Latest news with #JosephRowntreeFoundation
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Mum's rent petition signed by more than 40000 people
Bridget, from Darlington, is campaigning to limit rent rises for tenants. She says: "My landlord recently hiked my rent by £100. I've been renting privately all my adult life, but getting a sudden rent hike still comes as a shock and has been very stressful, especially as the landlord gave us just one month's notice. "This is nearly a 20% increase. As a single parent living with my two children, with one income to live on, the impact will ripple through my life. I feel broken down by this system." The petition, which can be signed here, is still growing. This isn't the first issue Bridget has had with rented homes, after extreme damp in a previous home led to a hospital trip after she developed pneumonia. "I hoped this new home would be better, but once again, I've suffered a huge blow to my security," she says. "Rents in my local area in County Durham are high, and I cannot simply jump to another more affordable option." She - like many others - is also facing increased bills and food costs. "I was already struggling to cover my essentials; this shock rent rise will put even more of a strain on me," she says. "My mental health has been badly affected, and I worry about the long-term impact this will have on myself and my family." Important reforms in the Renters' Rights Bill are currently passing through Parliament. These will help to make renting fairer in England, including ending Section 21 evictions, which currently allow landlords to evict tenants without needing a reason. "But they do nothing to stop shock rent rises like the one my family has faced," says Bridget. "While the government says tenants will be able to challenge 'unreasonable' rent rises at tribunal, decisions will be based on what the rent would be if your home was re-let – not what you can afford. "As long as landlords can price their tenants out of their own homes with unaffordable rent rises, renters will still effectively face unfair evictions and be threatened with homelessness." Private renters are being HIT with relentless rent hikes. The impact? Thousands are being pushed into debt and homelessness. It's time for change. Sign our petition and demand better⤵️ — Generation Rent (@genrentuk) May 12, 2025 Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showing more than a third of private renters are living in poverty after housing costs. Meanwhile, Generation Rent's research has shown 9/10 renters say the experience of renting has negatively impacted their mental health. Generation Rent's winter 2024 survey found that the majority of renters (61%) reported that their landlord had asked them to pay a higher rent in the past 12 months with almost a quarter (24%) reported an increase over £100. This compares to just 9% reporting hikes of this size in July 2022, almost a threefold increase. Meanwhile, the 2024 English Private Landlord survey found one in five landlords hiked the rent by 15% or more the last time they renewed or extended a tenancy. The most common reason that renters reported they had been given for their rent increases, was not because their landlord faced increased costs, or was struggling more, it was simply because of the rising rewards of the market. Recommended reading: Almost a third (31%) of landlords had blamed higher market rents, while a further 7% stated that the increase was because of letting agent advice. The petition adds: "This is indefensible. If renters are to finally feel secure in our own homes, we need protections from shock rent rises. "Private landlords should not be able to raise the rent higher than inflation or wages. The Government can and must act to change this." Sign my petition, which has the full backing of Generation Rent, to demand the government introduces a cap on how much landlords can raise the rent.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
June 2025 benefits and pension payments dates
Higher incomes for millions have been promised with the start of the new financial year – despite the cost of living and inflation continuing to bite. Bills increased for most households in April, making it essential to stay on top of all the support you could be receiving. Households have gained from several income boosts last month, for both those in and out of work. All DWP-administered benefits rose 1.7 per cent as the state pension rose by 4.1 per cent in line with the triple lock. The minimum wage also increased by an inflation-busting 6.7 per cent, giving millions of workers a bumper £1,400 pay rise. But there's some bad news, too. Household bills have now seen big rises across the board, including energy, water and council tax. Many will also be worried about Labour's recently-announced changes to the welfare system. Amounting to £5 million in cuts, these will see the rates for Universal Credit change next year, followed by the criteria to claim the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) tightening. Meanwhile, the latest figures from millions of low-income households paint a bleak picture of the UK's economic situation. Latest research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that more than 1 in 5 people in the UK (21 per cent) were in poverty in 2022/23 – 14.3 million people. This comprised 8.1 million working-age adults, 4.3 million children, and 1.9 million pensioners. Against this difficult economic backdrop, here is an overview of the financial support available to households this May and key dates for benefit and state pension recipients to look out for: Benefit payments will be going out as normal in March as there are no bank holidays. These include: Universal Credit State pension Pension credit Child benefit Disability living allowance Personal independence payment (PIP) Attendance allowance Carer's allowance Employment support allowance Income support Jobseeker's allowance For more information on how and when state benefits are paid, visit the government's website. The DWP is aiming to complete the migration of all 'legacy benefits' to Universal Credit by January 2026. Those receiving tax credits, income support, jobseeker's allowance, and housing benefit should have received a notice about moving to Universal Credit already. A report from Policy in Practice this year shows that nearly £23bn in benefits goes unclaimed a year – they offer a helpful calculator to work out what you might be entitled basic state pension is paid straight into bank accounts similar to how benefits are paid. It is usually paid every four weeks, with the exact day you receive it corresponding to the last two digits of your national insurance (NI) number. Here's when you should be paid based on those numbers: 00 to 19: Monday 20 to 39: Tuesday 40 to 59: Wednesday 60 to 79: Thursday 80 to 99: Friday In April, all benefits were uprated by 1.7 per cent, matching the September 2024 inflation figure. The increase will apply to all working-age benefits, including universal credit, PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer's allowance, ESA and more. Meanwhile, in line with the triple lock, the State Pension has risen by 4.1 per cent – up £472 a year – matching wage growth in 2024. Things will change slightly for Universal Credit claimants next year following Labour's welfare announcements. Everyone receiving the benefit's standard allowance will see a one-off above inflation rise by £7 a week from April 2026, taking it from £91 to £98. However, the rate of the additional Universal Credit health element will be frozen from 2026 at £97 until 2029/30 (although those in this group will receive the increased standard allowance). Additionally, any new claimants for the health element after April 2026 will receive a massively reduced rate of £50 a week – almost £2,500 less than the current level. This means it is a good idea for anyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply as soon as they can. The government offers a 'budgeting advance loan' for people on Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of money. The loan has a maximum repayment period of two years. These loans are interest-free, and automatically deducted from Universal Credit payments. You can borrow an 'advance' of up to: £348 if you're single £464 if you're part of a couple £812 if you have children Following the Labour Budget in October, a new cap has been introduced on the amount the DWP can deduct from benefit payments to repay loans and debts, including budgeting advance loans. From April 2025, deductions from universal credit will be capped at 15 per cent of the standard allowance, down from 25 per cent. If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible for certain charitable grants. There are a wide range of grants available depending on your circumstances. However, these grants will typically require you to meet specific criteria and only be able to offer limited funds. Charitable grants are available for people who are disabled or ill, carers, bereaved, unemployed, students – and many more. The charity Turn2us has an online tool to search for grants which may be available to you. A number of energy suppliers offer help for those struggling with their energy bills. These include Scottish Power, EDF, and Octopus. It is worth contacting your energy provider to find out if you are eligible. British Gas also offer a grant of up to £2,000 to customers of any energy provider. You will need to meet specific criteria to be eligible, and can apply on the British Gas Energy Trust website. If you meet certain criteria or are on certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a discount on your council tax discount of up to 100 per cent. Your local council may still be able to offer you a discretionary reduction if you are able to demonstrate you are facing severe hardship and can't afford to pay your council tax. To apply for a council tax reduction, you can contact your local council via the government's website. All working parents in the UK are currently entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for children aged 3 to 4. From 1 April 2024, this entitlement expanded to include 15 hours of free childcare for 2-year-olds. From 1 September, this was expanded again to include all children from the age of nine months. You must apply online and reconfirm your eligibility every three months, in time for each school term. Working parents can also apply for tax-free childcare, giving back 20p for every 80p you put towards childcare, up to a maximum of £500 a year. The final expansion to free childcare, coming in September 2025, will see all children under five eligible for 30 hours. Ofgem's energy price cap has risen from £1,738 to £1,849 for April to June – an increase of 6.4. This marks the third consecutive increase in the figure, and will mean an average increase of £9.25 per month from the current rate. The energy price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge you for each unit of energy if you're on a standard variable tariff. That includes most households. It is expressed as an annual bill for an average home. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@ or visit to find your nearest branch. Mind runs a support line on 0300 102 1234 which provides a safe and confidential place to talk about how you're feeling. There is also an information line on 0300 123 3393 for nearby support, and a welfare benefits line on 0300 222 5782 to support the mental health of those navigating the benefits system. Disability charity Scope has a forum where people can have supportive chats to others going through the same experiences. NHS England offers an online mental health triage service.
STV News
2 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Achieving child poverty target could cost £920m a year in benefits, report warns
Scotland could meet its 2030 child poverty target—but a report has warned that this could cost £920m a year in benefits, with 'significant additional' spending also required to increase the number of parents in work. Chris Birt, associate director at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) in Scotland, said its research shows: 'Holyrood has the chance to prove that it's up to the task of not just setting lofty ambitions, but straining every sinew to deliver on them.' PA Media The Joseph Rowntree Foundation examined the costs and impacts of different measures that could be introduced to tackle child poverty (Jane Barlow/PA). The think tank said there would be financial benefits from getting more parents into employment, and from helping those with jobs to work more hours. Doing this could increase tax revenues to the Scottish Government by £410m, it said, while cutting spending on universal credit by around £500 million a year. With 240,000 children living in poverty in Scotland, the JRF produced what it described as a 'toolkit' for parties running in the 2026 Holyrood election, setting out the impact different policies could have towards meeting the target of having less than 10% of youngsters in relative poverty by 2030–31. The think tank said it had 'deliberately not prescribed an exact course of action' but had instead 'shown the required scale of action needed'. To meet the target, the report said the next Parliament would need to 'lift around 100,000 children out of poverty' – adding this would 'require a laser-focused prioritisation'. The Meeting the Moment paper stresses that none of the measures it considered would achieve the target on their own. 'Even a near quadrupling of the SCP (Scottish child payment) to £100 a week per child at an annual cost of £1.14 billion would see a child poverty rate three percentage points above the targets,' it said. However it found increasing the SCP – which is given to low-income families for every child they have under the age of 16 – to £40 a week would have 'the best poverty reduction impact per pound'. This would cost an extra £190m a year – but on its own would only bring the child poverty rate down to 18%. However the research found that by supplementing the benefit for families with babies and for single parents, and by boosting take-up to 100% of those eligible, when combined with other measures – such as boosting employment among parents in poverty – 90,000 youngsters could be lifted out of poverty, meeting the 10% target. The report said: 'This would cost an additional £920m in targeted child benefits in Scotland (as well as other costs associated with increasing employment). 'It would also increase tax revenues by £410m because of increased parental employment. 'Universal credit expenditure could also fall by £500m as demand for it falls due to higher incomes through work.' Mr Birt said: 'Whoever forms the next Scottish Government has the chance to change what it means to grow up in Scotland. 'To do so, they must meet the Parliament's child poverty targets. Not only for Scotland's children and their futures, but to show those who often feel overlooked and ignored by politics that trust can be rebuilt through actions. 'This analysis gives each political party a detailed map to help them reach a Scotland free from child poverty. They may choose to take different routes to get there. But whichever route they take will require every ounce of determination and demand action at scale. 'The actions of Westminster governments may help, or hinder, but Holyrood has the chance to prove that it's up to the task of not just setting lofty ambitions, but straining every sinew to deliver on them.' Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'I welcome this report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. 'We are absolutely committed to meeting the 2030 child poverty targets and thanks to the actions we are already taking, families in the poorest 10% of households are estimated to be £2,600 a year better off in 2025-26 and this value is projected to grow to an average of £3,700 a year by 2029-30. 'However our policies are having to work harder in the current economic context and as a result of decisions taken by the UK Government, such as keeping the two-child limit on Universal Credit which are holding back Scotland's progress. 'While the Joseph Rowntree Foundation predict child poverty will rise in other parts of the UK by 2029, they highlight that policies such as our Scottish Child Payment, and our commitment to mitigate the two-child limit, are behind Scotland 'bucking the trend'. 'We will publish our third child poverty delivery plan by the end of March 2026, setting out the actions to be taken between 2026-2031 to meet the 2030 targets. We will continue working closely with stakeholders, including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, to shape that plan.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
June 2025 benefits and pension payments dates
Higher incomes for millions have been promised with the start of the new financial year – despite the cost of living and inflation continuing to bite. Bills increased for most households in April, making it essential to stay on top of all the support you could be receiving. Households have gained from several income boosts last month, for both those in and out of work. All DWP -administered benefits rose 1.7 per cent as the state pension rose by 4.1 per cent in line with the triple lock. The minimum wage also increased by an inflation-busting 6.7 per cent, giving millions of workers a bumper £1,400 pay rise. But there's some bad news, too. Household bills have now seen big rises across the board, including energy, water and council tax. Many will also be worried about Labour's recently-announced changes to the welfare system. Amounting to £5 million in cuts, these will see the rates for Universal Credit change next year, followed by the criteria to claim the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) tightening. Meanwhile, the latest figures from millions of low-income households paint a bleak picture of the UK's economic situation. Latest research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that more than 1 in 5 people in the UK (21 per cent) were in poverty in 2022/23 – 14.3 million people. This comprised 8.1 million working-age adults, 4.3 million children, and 1.9 million pensioners. Against this difficult economic backdrop, here is an overview of the financial support available to households this May and key dates for benefit and state pension recipients to look out for: Benefit payment dates in June Benefit payments will be going out as normal in March as there are no bank holidays. These include: For more information on how and when state benefits are paid, visit the government's website. The DWP is aiming to complete the migration of all 'legacy benefits' to Universal Credit by January 2026. Those receiving tax credits, income support, jobseeker's allowance, and housing benefit should have received a notice about moving to Universal Credit already. A report from Policy in Practice this year shows that nearly £23bn in benefits goes unclaimed a year – they offer a helpful calculator to work out what you might be entitled to. Have you been having issues with the DWP recently? Get in touch via email: Pension payment dates in June The basic state pension is paid straight into bank accounts similar to how benefits are paid. It is usually paid every four weeks, with the exact day you receive it corresponding to the last two digits of your national insurance (NI) number. Here's when you should be paid based on those numbers: 00 to 19: Monday 20 to 39: Tuesday 40 to 59: Wednesday 60 to 79: Thursday 80 to 99: Friday Have benefit rates gone up? In April, all benefits were uprated by 1.7 per cent, matching the September 2024 inflation figure. The increase will apply to all working-age benefits, including universal credit, PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer's allowance, ESA and more. Meanwhile, in line with the triple lock, the State Pension has risen by 4.1 per cent – up £472 a year – matching wage growth in 2024. Things will change slightly for Universal Credit claimants next year following Labour's welfare announcements. Everyone receiving the benefit's standard allowance will see a one-off above inflation rise by £7 a week from April 2026, taking it from £91 to £98. However, the rate of the additional Universal Credit health element will be frozen from 2026 at £97 until 2029/30 (although those in this group will receive the increased standard allowance). Additionally, any new claimants for the health element after April 2026 will receive a massively reduced rate of £50 a week – almost £2,500 less than the current level. This means it is a good idea for anyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply as soon as they can. Other help available Budgeting advance loans The government offers a 'budgeting advance loan' for people on Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of money. The loan has a maximum repayment period of two years. These loans are interest-free, and automatically deducted from Universal Credit payments. You can borrow an 'advance' of up to: £348 if you're single £464 if you're part of a couple £812 if you have children Following the Labour Budget in October, a new cap has been introduced on the amount the DWP can deduct from benefit payments to repay loans and debts, including budgeting advance loans. From April 2025, deductions from universal credit will be capped at 15 per cent of the standard allowance, down from 25 per cent. Charitable grants If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible for certain charitable grants. There are a wide range of grants available depending on your circumstances. However, these grants will typically require you to meet specific criteria and only be able to offer limited funds. Charitable grants are available for people who are disabled or ill, carers, bereaved, unemployed, students – and many more. The charity Turn2us has an online tool to search for grants which may be available to you. Energy provider help A number of energy suppliers offer help for those struggling with their energy bills. These include Scottish Power, EDF, and Octopus. It is worth contacting your energy provider to find out if you are eligible. British Gas also offer a grant of up to £2,000 to customers of any energy provider. You will need to meet specific criteria to be eligible, and can apply on the British Gas Energy Trust website. Council tax reduction If you meet certain criteria or are on certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a discount on your council tax discount of up to 100 per cent. Your local council may still be able to offer you a discretionary reduction if you are able to demonstrate you are facing severe hardship and can't afford to pay your council tax. To apply for a council tax reduction, you can contact your local council via the government's website. Up to 30 hours of free childcare All working parents in the UK are currently entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for children aged 3 to 4. From 1 April 2024, this entitlement expanded to include 15 hours of free childcare for 2-year-olds. From 1 September, this was expanded again to include all children from the age of nine months. You must apply online and reconfirm your eligibility every three months, in time for each school term. Working parents can also apply for tax-free childcare, giving back 20p for every 80p you put towards childcare, up to a maximum of £500 a year. The final expansion to free childcare, coming in September 2025, will see all children under five eligible for 30 hours. Energy Price Cap: Is it going up? Ofgem's energy price cap has risen from £1,738 to £1,849 for April to June – an increase of 6.4. This marks the third consecutive increase in the figure, and will mean an average increase of £9.25 per month from the current rate. The energy price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge you for each unit of energy if you're on a standard variable tariff. That includes most households. It is expressed as an annual bill for an average home. Mental health support In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@ or visit to find your nearest branch. Mind runs a support line on 0300 102 1234 which provides a safe and confidential place to talk about how you're feeling. There is also an information line on 0300 123 3393 for nearby support, and a welfare benefits line on 0300 222 5782 to support the mental health of those navigating the benefits system. Disability charity Scope has a forum where people can have supportive chats to others going through the same experiences. NHS England offers an online mental health triage service.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Dad, 44, makes passionate plea after being victim to 'greed over humanity'
Nearly a third of private renters - an estimated 3.8 million people - struggle to afford essentials like groceries - read dad Trevor Twohig's renting story below Nearly a third of private renters - an estimated 3.8 million people - "always" or "often" struggle to afford essentials like groceries due to the amount they spend on rent, grim polling shows. Almost one in 10 have sold or pawned personal items to be able to afford rent, according to the survey by the Renters' Reform Coalition (RRC). More than half - 53% - of renters said they 'always' or 'often' don't have any money left for savings due to the amount they spent on rent. Average rents have risen by 31% in the last five years, according to recent analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. An amendment to the Renters' Rights Bill, which is passing through the House of Lords, calls for a review of rent affordability in England after the bill has been passed. The change, which received cross party support at committee stage, is likely to be brought to a vote in the bill's upcoming Report Stage. Baroness Grender, the Lib Dem peer who tabled the amendment, said: 'Renters are often paying unreasonably high prices for homes that fail to meet basic standards. That's why I've put forward an amendment to help make renting more affordable and fair. A caring society starts with a stable home, and we should demand nothing less." Tom Darling, director at the RRC, said: "The cost of rent is out of control - it is just unacceptable that today nearly a third of tenants are struggling just to afford basic necessities like groceries. The Renters' Rights Bill is long overdue, and has a lot to recommend it, but it has very little to say about this affordability crisis.' A Government spokesman said: 'These findings are concerning. We want to create a fairer housing market and that's why our Renters' Rights Bill will empower tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes and stop landlords from demanding large amounts of rent in advance. 'We are also putting more money in people's pockets by protecting payslips from higher taxes, freezing fuel duty and increasing the minimum wage to deliver pay rises of up to £1,400 a year for millions of low-income workers.' Under the bill, landlords will only be able to increase rents once per year to the market rate and tenants will be able to challenge unreasonable rent increases through the first-tier tribunal. ::: More in Common surveyed 1,076 private renters between April 25 and May 5 for RRC. 'Landlords are acting with greed rather than humanity' Trevor Twohig, 44, who lives with his wife and three kids, has accused landlords of acting with 'greed rather than humanity'. He said he struggles to save up cash for his family and said it was 'ridiculous' renters' lives are at 'the mercy of landlords'. Trevor, who recently set up a neurodiversity coaching company, said his family were recently evicted from their home in Ashford, Kent, despite having lived there for four years and being 'great tenants'. Their landlord told Trevor and his wife Tnaesha that he was going to sell the house in November and they had to leave within two months. But Trevor said it was a lie and that the landlord actually hiked the rent by £700. 'He ended up renting it to town people from London for £2,200 per calendar month which highlights the emphasis on greed rather than humanity,' he said. The family now live in a 'less desirable' area in a £1,500 per month bungalow in Ashford, where his kids have to share one room. Asked if he struggles to save due to high rent prices, Trevor said: 'Yeah, I think so. I think that for everyone at the moment, it's very, very difficult. 'Unfortunately, it seems that as soon as there are a lack of properties in an area, the price rockets up, and that, to me, is unethical. And that prevents people who want to purchase property in this country from being able to save up the money that they need to. 'I do think, absolutely, saving has become a thing of the past for a lot of people, because, yeah, the cost of living, but in particular, the cost of renting and buying is, quite frankly, a bit absurd at the moment.' Trevor called for better regulation around how much landlords can charge for rent. 'Fundamentally, I think we need renters to be treated with the same respect as homeowners,' he said. 'I just feel at the moment that if you are a renter, you are fundamentally a second-class citizen.'
