What's changing in April?
Cuts to Housing Benefit for social housing tenants
From 1 April, some social housing tenants will have their Housing Benefit cut if they have more bedrooms than they are allowed under new rules coming in. Social housing means things like council or housing association accommodation. The new rules will only apply to people who are of working age.
More about the cuts
Parts of the Social Fund to be abolished
From 1 April, community care grants and crisis loans, which were part of the Social Fund, will no longer exist. The Government will give money which used to pay for these schemes to local authorities. Local authorities may choose to run a replacement scheme, but they won't have to and they won't have to give out cash loans.
More about the changes to the Social Fund
The introduction of a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment
From 8 April, Personal Independent Payment, or PIP, will gradually start to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - a benefit currently paid to people under 65 who have daily care needs or difficulty getting about.
Not everyone who gets DLA will be able to get PIP in future.
More about PIP
The Benefit Cap comes in for Housing Benefit claimants
The Benefit Cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get if you're working age. The cap will only affect Housing Benefit claimants to start with and is not due to be introduced nationally until 15 July. However, it will affect some people living in certain pilot areas in London from 15 April.
It's important to know if you'll be affected by the cap because your Housing Benefit could be cut.
More about the Benefit Cap
Will you get less money under the new benefits schemes?
If you're worried that the benefit changes will reduce the money you have coming in, it's a good idea to start thinking ahead. For example, you could get a benefits check on your current entitlement and see whether there is any transitional protection available. You could also get some advice about budgeting.
For more information about the benefits changes, who will be affected and how to plan ahead, go to our new section on Welfare benefits reform
Cuts to Housing Benefit for social housing tenants
From 1 April, some social housing tenants will have their Housing Benefit cut if they have more bedrooms than they are allowed under new rules coming in. Social housing means things like council or housing association accommodation. The new rules will only apply to people who are of working age.
More about the cuts
Parts of the Social Fund to be abolished
From 1 April, community care grants and crisis loans, which were part of the Social Fund, will no longer exist. The Government will give money which used to pay for these schemes to local authorities. Local authorities may choose to run a replacement scheme, but they won't have to and they won't have to give out cash loans.
More about the changes to the Social Fund
The introduction of a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment
From 8 April, Personal Independent Payment, or PIP, will gradually start to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - a benefit currently paid to people under 65 who have daily care needs or difficulty getting about.
Not everyone who gets DLA will be able to get PIP in future.
More about PIP
The Benefit Cap comes in for Housing Benefit claimants
The Benefit Cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get if you're working age. The cap will only affect Housing Benefit claimants to start with and is not due to be introduced nationally until 15 July. However, it will affect some people living in certain pilot areas in London from 15 April.
It's important to know if you'll be affected by the cap because your Housing Benefit could be cut.
More about the Benefit Cap
Will you get less money under the new benefits schemes?
If you're worried that the benefit changes will reduce the money you have coming in, it's a good idea to start thinking ahead. For example, you could get a benefits check on your current entitlement and see whether there is any transitional protection available. You could also get some advice about budgeting.
For more information about the benefits changes, who will be affected and how to plan ahead, go to our new section on Welfare benefits reform
Source: Citizens Advice Bureau
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