From April 1st a number of new rules and laws will come into effect which will affect the finances of families all over Swindon.
Many families will see their monthly income boosted by the changes – but there will also be others that see their pockets hit hard.
Yesterday we focussed on the changes which will see many better off, today we have a look at the changes that could leave you worse off.
How you could end up worse off
- April 1: Council tax hike – it has been widely publicised that Swindon Borough Council intend to increase bills adding a minimum of £70 to the average bill.
- April 1: TV Licence goes up to £147
- April 1: Water Bill prices increase by an average 2% to £395
- April 1: Prescription charges rise 20p
- April 1: Housing Benefit for 18-21 year olds is scrapped – homeless charity Centrepoint estimates it could make another 9,000 young people homeless throughout the UK.
- April 3: Universal Credit conditionality changes will mean parents are now expected to look for work when their youngest child turns three, rather than five. For the first time this affects those with pre-school children – an age when child care is the most expensive.
- April 3: Employment Support Allowance (Work Related Activity Group) is being chopped from £102 to £73 a week for new claimants.
- April 6: Tax credits and Universal Credit benefits are being restricted to just two children – this is expected to affect almost a million families.
- April 6: The tax credit family element is no longer available for people starting a family – expected to hit four million families.
- April 6: Bereavement support is being slashed with financial help only available for just 18 months now – down from up to 20 years.
