Understanding Welfare and Tax Benefits 2016

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer announced, on 25 November 2015, a number of far reaching welfare benefit and workplace benefit measures as part of the Autumn Statement and Spending Review.

There are huge implications for a wide range of people with a £12 billion austerity package now being drawn up by the Department for Work and Pension.

All those involved in providing help, advice and guidance to members of the community need to understand how the latest changes impact on welfare and tax benefits work and ensure the support and signposting they give is correct. 

Given the complexities of the benefits and tax credit system, this is never easy but this fun filled lively course highlights the key benefits and changes and provides a useful reference manual too

Here’s a brief flavour of some of the changes:-

Benefits

• The tax credit income threshold of £6,420 and taper rate of 41% of gross income will no longer change from April 2016.

• From April 2016 the amount by which a tax credit claimant’s income can increase in-year compared to their previous year’s income before their award is adjusted (the income rise disregard) will be reduced to £2,500 as announced in Summer Budget 2015.

• Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants will have to sign on for their benefit every week for the first three months and a more intensive support element of the Help to Work programme currently in place for the long-term unemployed will be brought forward.

• Government will introduce a new Work and Health Programme which will provide specialist support for claimants with health conditions or disabilities and those unemployed for over 2 years

• Increase in funding to help those with disabilities and health conditions return to, and remain in, work

Housing

• Housing Benefit and Pension Credit will not be paid to people who have left the country for more than four weeks from April 2016. At present, Housing Benefit recipients can go abroad for up to 13 weeks while continuing to receive Housing Benefit

• Local councils will receive direct payment from government for management of temporary accommodation for the homeless rather than a per household basis management fee.

Pensions

• From April 2016, the basic State Pension will rise to £119.30 per week, an increase of £3.35.

• New Single Tier State Pension introduced from April 2016, rate will be £155.65 per week.

Child Care

• For the extended free childcare provision, doubling of hours from 15 to 30 hours per week for three and four year olds from September 2017, families will now also be required to work more than 16 hours (for at least the National Living Wage) and must not have an income per parent above £100,000.

Education

• Student nursing, midwifery and allied health subjects funding grant will be replaced by loans.

• Student maintenance grants will be replaced by loans. Part-time students will also be able to apply for the loans.

Concrew Training's one-day workshops explains all the latest changes and much much, more.  

If your organisation is involved in providing advice and guidance to those in the community you need to consider running this course in house now.

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