Below is a timetable of the upcoming changes in relation to the Welfare Reforms for your information.
April 2013 Parts of the Social Fund will be devolved to local Councils
April 2013 Council Tax Benefit will be devolved to local Councils - The current system of Council Tax Benefit (CTB), which is claimed by 5.9 million low income families in Great Britain, is to be abolished from April 2013.Instead local councils in England and the Scottish and Welsh governments will be given funding by the Government to design their own systems of Council Tax support. Every Council must have announced the details of its new scheme by 31 January 2013.
April 2013 Household benefits cap - The benefit cap is to be piloted in four London boroughs - Bromley, Croydon, Enfield and Haringey - from April this year before being rolled out nationally in the summer.
April 2013 Personal Independence Payments (PIP) replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for 16 - 65 year olds (phased in different areas)
April 2013 Tax Credits: Rises in income disregards reduced to £5,000
April 2013 Housing Benefit for social housing limited to family size for working age tenants. Applies straight away.
April 2013 Local Housing Allowance: Changes from Retail Price Index to Consumer Price Index
April 2013 Child Benefit withdrawn for higher earners
Oct 2013 Universal Credit - complete reform of the current benefit system for those on income-related working age benefits. Transfer in stages until 2017