TODAY's BUDGET CHANGES

Hi everyone

We know that today's budget will be of huge concern to everybody, what is changing? what will be affected? will we lose money?

We don't normally allow discussion in the forum, but the Moderators have discussed this and we will feel that this is a situation where the rules need to be bent, but this does not mean that we can cope with a free for all on the forum.

This is the official topic for the Budget, we'll accept comments and questions (see below) about the changes as replies to this topic and this topic only. Posts on other topics will be moved to this one if possible but we reserve the right to delete posts without notice if members continue to post elsewhere.

The second post in this topic will list any changes to benefits that we are aware of, so please check there first before posting, also please check what has already been asked before posting a new question.

Please remember, we are not privy to any information that you are not and all we can do is to try and explaining what has been published, if we say that we cannot provide an answer then it will be because we don't have one.

Finally, the purpose of this forum is to help members with their benefit claims, so we will be prioritising posts for members who are dealing with issues now, so please be patient if your post does not appear immediately.

Gordon

Changes to Benefits that have been announced
Follow the blue links for further information

TAX
- The Personal Tax Allowance will be increasing over next two years. Relevant to anybody receiving Contribution Based benefits such as ESA(CB).

SOCIAL HOUSING
Rents in social housing sector to be reduced by 1% a year for the next four years. (From April 2016)
See 1.140

Social housing tenants who earn more than £40,000 in London or £30,000 outside london will be forced to pay the market rent for their home. (From April 2018)
See 1.154

HOUSEHOLD BENEFITS CAP
The household benefit cap will be lowered from £26,000 nationally to £23,000 in London and £20,000 in the rest of the UK. The DWP’s very conservative estimate is that an additional 90,000 households will be hit and that an additional 40,000 children will be forced into poverty as a result. Many families are likely to face eviction. (From April 2016)
See 2.112

SUPPORT FOR MORTGAGE INTEREST PAYMENTS
Support for mortgage interest payments changes from a benefit to a loan. (From April 2018)
See 2.114

WORKING AGE BENEFITS
Working age benefits to be frozen for 4 years. PIP, DLA and ESA support group excluded from freeze. (In force presently, extended to 2020/21)
See 2.115

ESA
ESA Work-related activity group . For future claimants only ESA WRAG will be paid at same rate as JSA. (From April 2017)
See 1.160

"No current claimants will be affected by this change"