Welfare Rights Benefit Training 2016

Looking at the various benefit changes recent and future. Looking at the various benefit changes recent and future. 1 st January 2014: 3 month wait for EEA migrants to access Income Based Jobseekers 3 month wait for EEA migrants to access Income Based Jobseekers This change also catches UK citizens returning for living abroad This change also catches UK citizens returning for living abroad Extended to child tax and child benefit from July Extended to child tax and child benefit from July

April 2014: No automatic passport to HB for new EEA migrants claiming JSA(IB). Compulsory reconsideration before any appeal for Tax Credits, Child Benefit or Guardians Allowance Increased work related activity for lone parents with a child aged 1-4 work focused interviews, child aged 3 or 4 mandatory work related activities. Claimants could be required to attend English training.

May 2014: No sanction for Jobseekers who leave or refuse to apply for a zero hours contract job. This does not apply to claimants on Universal Credit who may well be sanctioned for failing to apply or leaving. 1 st July: 3 month wait for new migrants before they can claim Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits, once awarded they will have 6 months entitlement thereafter they will need to show that they have genuine prospect of finding work?

July 2014: EEA migrants who have already had 6 months Income Based JSA could see it stopped if they do not have genuine prospect of work, it follows that their on-going HB will also stop. Unless they are employed or self employed they are facing homelessness, who may well turn them away? 31 st August 2014: Child Tax Credit claimants with a child aged 16 will have until this date to notify HMRC that the child is continuing in non- advanced education or the claim will end.

October 2014: New Tax Credit overpayments can now be recovered at the rate of 25% of any on-going award. The waiting period to claim ESA & JSA is extended from 3 days to 7 days. 10 th November 2014: The six month award of JSA for EEA migrants is reduced to 3 months then compelling evidence of a genuine prospect of work before it continues. Child Tax and Child Benefit may well stop at the same time?

2015: Universal Credit to be rolled out across the UK for new single Jobseekers claimants. Universal Credit to be rolled out across the UK for new single Jobseekers claimants. In some areas existing DLA claimants will be invited to claim PIP. In some areas existing DLA claimants will be invited to claim PIP.March: ESA medicals to change from ATOS to Maximus. April: Earnings limit for Carers Allowance increased to £110 weekly Shared maternity and adoption leave introduced

April: Annual verification introduced for Jobseekers after 12 months Claiming.June: New rules introduced to prevent EEA nationals claiming Universal Credit. August 7 day waiting period for Universal Credit introduced.

October: PIP rolled out to all existing DLA claimants including life or indefinate awards. PIP rolled out to all existing DLA claimants including life or indefinate awards. Important that they understand these invite letters. Important that they understand these invite letters. 2016:April: Child Care costs in Universal Credit to increase to 85% or up to £646 for 1 child and £1,108 for 2 or more. Child Care costs in Universal Credit to increase to 85% or up to £646 for 1 child and £1,108 for 2 or more.

April: Most benefits will not increase for the next 4 years. Exceptions for disability elements and pension age benefits. LHA rate are also frozen for 4 years. Mortgage interest help waiting period extended from 13 to 39 weeks. Backdating of HB for working age claimants limited to 1 month. The national minimum wage for over 25’s to be increased to the national living wage at £7.20 per hour.

April: ESA claimants can now earn up to £ weekly. ESA claimants can now earn up to £ weekly. Terminally ill DLA claimants moving to PIP will no longer have to wait 28 days to see any increase in their awards. Terminally ill DLA claimants moving to PIP will no longer have to wait 28 days to see any increase in their awards. Old age pension flat rate introduced at £ weekly which is just higher than the single Pension Credit amount. Old age pension flat rate introduced at £ weekly which is just higher than the single Pension Credit amount. Pension Savings Credit removed for new claimants along with any new assessed income periods. Pension Savings Credit removed for new claimants along with any new assessed income periods. May: May: HB and Pension Credit to end if abroad for over 4 weeks. HB and Pension Credit to end if abroad for over 4 weeks.

May: Removal of the family premium in HB for new claimants or existing if they have a first child. Autumn Phased reduction in the benefit cap reduced from £500 to £385 weekly for those with children and from £350 to £258 for others. October: NMW increases, 16/17 £3.40, £5.55, £6.95 future increases will be every April.

April 2017: Child Tax Credits limited to 2 children, some exceptions. Family element in CTC and the higher first child element in UC removed 52 week limit on permitted work for ESA claimants removed. Some of these pevious mentioned changes may well not happen in Scotland, time will tell?