to sign on for Jobseekers
Allowance.
From April 2014
Everyone who is currently getting Incapacity Benefit should have been moved
across to being assessed for Employment and Support Allowance
(which replaced Incapacity Benefit).
More claimants for means-tested benefits will be transferred to
Universal Credit. At the point of change, there will be transitional protection so that
people do not lose out financially.
The plan is to transfer people who will benefit from the change first,
but the transfer process will take until 2017.
From October 2015
Anyone who is still receiving Disability Living Allowance will
gradually be reassessed for the Personal independence Paymentor
PIP. This will happen even where
people have a ‘lifetime’ or ‘indefinite’ award, as DLA has been abolished.
It will take until 2017 for everyone to go through this process. You will
receive a letter telling you when to claim PIP – we do not advise that you do
anything before you get that letter, except perhaps to think about what medical
evidence you might be able to provide at the time of your
assessment.
changes are being introduced over a long period of time so they will not affect
everyone at the same time. These are just some of the main ones.
Some changes have already happened, such as abolition of the
social fund and changes to retirement age and housing benefit
rules.
From April 2013
Council Tax Benefit is abolished, and replaced by Council Tax
Support from your local authority.
They will also take over responsibility for a Local Assistance Scheme
which replaces the Social Fund.
The Bedroom Tax will start to be applied, which means that you
will be assessed to see if you have ‘spare’ bedrooms in your house if you are
living in social housing. There is
a formula for how many rooms you will be allowed.
If they decide you have ‘spare’ rooms, you will receive less Housing
Benefit.
From June 2013
If you are between 16 and retirement age and want to claim a
disability benefit for the first time, you will no longer be able to claim
Disability Living Allowance. You
will need to start a claim for Personal independence Payment, which is the
replacement for DLA. This does not apply to children, as DLA for children will continue.
It also does not apply to anyone over 65, as Attendance Allowance will continue.
From September 2013
Some people on means-tested benefits will have a ‘benefit cap’
applied, which for a couple means they will not be able to receive more than
£500 per week in benefits, and single people will not be able to receive more
than £350 per week. This will not
be applied to anyone who is working, receiving disability benefits or receiving
Employment and Support Allowance if they are in the support
group.
From October 2013
If you are receiving Disability Living Allowance and your award
is due to run out during any time from October onwards, then you will be invited
to claim Personal Independence Paymentinstead. The same thing
will apply if you need to report a change in your circumstances.
The new benefit Universal Credit will also be starting for new claimants who at the
moment would be expected to sign on for Jobseekers
Allowance.
From April 2014
Everyone who is currently getting Incapacity Benefit should have been moved
across to being assessed for Employment and Support Allowance
(which replaced Incapacity Benefit).
More claimants for means-tested benefits will be transferred to
Universal Credit. At the point of change, there will be transitional protection so that
people do not lose out financially.
The plan is to transfer people who will benefit from the change first,
but the transfer process will take until 2017.
From October 2015
Anyone who is still receiving Disability Living Allowance will
gradually be reassessed for the Personal independence Paymentor
PIP. This will happen even where
people have a ‘lifetime’ or ‘indefinite’ award, as DLA has been abolished.
It will take until 2017 for everyone to go through this process. You will
receive a letter telling you when to claim PIP – we do not advise that you do
anything before you get that letter, except perhaps to think about what medical
evidence you might be able to provide at the time of your
assessment.