Universal credit has increased in 2024 but some claimants will only be seeing the extra cash in their accounts from June.

Benefits across the board increased by 6.7% this April. That was because benefits are supposed to increase by September’s rate of inflation and last year that was 6.7%.

But because of the way assessment periods for universal credit work, you might only get extra money from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this month.

• Universal credit claimants lose more than £1bn a year to ‘automatic DWP deductions’
• Why DWP urgently needs to make universal credit enough so people can afford the essentials

Below, we’ve explained why some people are only just getting the increased rate, why charities are calling for universal credit to be increased further, and where else to get support in June 2024.

Why has my universal credit increased in June 2024?

Benefits increased by 6.7% from 8 April, 2024 for many claimants.

But for some universal credit claimants, the increased benefit rates has only taken effect in June. This is because the new rate is not paid by the DWP until the first assessment period on or after 8 April.

Here’s an example. Your assessment period began on 26 March. It runs for a complete calendar month so ended on 25 April.

Payments are made a week after the first assessment period comes to an end, so you received your payment on 2 May. But because the assessment period started before 8 April, it was at the old rate.

A new assessment period would have begun on 26 April and ended on 25 May. So the new full rate would have been paid on 1 June.

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Why are people calling for universal credit to be increased further?

Universal credit is not enough for people to afford the cost of living, even since they have been increased in 2024.

The standard allowance for universal credit for people aged 25 and over falls short by around £30 every week – or £120 every month, according to estimations from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. For people aged 25 and under, the shortfall is even higher, at around £48 every week.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Trussell Trust and the Big Issue, backed by more than 100 organisations, are calling for an ‘essentials guarantee’ to be implemented into universal credit so people can at least afford the basics they need to live.

Read more here.

Big Issue is demanding an end to poverty this general election. Will you sign our open letter to party leaders?

Could you be eligible for more DWP benefits or cost of living help?

Benefits aren’t stretching far enough in the cost of living crisis – but they can be a lifeline.

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use a benefits calculator to find out what you might be entitled to claim – including from Turn2Us, Policy in Practice and entitledto.

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you. You can also find local advice services here.

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website.

If you are unable to pay your bills, your local council may have a scheme that can help you. Local councils may be able to give you debt advice, help you get hold of furniture and support you through food and fuel poverty. You can also find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder or by contacting your local authority directly.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland.

There’s lots more cost of living help available to people who need it – we round it up here.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

Benefits like universal credit are a lifeline for millions of people across the UK struggling to afford the cost of living.

But stigma, inaccessibility and lack of awareness means that many low-income households are not claiming the financial support to which they are entitled.

Just under £23bn in benefits and financial help goes unclaimed each year, according to research by Policy in Practice.

• Almost no recorded cases of disability benefit fraud despite DWP crackdown: ‘PIP fraud is a non-issue’
• DWP sparks outcry with plan to hire 2,500 ‘agents’ to investigate universal credit claimants

Meanwhile, charity Turn2Us found that two-thirds of UK adults find it “confusing” to determine whether they might be eligible for benefits.

It warned that the benefits system is “unnecessarily difficult to navigate” and can be “soul-destroying”, calling on the DWP to “get the system working” for people.

The government recently increased benefits and state pension – and many claimants will have already seen this take effect, but some universal credit claimants will only see the increased rate in June.

Below, we’ve outlined when you should expect a benefit payment, why some people are only just getting the increased rate, changes to universal credit which mean more people will have to look for work, and where else to get support in June 2024.

What date will my benefits paid by the DWP in June 2024?

The date your benefit is paid depends on what benefit you receive and when you started claiming.

Universal credit is paid monthly by the DWP. Attendance allowance, disability living allowance, pension credit, personal independence payment (PIP) and state pension are paid every four weeks.

Carer’s allowance, tax credits (from HMRC) and child benefit are either weekly or every four weeks. And maternity allowance is either every two weeks or every four weeks.

Income support, employment and support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance are usually every two weeks.

Who will get increased benefits in June 2024?

Benefits increased by 6.7% from 8 April, 2024 for many claimants.

But for some universal credit claimants, the increased benefit rates will take effect around June. This is because the new rate is not paid until the first assessment period that begins on or after 8 April.

Charity Turn2us sets out an example. Your assessment period began on 26 March. It runs for a complete calendar month so ended on 25 April.

Payments are made a week after the first assessment period comes to an end – so you receive the payment on 2 May. But because the assessment period started before 8 April, it was at the old rate.

A new assessment period would begin on 26 April and end on 25 May. So the new full rate would be paid on 1 June.

Anyone who had their last assessment period before 8 April will have to wait until June to receive the increased benefit payments.

What changes have been made to universal credit which mean more people have to work?

Around 180,000 people will have to look for more work as the DWP changed the rules for universal credit in May.

People who were working fewer than 18 hours a week on national living wage will now have to seek extra work, when previously they only had to work 15 hours.

From 13 May, the administrative earnings threshold (AET) – the minimum amount people on universal credit are expected to earn every month if they are fit to work – increased.

It means individuals now have to earn £892 per month, which is 18 hours a week on national living wage. Couples have to earn £1,437, which is 29 hours a week on national living wage.

Read more here.

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How do I know if I am eligible for benefits in June 2024?

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use a benefits calculator to find out what you might be entitled to claim – including from Turn2Us, Policy in Practice and entitledto.

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you. You can also find local advice services here.

The government’s Help for Households website explains what other support you could be eligible for – and we’ve got a round-up of all the cost of living help available to households here.

Are there any more cost of living payments planned for 2024?

There are no more cost of living payments planned by the DWP for 2024.

The last one should have hit bank accounts by February 22, if you were eligible.

If you think you should have had a payment but you can’t see it in your bank account, you can report it through the government’s website.

Before reporting a missing payment, you should check your bank, building society or credit union account, or your payment exception service voucher receipt.

Find out more about the cost of living payment here.

Big Issue is demanding an end to poverty this general election. Will you sign our open letter to party leaders?

Where else can I get cost of living help?

Benefits aren’t stretching far enough in the cost of living crisis – but there are other options out there for people who need it.

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website. There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person. Grants are also usually available to people who have no recourse to public funds and cannot claim welfare benefits. 

If you are unable to pay your bills, your local council may have a scheme that can help you. Local councils may be able to give you debt advice, help you get hold of furniture and support you through food and fuel poverty. Your council may also have a local welfare assistance scheme, also known as crisis support. You can also find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder or by contacting your local authority directly.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland.

There’s lots more cost of living help available to people who need it – we round it up here.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

Cost of living payments have come to an end and the government has no plans to continue the scheme.

Millions of low-income households received the final cost of living payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 6 February and 22 February 2024.

This was the third of three payments totalling £900 for 2023 and 2024. They were given to around eight million low-income households on means-tested benefits, and followed two payments totalling up to £650 for 2022 to 2023.

Charities and individuals said that the payments were not enough as the ongoing crisis continues to plunge people into poverty – but for many they were a lifeline which helped them afford their basic essentials.

Instead, the government increased benefits by 6.7% in April, in line with September’s rate of inflation.

If you are worried about the cost of living payment ending, know that you are not alone and there is help out there for people who need it.

Here’s everything you need to know now the cost of living payment has ended – including when you should have received the last payment, what to do if your cost of living payment is missing, whether you could receive additional benefits and where else you can go to get support now that the cost of living payment has ended.

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What date should I have got the last cost of living payment? 

Most people on DWP benefits received the last cost of living payment between Tuesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 22. This was the third and final payment for the 2023/2024 period and there are no further payments planned.

The previous payment of £300 was paid between 31 October and 19 November 2023. 

There is a chance payments could have been paid late – such as if you were made eligible for a qualifying benefit at a later date or you change the bank account your benefit or tax credits are paid into.

How do I report a missing cost of living payment?

If you think you should have had a payment but you can’t see it in your bank account, you can report it through the government’s website.

Before reporting a missing payment, you should check your bank, building society or credit union account, or your payment exception service voucher receipt.

Is it another cost of living payment or a scam?

If someone contacts you about a future cost of living payment, it could well be a scam.

You did not need to apply for the payment, and official bodies like the DWP and HMRC never ask for your bank details by SMS or email. You can find advice on spotting scams by visiting the government’s website. 

Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk, so the National Security Cyber Centre will investigate it, and texts to 7726, which will report the text to your mobile phone provider. 

Who got the cost of living payment?

People receiving certain benefits or tax credits were eligible for the cost of living payment. This included: universal credit, income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income-related employment and support allowance (ESA), income support, pension credit, child tax credit and working tax credit. 

You also had to have been receiving one of these benefits between November 13 and December 12, 2023, or a payment for an assessment period ending between these dates.

If you get both child tax credit and working tax credit you will only have received a cost of living payment for child tax credit. If you get tax credits from HMRC and a benefit from the DWP, you’ll only have received the payment from the DWP.

Couples with a joint claim only received single payments between them. You will not have got a payment if you are only getting the new style employment and support allowance, contributory employment and support allowance, or new style jobseeker’s allowance.

If your benefit was reduced to £0 for the qualifying period, you were also not eligible. This is sometimes called ‘nil award’ and refers to when you stop getting benefits for a variety of reasons. This could be because your earnings go up (or your partner’s earnings go up), you start getting another benefit or your savings go up.

If you are getting tax credits from HMRC and a low-income benefit from DWP, you will only have got the one cost of living payment. In this case, payment will have shown as ‘HMRC COLS’ in bank and building society accounts, so that people know the money is cost of living support.

Will I get a disability cost of living payment in 2024?

The £150 disability cost of living payment was paid to disabled people who receive certain benefits between 20 June and 4 July, 2023. There are no further payments planned for 2024.

Could I be eligible for benefits I’m not already getting?

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use the charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator to find out what benefits you are entitled to claim. 

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you. 

Just under £19billion in benefits goes unclaimed each year, according to research by Policy in Practice. That’s often because people don’t know about them, can’t access them and because of the stigma around asking for help.

But it’s so important to claim support you’re entitled to.

Where else can I get cost of living help?

Now that cost of living payments are over, there are other places people can go to get help.

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website.

There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person. Grants are also usually available to people who have no recourse to public funds and cannot claim welfare benefits. 

If you are unable to pay your bills, your local council may have a scheme that can help you. Local councils may be able to give you debt advice, help you get hold of furniture and support you through food and fuel poverty.

Your council may also have a local welfare assistance scheme, also known as crisis support. You can also find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder or by contacting your local authority directly.

You may be able to get help with essential costs from your local council through the household support fund. This might be through providing food vouchers in the school holidays, debt and money advice, white goods or short-term cash payments – but every council has their own scheme and eligibility criteria, so you’ll have to contact them directly or check their website to find out what support they offer.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland.

There’s lots more cost of living help available to people who need it – we round it up here.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

There are plenty of restaurants and cafes across the country where kids eat free or for £1 over the May half term.

The break from school comes with extra costs. Childcare can often be expensive, and the government does not directly fund free school meals out of term time. 

Beyond the cost of it, keeping your kids entertained over the half term can be a challenge. Taking your little ones out for an exciting meal (or even two) could be just the thing you need to get them out the house. 

It’s worth pointing out that many of these are not quite free. You often have to buy a full adult’s meal alongside, which won’t always work out the cheapest, so it’s worth checking the terms and conditions before you apply because some of these offers are better than others.

At Asda, for example, you don’t have to buy an adult’s meal alongside it. And at Ikea, kids’ meals are as low as 95p.

Here are all the places kids can eat free or for just £1 over the May half term. 

Bill’s

Up to two kids aged 10 and under can eat for free at Bill’s over the May half term and beyond, from 27 May to 31 May. An adult has to order a main dish, but that can be breakfast lunch or dinner. The children’s menu features buttermilk pancakes, mac and cheese, and fish fingers and chips. Discover more.

TGI Fridays

Kids eat free at TGI Fridays when you order an adult’s main meal. The offer is available for Stripes Rewards members – you’ll just need to join via their app, which is free to download through app stores. You’ll get a complimentary Little League or Major League kids’ meal. The menu includes classic burgers, fish fingers and vegan choices. There is also free Heinz baby food for the smallest guests at TGI Fridays. Find out more here.

Sizzling Pub and Grill

Your child can enjoy a £1 meal at Sizzling Pub and Grill as long as you purchase an adult’s main meal. The offer is available on weekdays from 3pm. The menu includes fish fingers, pasta, chicken wraps, pizza and more. Get the offer. 

OK Diners 

One child under 10 can eat free when an adult purchases a main meal. This offer is available every day at the diners in Derby, Cannock, Leominster, Northop and Oswestry. Read all about it here.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants 

At selected Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, kids can eat for free from the Ramsay kids menu when ordering a main. It’s only available for children under the age of eight and you will need to purchase an adult main for every free children’s meal. It’s available at Heddon Street Kitchen, all Bread Street Kitchen and Bars, Bread Street Café, Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill and York and Albany.

This offer is available all year around, except on select dates like Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. 

Sainsbury’s Café

You can get one children’s hot main meal or “lunch bag” for £1 with the purchase of an adult hot main meal from £5.20 in the Sainsburys café. The lunch bag includes a sandwich, bag of crisps, a piece of fruit and a kids’ drink. Mains include a sausage, cheese and tomato pizza or chicken nuggets. It’s available every day from 11.30am until the cafe closes. 

Morrisons Café

Children aged 16 and below can get one free meal with every adult meal. The offer only applies when you purchase an adult meal with a value of £4.49 or over, and it excludes all cafe specials. The meal includes a piece of fruit and orange or apple juice or bottle of water. Read the terms and conditions here.

Bella Italia

Kids can get three courses and a drink for just £1 from Sunday to Wednesday at Bella Italia. Meals are suitable for two-11 year olds, with smaller and larger portion sizes to suit their appetites. It’s also free all day on Thursday!

The cheapest adult main course is the margherita pizza, priced at £11.49 – though these prices go up to £11.99 at some London and Center Parcs branches. Read all about it.

Dunelm

Many of the furnishing retailer’s branches have an in-store eatery, the Pausa cafe. Kids can get a ‘mini main’, two snacks and a drink for free, as long as an accompanying adult spends £4 or more.

Tesco Café

Kids eat free at Tesco Café this half with the Kids’ Pick ‘N’ Mix Lunch Deal. Your child will get a sandwich, a piece of fruit, two snacks and a drink. An adult just has to buy any item in the Tesco Café.

Dobbies

Kids can get a free breakfast or lunch at national garden centre Dobbies, with one meal and drink available for every adult main purchased. It does not include the Beaconsfield, Hungerford, Keston, Andover, Lelant, Marple, Reading, York and Anchorwood restaurants. It’s £1 for a kids’ Sunday roast.

The lunch offer’s available every day from 12 noon until 3pm, or the breakfast only until 11.30am.

Travelodge

If you happen to be staying in a Travelodge over the half term, kids aged 15 and under eat completely free. Your child can choose as much as they like from the cooked selection, including prime back bacon, Cumberland pork sausages, free range scrambled eggs and more. Up to two kids can eat free for every full paying adult, starting at £5.50 for a breakfast to go.

Premier Inn

The same goes at Premier Inn! When an adult orders a full Premier Inn Breakfast or a Meal Deal, up to two under 16s eat breakfast for free. Find out more.

Holiday Inn

Kids eat (and stay) free at Holiday Inn. It is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel’s dine-in restaurant. Your kids will get a main course and dessert. An adult (who is registered as a hotel guest) must order at least one course from the full priced menu. It’s limited to four children per dining family. Find out more here – including how kids can stay for free at Holiday Inn. 

SA Brain Pubs

Welsh pub chain SA Brain & Co. is another pub chain handing out kids meals for just £1. This offer is available all day every Wednesday, and must be purchased alongside a full price adult main meal. It excludes Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Purezza

Purezza, the vegan pizza restaurant, has a kids eat free scheme not just for the school holidays but all year round! Children under 10 can enjoy a free mini pizza with a topping of their choice. Only one child eats free per adult dining. The restaurants can provide additional mini pizzas and other children for £5 each. You’ll find Purezza in Camden, Bristol, Manchester and Brighton. 

Ikea

At Ikea, your little ones can enjoy the pasta with tomato sauce or the mac and cheese and a soft drink for 95p. Any other kids meal is £1.50. You could also enjoy browsing and getting lost through the aisles of the furniture store and make it a proper trip out! This is available every day from 11am.

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Table Table

Two kids under the age of 16 can get free, unlimited breakfast at Table Table’s all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast. You have to purchase an adult breakfast at a cost of £9.99. It promises a freshly cooked full English with all your cooked and continental favourites.

Brewers Fayre

Kids can get free buffet breakfast at Brewers Fayre, which is also owned by Whitbread – just like Table Table. It is much the same deal as above. Kids have to be under the age of 16 to eat for free, and you have to purchase an adult breakfast for £9.99. 

Beefeater

Another Whitbread pub, Beefeater also offers two kids all-you-can-eat breakfast for free. Kids have to be under the age of 16 to eat for free, and you have to purchase an adult breakfast for £9.99. 

Heathrow Airport

OK, so you won’t be heading to Heathrow Airport purely for a meal (try explaining that to security), but if you are jetting off on a holiday over the May half term it is handy to know that kids can eat for free in its restaurants. Participating spots include Big Smoke, Giraffe, The Globe and more. You can find the full list here.

The Real Greek

This May half term kids eat free at the Real Greek. For every £10 spent by an adult, one child under the age of 12 can eat for free at the Greek chain restaurant. The offer includes one meal from the children’s menu as well as an ice cream or sorbet. It’s available from Sunday, 26 May to Sunday, 2 June.

Hungry Horse

Every Monday, kids can eat for £1 at Hungry Horse pubs. Dishes include pork sausages, fish fingers and chicken nuggets and a small beef burger. Up to two kids can eat with every full paying adult. Larger dishes will cost you £1.50.

Cafe Rouge

At Cafe Rouge, children up to 12 years old can enjoy two or three lunch or dinner courses from the kid’s menu for free, with the purchase of any main from the A La Carte menu. Menu options include fish goujons, crunchie chicken crispies and macaroni cheese. It’s available in the half term from 27 May to 31 May. Find out more.

Asda Cafe

Asda has announced that its kids eat for £1 meal deal has been extended all year round. Kids can get a hot meal, such as penne pasta with meatballs, fish fingers, chicken nuggets and all-day breakfast. They will also receive a free piece of fruit. There’s also a cold pick and mix selection that includes a sandwich, drink and piece of fruit. And you don’t have to buy anything yourself to go with it!

YO! Sushi

From 27 May to 31 May, except for Saturdays and Sundays, kids eat for free all day in YO! Sushi restaurants when dining with a full-paying adult (there’s a minimum spend of £10). It’s a maximum of three kids per booking.

It’s unfortunately not available at the restaurants in Bath, Heathrow T2, Heathrow T3, Manchester Piccadilly Station, Rushden Lakes, St Pancras Station, York Outlet or London Luton Airport.

Burger King

Kids can eat for £1 this half term between 27 May to 2 June. You can get a King Jr. Meal for £1 when an adult orders a main meal via the Burger King app. It’s not valid at Burger King motorway service locations, airports, train stations and holiday parks. Find out more.

Banana Tree

Kids eat free at selected Banana Tree restaurants over the school holidays between 26 to 31 May. It’s a free kid’s main meal and kid’s dessert per full price main meal ordered from the all-day menu. This offer excludes Banana Tree Soho, Covent Garden and Oxford. It is also on every Sunday and excludes the O2 location on event days.

Franco Manca

Kids aged 12 and under can get a free pizza for every adult main you buy at Franco Manca. It’s available in Stoke Newington, East Dulwich, Balham, Chiswick, Kilburn, Bishops Stortford, Cheltenham, Hove, Manchester Didsbury, Manchester Trafford Centre, and Peterborough locations.

It is available for eat-in only, is applied to individual kids pizzas (not the extended kids menu) and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Brewdog

Kids eat free this May half term in Brewdogs in England and Wales – but you’ve got to buy a main for yourself. It’s available 25 May to 2 June.

Frankie and Bennie’s

Kids can get a main, side, dessert and drink for free at Frankie and Bennie’s. Order an adult main to redeem. It’s available Tuesday, May 28 to Friday, May 31. It excludes Saturdays and Sundays.

Las Iguanas

Kids under 12 can get a free niños meal but only if you download the Las Iguanas app. Each adult ordering a main course from the a la carte menu can claim a free kids meal. It includes a main, two sides and a dessert.

It’s not available on big event days at the O2, Wembley, Resorts World, Cardiff Mill Lane or Brindley Place restaurants and at Las Iguanas Center Parcs.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen

So it’s not quite free… but kids can eat for £2 at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK). You have to purchase an adult meal alongside it. It’s only available for one child per adult and includes a main and one side.

Bluegrass BBQ Smokehouse

You can get a free kids’ main and dessert this May half term, from 25 May to 2 June with any adult who pays £10 or more for a meal.​ You’ll find the restaurants in High Wycombe, Reading or Windsor.

Where kids can eat free or for £1 if you’re in London

Barbican Kitchen

Children under 10 can get a free kid’s meal at the Barbican Kitchen with every adult meal over £10 purchased. This offer is not just for the May half term but all year round. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Barbican. See the menu and more on their website.

Preto

Kids can eat free at Brazilian buffet restaurant Preto. The offer is valid every weekday after 4pm and all weekend. This offer is open to children up to 10 years old, and proof of age might be requested. An adult will need to pay their full way.

It starts at £24.95 but you get an unlimited selection from the traditional Brazilian hot dishes and salad bar. You can get the offer at the Victoria, Putney, Queensway, Colchester and West End restaurants by downloading a voucher.  

Angus Steakhouse

At Angus Steakhouses in central London, one child can get a meal per full-paying adult. It is available every day during the half term and at weekends, from 12pm to 5pm, during the rest of the school year. It is only on offer for kids under the age of 10. You should request in advance of your booking. Find out more.

Pembury Tavern 

Kids eat free at the Pembury Tavern in Hackney, Eastern, all day every Sunday, with each adult-sized pizza bought. You can choose from a slice of their classic margarita or single pepperoni, plus your kids will get a scoop of ice-cream! Find out more here.

The Hox

Kids under 10 can eat free between 12 noon and 5pm every Saturday and Sunday at Hox restaurants in Shoreditch, Holborn, Southwark and Shepherd’s Bush with any dining adult. The offer is only for one child per adult.

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Dan Hatfield has been offered a cast of Justin Beiber’s penis and a vial of bathwater that Whitney Houston died in (both supposedly genuine, although he was given no way of verifying that). That’s on top of the Fabergé eggs and superyachts. An unusual way to make a living but he loves it.

A money-making expert and regular on ITV’s This Morning, Hatfield is, first and foremost, a pawnbroker. He gets most excited when people come in with items they had no idea could earn them thousands, like the woman who did not realise she had been gifted a £15,000 Rolex watch.

After being made redundant during the financial crash, Hatfield took over his family’s pawnbroking business and later became a TV personality, almost by accident. His first shows Posh Pawn and Million Pound Pawn were about the high-end luxury business and lucrative deals which can be made through pawnbroking.

Still, Dan Hatfield believes his money-making advice applies to the masses. At a time when employers aren’t paying people enough and the government’s financial support isn’t stretching, he thinks individuals and communities should look take it on themselves to make more money.

It feels a tad “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” at a time when we should be holding power to account, and it’s hard to forget the world Hatfield is coming from – but there’s little doubt his advice resonates with big audiences and genuinely helps people. And he has such compassion and is so well-intentioned that people really want to listen.

It might not change your life in the long-term, unless you’ve got a Rolex watch lying around, but an additional bit of cash could tide you over until the next paycheque. 

Hatfield’s new book Money Maker is all about using the stuff and skills you already have to make a little extra money and use your income. His main piece of advice is not to try to be Richard Branson or Bill Gates and just start with the basics.

Big Issue chatted to Dan Hatfield all about his advice for making money, his favourite anecdotes from the world of pawnbroking and what more needs to be done to support people in the cost of living crisis.

Congrats on the book! How does it feel now it’s out? 

It feels so strange to call myself an author. I’m incredibly proud. None of us thought the cost of living crisis would still be rumbling on in 2024 but it is. I think we’ve still got challenging times ahead of us in the next 12 to 24 months. 

I wanted to write a book that would empower people and help people to understand that we need to not rely upon successive governments to get us out of this financial crisis.

I wanted to try and get the get across the message that if we work within our communities, and we work to help each other and we try and promote a circular society, perhaps we can create something a little bit different and a little bit better, and not allow big corporate companies and governments to dictate to us what the financial landscape should be.

How have the last couple of years been for you as a money expert? Have you noticed a change and an increase in worry? 

I am getting hundreds of emails a week from people asking me for advice ranging from ‘I’ve been made redundant’ and ‘I’ve got a certain amount of money. What would you suggest investing in?’ right through to ‘What kind of side hustles do you think I should undertake to earn extra money?’ The thing is, there is no hard and fast answer to that. We’re all unique.

Let’s strip it all back and have a look at who you are as a person. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What opportunities can you see within the world and what threats could you see that might hinder your money-making possibilities?

I talk about a bubble and by that I mean the world that you inhabit. What interests do you have? What items do you have? What hobbies do you hold that you might be able to monetise?

What’s the most popular question that people come to you with?

How much is this worth? Brits have around £48bn of unwanted items collecting dust. I’m sure you’ve got something in your home that you’ve wondered the value of. That could be anything from a kitchen gadget right through to a 90s toy or old CDs or DVDs.

Everything has an intrinsic value. We throw away hundreds of thousands of tonnes of stuff that goes into landfill every year. And the only thing that is doing is being detrimental to our environment. If you want some extra cash, the first thing to do is not to try to be Richard Branson or Bill Gates but to look at yourself and what you’ve got and start with the basics.

Are there any items you’ve dealt with that particularly stand out to you?

Oh my gosh. I’ve dealt with everything from Fabergé eggs to superyachts. I once got offered apparently a genuine cast of Justin Bieber’s penis, right through to a vial of water that Whitney Houston had died in, supposedly. I come across weird and wonderful things. 

But the most amazing things for me are things that people have at home that they did not know the value of. I used to do a TV show called Million Pound Pawn and we had a lady who worked in a nursing home during Covid and one of her patients passed away, and she was gifted his watch. She thought the watch was worth about £200. It was actually a Rolex watch worth £15,000. That changed her life.

If we try to understand how much our items are worth, we would be creating a more circular society. If we reuse, refurbish and recycle, that helps us not just environmentally but economically as well. I think the environment and economic side of things go hand in hand.

Do you feel that pawnbroking has changed your life too?

Absolutely. I worked in the City prior to working in pawnbroking and I got made redundant in the mid-2000s crash. But my family have been pawnbrokers for years. There’s sometimes a bad reputation where pawnbroking is concerned but actually it’s a fabulous way to unlock money very quickly from items. It’s a secure loan, which means that if you borrow something off us and you don’t have the money to pay us back then you can lose your item without debt collectors chasing you. 

It’s about buying the crazy, wonderful things as well. I really love it. I’m proud that we’re now authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an industry which means we adhere to the highest standards. Our very ethos in everything we do is always putting the customer first. Gone are the Dickens days that you imagine pawnbroking to be. It is now a very viable way of unlocking money.

• Pawnbrokers’ phones are ‘ringing off the walls’ in the cost of living crisis
• Families are pawning their belongings to pay for food as the cost of living rises

We’ve spoken to pawnbrokers before in our reporting and they said it’s a thriving industry in the cost of living crisis. Is that something you’ve seen?

It is something I’ve seen. I speak to a lot of pawnbrokers and as a group we are acutely aware of the financial difficulties that many people find themselves in. A lot of us have dropped our interest rates. If someone’s struggling to buy their item back they’ve loaned against us, lots of us now drop our fees in certain circumstances. A lot of people call us. A lot of people need us.

But pawnbrokers have stepped up to the mark and they’re trying to do things in a fair manner, so I’m really proud of the industry. It is one of the oldest industries in the world. We wouldn’t exist if we weren’t needed.

Was there ever a time in your life when you worried about money?

Yes, absolutely, while studying at university. That was a tricky time. You’ve just got into adulthood and trying to balance your own bank account is a really hard thing. I don’t think as a nation we help young people to understand how to balance the books. We turn 18 and we’re just expected to have these skills.

Even in my mid-20s, it was hard to learn that I can’t just spend everything on myself and self-gratification. We need some kind of system in place in our schools. We have not addressed that and I don’t understand why we haven’t addressed that. As we evolve out of this new financial landscape, one thing that we’re going to have to do is teach our young people how to survive economically. That starts in schools.

In the aftermath of the cost of living crisis, lots of people are struggling and have nothing left to sacrifice. What would be your advice in these circumstances?

There is light at the end of the tunnel. The world around you has lots of things you can utilise and monetise. It’s really important to stress that I don’t mean sell the family silver sets or items that you don’t want to sell.

Even if you think you have nothing in your house you can make money from, one of the simplest things is to actually delve into your wardrobe. We’ve got 350,000 tonnes of clothes going into landfill each year. We have treasure troves in our homes.

There is stuff in your homes that you can make money out of. And after that, it’s about looking at your skills and your hobbies and everything that you’re interested in. 

We should all have a look at side hustles. Around 44% of Brits have side hustles. There’s a massive move to getting incomes from alternative means. People have found, especially in 2023 when inflation was going crazy, that a lot of us can’t just survive on the income that we’re earning from our companies. We have to find other ways to supplement incomes. This can be a fun too: focus groups, surveys, mystery shopping. When I was at university, I was an extra in a TV comedy.

Do you have a favourite piece of advice?

I think renting out your items is going to be a massive aspect of making money in the future.

How many people have wedding dresses they just don’t use anymore? For some people, it’s the biggest financial commitment they’ll ever have other than a house. You could get between 10% and 15% of the value of your wedding dress by renting it out. You only have to rent your wedding dress out seven to 10 times to pay for your wedding dress.

The average lawnmower costs £150. You can get between  £15 and £20 per day renting out your lawn mower. We maybe use a lawnmower once a month, so the other 30 days of the month, you could be renting it out.

I wanted to come back to this lack of government support and lack of income meaning that people are struggling. How does that make you feel that people are having to take it upon themselves to survive?

I think it’s terribly sad. It’s a double-edged sword, isn’t it? I think we’ve had a nanny state whereby we’ve almost been led to rely on governments. I think we can take that power into our own hands. We can become self-sufficient. We can find ways out of economic woes by using our own initiatives. 

So it does make me sad, and I think that in the short-term, we definitely need more help. People need to be helped because we’ve been led into this position, but long-term we need to take that power back and we need to realise that actually, the people that can alleviate our economic woes are ourselves. 

That probably sounds a little bit of tough love, but we can’t rely on successive governments. I think as economics change and become more turbulent, we might see governments coming back and forward at a quicker rate. So we’ve got to work within ourselves.

Did you ever imagine you’d be a TV star?

No. This all started in a really random way. I had taken over the pawnbrokers and I got a phone call from a researcher at a production company asking if I wanted to take part in the first show I ever did, which was Posh Pawn on Channel 4. I was going to quit. I was actually going to phone up the production company and tell them that I wasn’t going to be a part of the show because I got cold feet. 

I got the wrong date. I thought we were filming a week later. I arrived at work all ready to make a phone call to the production company and there was a director and an assistant director and a runner with cameras ready to film that very day. It was by accident I got into this. I did Million Pound Pawn, did an interview with This Morning, and then one of the producers phoned me up. 

I thought I was in trouble because I’d taken two bottles of water out of the green room, but they actually said: ‘We love your message. We love your enthusiasm for making money and helping people. Would you want to do two or three more segments?’ Two years later, I’ve lost count now. I’m knee deep in it and part of the This Morning family. I am in the happiest of places because I’m doing what I love, which is helping people and trying to get more people more money in people’s pockets.

Money Maker: Don’t Just Save It, Make It! is available now, published by Catalyst (hardback, £16.99).

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

As the impact of the cost of living crisis continues to be felt in May 2024, it’s so important to claim the benefits you are entitled to.

Just under £23bn in benefits goes unclaimed each year, according to recent research by Policy in Practice. That’s often because people don’t know about them, can’t access them and because of the stigma around asking for help.

Although benefits are not stretching far enough, they are often a lifeline.

• Hate speech, snooping and benefits: How government policy has ‘violated disabled people’s rights’
• ‘It’s evil what they’re doing’: DWP denying benefits to people with schizophrenia and mental illness

You are far from alone if you are struggling in the cost of living crisis. It has gone on for far too long and our bills are still going up. April came along with increases in council tax, water and broadband bills.

Below, we have rounded up everything you need to know about benefits you can claim in May 2024 – and where to get help if that’s not enough.

When will my benefits paid by the DWP in May 2024?

The date your benefit is paid depends on what benefit you receive and when you started claiming.

Universal credit is paid monthly by the DWP. You can find out more about universal credit here.

Attendance allowance, disability living allowance, pension credit, personal independence payment and state pension are paid every four weeks.

Carer’s allowance, tax credits (from HMRC) and child benefit are either weekly or every four weeks. And maternity allowance is either every two weeks or every four weeks.

Income support, employment and support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance are usually every two weeks.

How do I know if I am eligible for DWP benefits in May 2024?

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use a benefits calculator to find out what you might be entitled to claim – including from Turn2Us, Policy in Practice and entitledto.

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you. You can also find local advice services here.

The government’s Help for Households website explains what other support you could be eligible for – and we’ve got a round-up of all the cost of living help available to households here.

How much are benefits and state pension after the April increase?

Benefits increased by 6.7% in April 2024. That means that your benefit payment will be 6.7% higher than it was in March.

For example, if you are a single person over the age of 25, your universal credit payment increased from £368.74 to £393.45 per month.

State pension has been increased by 8.5% from, according to the rules of the triple lock.

It means that those on the new state pension (for those reaching pension age after April 2016) now get £221.20 each week, up from £203.25.

Meanwhile, those on the basic state pension get £169.50 each week, up from £156.20.

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Are there any more cost of living payments planned for 2024?

There are no more cost of living payments planned by the DWP for 2024.

The last one should have hit bank accounts by February 22, if you were eligible.

If you think you should have had a payment but you can’t see it in your bank account, you can report it through the government’s website.

Before reporting a missing payment, you should check your bank, building society or credit union account, or your payment exception service voucher receipt.

Find out more about the cost of living payment here.

Where else can I get cost of living help?

Benefits aren’t stretching far enough in the cost of living crisis – but there are other options out there for people who need it.

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website. There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person. Grants are also usually available to people who have no recourse to public funds and cannot claim welfare benefits. 

If you are unable to pay your bills, your local council may have a scheme that can help you. Local councils may be able to give you debt advice, help you get hold of furniture and support you through food and fuel poverty. Your council may also have a local welfare assistance scheme, also known as crisis support. You can also find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder or by contacting your local authority directly.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland.

There’s lots more cost of living help available to people who need it – we round it up here.

Thousands of people could be owed backdated personal independence payments (PIP) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

In July 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that more people with disabilities and mental health conditions should have been eligible for higher benefits since April 2016.

As a result, the DWP launched an administrative exercise looking at entitlement to PIP. It revealed in October last year that it has so far identified around 326,000 cases to review.

• DWP benefits and state pension rising from April. Here’s when you will get the higher amount
• Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Staff at Benefits and Work have heard from people who have recently received backdated PIP payments ranging from £5,000 to £12,000.

Here’s what you need to know about the PIP backdated payments and whether you might be owed.

Who could be owed backdated PIP payments?

A landmark Supreme Court judgement on 18 July, 2019 ruled that many more people with mental health problems who find social situations debilitating could now be entitled to claim a disability benefit.

The ruling was made following a challenge by a PIP claimant, a 47-year-old man known as MM. It concerned the definition of “social support” when engaging with other people face to face.

The Supreme Court ordered the DWP to clearly define what counts as support and not dismiss the help that many people with mental health problems need in social situations.

As a result of this rule change, in September 2021, the DWP started an administrative exercise, looking at PIP claims since 6 April, 2016 to check whether claimants may be eligible for more support under PIP.

It means that many people who got zero points for the social support element of PIP will now be eligible for four points.

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How many people will get backdated PIP payments?

The DWP has announced that by the end of August, it had reviewed around 79,000 cases against the MM judgment.

Around 14,000 arrears payments have already been made. 

It has also identified around 326,000 cases which still need to be reviewed. An update on this is expected later this year.

Tom Pursglove, who was the disabilities minister at the time, said in October 2023: “We are monitoring the numbers of, and reasons for, revised awards closely and making regular quality checks to ensure our decision-making is accurate and fair.

“Confident that reviews are achieving the right outcomes for claimants, we have completed upskilling additional staff available for this exercise and expect to complete the review of all cases available to the exercise by the end of 2025.”

How much could people get in backdated PIP payments?

A total of £74m has already been paid out to 14,000 people. That averages at more than £5,000 per person.

The Benefits and Work forum recently heard from people who received backdated PIP payments ranging from £5,000 to £12,000.

What to do if you think you might be owed backdated PIP payments

You will be notified by the DWP if you are owed backdated PIP payments after your case has been automatically reviewed.

You can call the PIP enquiry phone line on 0800 121 4433 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. For further help, contact Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444. 

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

Benefits claimants and pensioners will see a boost to their income from April onwards.

Benefits are up by 6.7%, the rate of inflation seen in September, from Monday (April 8). State pension has increased by the even higher rate of 8.5% in line with wage growth.

The cost of living crisis continues to be felt deeply by families and individuals across the country, so the fact that benefits have increased will come as a relief to many households.

You are far from alone if you are struggling in the cost of living crisis. It has gone on for far too long and our bills are still going up. April comes along with increases in council tax, water and broadband bills.

The Big Issue has reported about how benefits are failing to stretch far enough as prices keep rising. Universal credit will £120 short of the money people need to live each month even after benefits are increased in April.

The cost of living payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hit bank accounts in February, and some of the extra financial support available over the winter period has also come to an end – such as the winter fuel payment for pensioners and the warm home discount.

There is no shame in asking for help. You’re entitled to it.

Below, we have rounded up everything you need to know about benefits you can claim in April 2024 and where to get help if that’s not enough.

How much have benefits gone up in April 2024?

Benefits have increased by 6.7% from April 8, 2024. That means that your benefit payment will be 6.7% higher this month than in March.

For example, if you are a single person over the age of 25, your universal credit payment will increase from £368.74 to £393.45 per month.

It comes after chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the Autumn Statement that benefits are going to be increased by the September rate of inflation.

April 8 is the date that the financial year starts.

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How much has state pension gone up in April 2024?

State pension has been increased by 8.5% from April 8, according to the rules of the triple lock.

The triple lock means that state pension is increased by whichever is higher: the rate of wage growth, inflation or 2.5%. For this financial year, the highest was earnings growth at 8.5%.

It means that those on the new state pension (for those reaching pension age after April 2016) will get £221.20 each week, up from £203.25.

Meanwhile, those on the basic state pension will get £169.50 each week, up from £156.20.

When will my benefits paid by the DWP in April 2024?

The date your benefit is paid depends on what benefit you receive and when you started claiming.

Universal credit is paid monthly by the DWP. You can find out more about universal credit here.

Attendance allowance, disability living allowance, pension credit, personal independence payment and state pension are paid every four weeks.

Carer’s allowance, tax credits (from HMRC) and child benefit are either weekly or every four weeks. And maternity allowance is either every two weeks or every four weeks.

Income support, employment and support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance are usually every two weeks.

How do I know if I am eligible for DWP benefits in April 2024?

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use the charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator to find out what benefits you are entitled to claim. 

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you. 

Just under £19billion in benefits goes unclaimed each year, according to research by Policy in Practice. That’s often because people don’t know about them, can’t access them and because of the stigma around asking for help.

But it’s so important to claim support you’re entitled to.

• Where to get cost of living help – including benefits, energy grants and more
• More than 700,000 children plunged into poverty since Tories came to power: ‘We’re going backwards’

The government’s Help for Households website explains what support you could be eligible for – such as cost of living payments and we’ve got a round-up of all the cost of living help available to households here.

Are there any more cost of living payments planned for 2024?

There are currently no more cost of living payments planned by the DWP for 2024.

The last one should have hit bank accounts by February 22, if you were eligible.

If you think you should have had a payment but you can’t see it in your bank account, you can report it through the government’s website.

Before reporting a missing payment, you should check your bank, building society or credit union account, or your payment exception service voucher receipt.

Find out more about the cost of living payment here.

What bills are going up in April 2024?

Council tax, water and broadband bills are going up in April.

The majority of councils are expected to hike up council tax by the maximum amount of 4.99%. That works out at an extra £103 a year for an average property in Band D.

For councils in particularly dire straits, the government has given permission to exceed the maximum increase in council tax. Birmingham City Council is expected to hike council tax by 21% in the next two years, for example.

Find out where to get help if you can’t afford your council tax here.

Water bills are also going up. Water UK predicts that in England and Wales, households will face an extra £28 a year on average, a rise of 6.2%. In Scotland, households can expect to pay an extra £35.95 on average, an increase of 8.8%.

Get help if you can’t afford your water bills here.

Broadband and mobile companies are also expected to increase their bills. O2 and Virgin Media have the biggest increases planned at 8.8%.

But the good news is that our energy bills are falling. The typical household will pay an average of £1,690 a year from April, down from £1,928.

Where else can I get cost of living help?

Benefits aren’t stretching far enough in the cost of living crisis – but there are other options out there for people who need it.

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website. There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person. Grants are also usually available to people who have no recourse to public funds and cannot claim welfare benefits. 

If you are unable to pay your bills, your local council may have a scheme that can help you. Local councils may be able to give you debt advice, help you get hold of furniture and support you through food and fuel poverty. Your council may also have a local welfare assistance scheme, also known as crisis support. You can also find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder or by contacting your local authority directly.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland.

There’s lots more cost of living help available to people who need it – we round it up here.

At the Big Issue, we want to help get you through the cost of living crisis. Here are some of our articles with extensive information to help you navigate the circumstances at the moment. 

• All the cost of living help available from the government, energy companies, councils and charities
• Here’s where to get help if you can’t afford to pay your energy bills
• What are my rights if I can’t afford to pay my energy bills?
• How can you cope with stress in the cost of living crisis? We asked experts at leading mental health charities
• Where to find free toiletries, sanitary products and nappies in the UK
• Here’s how to donate to a food bank near you
• Ways to make extra money in the cost of living crisis
• Student finance, discounts and budgeting tips for surviving university in a cost of living crisis
• How to get free childcare, tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers
• How much should my pay rise to beat inflation?
• How to talk to children about money during the cost of living crisis
• Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue newsletter navigating the cost of living crisis

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

More families can now get 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds from April 2024.

It comes as the government continues to expand free childcare to more children across the country, at a cost of around £4billion to around £8bn each year.

Ministers have boasted that it is the largest expansion of childcare in history, but charities and experts have warned that the plans will benefit the richest children while the poorest are left behind.

The children’s minister David Johnston told The Big Issue: “What we have is a very generous childcare offer. An individual parent will be able to earn up to £100,000 and be able to claim this.

“So whilst it’s not directed at certain types of incomes, it will help the vast majority of families.”

But the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that the poorest third of families “will see almost no direct benefit from the new entitlements”.

• All the ways the government’s childcare plans will help richer parents and hurt the poor
• We grilled new children’s minister about UK kids living in destitution. It didn’t go well

It’s important to know about what support you could be entitled to. Below, we explain the expansion of 15 hours free childcare – including how to apply, whether there are enough nursery spaces and other financial help you can get if you’re not eligible.

Who gets 15 hours free childcare?

All children aged between three and four currently get at least 15 hours of free childcare each week, for 38 weeks of the year.

It is also already available to some two-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. That includes if their parents are receiving qualifying benefits, they are looked after by a local authority or they have an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

In April 2024, the 15 hours free childcare scheme has been expanded to two-year-olds whose parents are working.

This will only apply to parents who individually work and earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum wage. Each parent can earn up to £100,000 and still be eligible.

From September 2024, 15 hours free childcare will be extended to working parents of children from the age of nine months to three years. From September 2025, eligible working parents with a child from nine-months-old up to school age will get 30 hours free.

How does 15 hours free childcare work?

It’s available at participating early years settings, such as full day-care like nurseries and pre-schools, schools, childminders, after-school clubs, playgroups and Sure Start children’s centres.

These have to be ‘approved childcare’ providers, meaning they must be registered with Ofsted.

Usually, it’s 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, but you might be able to take fewer hours over more weeks if your childcare provider allows it. It works out at 570 free hours per year.

The scheme doesn’t cover extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.

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How to apply for 15 hours free childcare

Applications for 15 hours free childcare for children opened on 2 January, 2024. You can apply if your child is going to be two or older by the start of 31 August. This will mean you get free childcare from September 2024.

Then from 12 May, working parents of children aged between nine months and 23 months can apply for free childcare, which you’ll get from September 2024.

Parents have to confirm that they are still eligible for the support every three months, so if you apply close to 12 May, you will need to renew their code prior to the offer starting in September.

You can apply by signing up to the government’s Childcare Choices website.

You’ll need to have your national insurance number, date you started work, details of any government support or benefits you receive, and your child’s birth certificate reference number. Some people find out if they are eligible straight away, while it can take up to seven days for others. Once your application is approved, you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.

When will my child get 30 hours free childcare?

Children aged between three and four are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare each week, as long as their parents are working.

To qualify as ‘working’, parents have to be earning at least £8,670 a year but less than £100,000 each.

By September 2025, children aged between nine months and school age will get 30 hours of free childcare per week (again, as long as their parents are working and within the salary threshold).

Are there enough nursery spaces for the expansion of free childcare?

Campaigners have warned there are not enough nursery spaces to meet the increased demand for childcare expected following the expansion of free childcare.

The government claims it is investing over £400million in 2024-25 to increase the hourly rates paid to local authorities to help fund childcare.

From April, it is increasing the amount it pays providers to deliver childcare to an average of £11.22 per hour for under-twos, £8.28 for two-year-olds, and £5.88 for three and four-year-olds.

But there are fears this will not be enough for a sector which is “chronically overfunded”.

There is currently a recruitment and retention crisis in the early years sector – and it will get worse as the plans for childcare reform mean there will be increased demand for spaces. BBC analysis shows that an additional 100,000 children will require full time childcare over the next two years.

Around 57% of nursery and pre-school staff and 38% of childminders are considering quitting, research from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition has revealed.

Pregnant then Screwed research with over 3,000 families eligible for the new funding for two-year-olds found that almost all have secured a place. Just 2% had not managed to do so. However, of those accessing childcare for the first time, this figure was six times higher.

This has prompted fears that there will not be enough spaces when childcare is expanded to younger children in September.

Even if children are eligible for free childcare, they might not be able to access it, especially if they are living in deprived areas of the country.

Research from the NEF shows that 1.5 million children live in “childcare deserts”, meaning there are more than three children for every childcare place. That is nearly half (44%) of all children and it is most common in deprived areas of the UK, where children stand to gain the most from quality early years education. 

Labour has announced plans to create thousands of new nursery spaces in England to “ensure early education is available in every corner of our country for every family and every child”.

The Early Years Alliance welcomed plans to carry out a review but warned that the “priority should be ensuring that the whole sector is adequately funded, both today and in the future, and tackling the current staffing crisis as a matter of urgency”.

What other government support is there for childcare?

One of the best ways to check affordable childcare options in your area is to visit your local council’s website. Council activity groups are quite often free or cheap. There might also be discounts if your child attends for a full week or subsidies for low-income families.

Many councils run the holiday activities and food programme to support low-income families over the school holidays. This is funded by the government and provides “healthy food and enriching activities” to children who are eligible for free school meals. 

The government’s tax-free childcare scheme allows families to claim money back on childcare costs. For every £8 you spend on childcare, the government will pay you £2. You can receive up to £2,000 per child per year – that’s up to £500 every three months. 

This can be used in term time or over the school holidays and covers childminders, nurseries, nannies, after school clubs and play schemes. It is offered to families with children under 11 – although once again, parents have to be earning at least £167 a week.

Families with disabled children get extra support through tax-free childcare. You can receive up to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year). You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids.

You can get tax-free childcare through the same application system as the 15 hours free childcare scheme.

People on universal credit can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs. This only applies to people whose annual family income is less than £40,000, who are working (both must be working if you are a couple), and who pay for childcare such as holiday clubs.

Find out more, including about the 15 hours free childcare scheme, through the Childcare Choices website.

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Council tax is increasing for many households across the UK in April. That means higher bills for families already struggling to cope with the impact of the cost of living crisis.

The majority of councils are expected to hike up council tax by the maximum amount of 4.99%. That works out at an extra £103 a year for an average property in Band D.

For councils in particularly dire straits, the government has given permission to exceed the maximum increase in council tax. Birmingham City Council is expected to hike council tax by 21% in the next two years, for example.

This means those in Birmingham could be over £400 a year worse off by 2026.

• Council tax will soar for millions in April. Here’s how we got into this mess
• DWP benefits, rent rises and tax: All the tax year changes that will affect you from April 2024

Bills are not going up across the board, however. In Scotland, first minister Humza Yousaf announced a national council tax freeze – but this sparked anger from local authorities and, ultimately, it’s still their decision whether they increase council tax or not.

Argyll and Bute was the first council to enter open rebellion, with its councillors voting through a 10% increase.

So what do you do if you can’t pay your council tax after it rises in April?

Don’t just stop paying because there can be serious consequences. Many councils have the powers to send bailiffs to your property if you are behind on bills, and it can carry a prison sentence of up to three months if you don’t pay.

That’s why it’s so important to act and get support if you can’t afford council tax. Below, we’ve rounded up some places you can go to get help.

Can I get money off my council tax?

If you cannot afford to pay your council tax, the first step is to see if your council might be able to help. You could get money off your council tax bill.

People on a low income or claiming benefits might be eligible for a council tax reduction. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100% depending on your circumstances. That includes where you live, household income, benefits, residency status and savings.

Every council has their own scheme so it’s worth checking with them directly.

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You might be also to get a 25% discount on your council tax bill if you are living alone, known as a single person discount. Some people are not counted or ‘disregarded’ when working out how many people live in your property – that’s because they are exempt from council tax.

Exemptions include students, apprentices, live-in carers or severely mentally impaired. If all residents are exempt, you won’t pay any council tax. You still need to let your council know even if you are exempt.

Your council tax bill might also be reduced if a person in your household is disabled. But you have to meet specific criteria – your property must have an extra room to meet the needs of a disabled person or enough indoor space for a disabled person to use their wheelchair.

If you think your council tax bill is wrong, you should write to you council to appeal it.

What do I do if I can’t pay my council tax or I am behind on payments?

If you’ve missed a council tax payment, or you’re worried you won’t be able to pay your next bill, you should contact your council right away to tell them about your situation.

Your council might be able to help with a payment plan that is more manageable and affordable for you, such as paying in smaller amounts.

If you are worried or need support, it’s worth reaching out to Citizens Advice or a debt advice service like StepChange who will be able to suggest the best options for you depending on your circumstances.

There are some instances where your council tax debt can be written off – including if you have no money left after usual living costs, you have a serious physical or mental health condition or your home cannot be lived in due to fire or flood damage.

Where else can I get cost of living help?

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use the charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator to find out what benefits you are entitled to claim. 

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you.

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website.

There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or pensioner. Grants are also usually available to people who have no recourse to public funds and cannot claim welfare benefits.

If you are unable to pay your council tax or any other bills, your local council may have a scheme that can help you. Local councils may be able to give you debt advice, help you get hold of furniture and support you through food and fuel poverty.

Your council may also have a local welfare assistance scheme, also known as crisis support. You can also find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder or by contacting your local authority directly.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland.

The government’s Help for Households website explains what support you could be eligible for and  and we’ve got a round-up of all the cost of living help available to households here.

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