DWP benefit and money changes taking place in November - including £200 support payment

A variety of financial changes are set to take place on the coming weeks that could impact households across the UK. Some changes will directly affect pensioners hoping to receive extra financial support throughout the winter months while other changes could potentially affect a wider breadth of Brits.

As the start of winter will be marked by higher energy bills for most, many may be interested in receiving as much help as they can, fortunately, you could get as much as £200 in cash depending on where you live. Read on below for a full breakdown on the big money changes you can expect to see in November 2024.

Household Support Fund worth up to £200

Low-income families could receive extra financial support throughout November via cash handed out to their local council. Each council has the power to decide how they want to distribute their portion of the Household Support Fund, with some doing outright cash payments and others providing support through vouchers or other means.

For example, Birmingham's council is providing £200 Household Support Fund is available to residents, with cash grants being directly deposited into their bank accounts . Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Council is also offering one-off payments of £200 to tens of thousands of households.

To check if you're eligible for help, contact your local council, which can be found here.

Autumn Budget changes

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her first Autumn Budget at the end of October. The government has consistently reported that it is struggling with filling in a £22 billion "black hole" in public finances which will result in "hard but fair" financial decision that could affect people all across the country.

While it is not completely clear what changes will yet be implemented, some changes made could take place as soon as November of this year. When asked about potential tax changes, Sir Keir Starmer said: "We are going to keep our manifesto pledges.

"I’m not going to pre-empt the individual measures that will be outlined by the Chancellor in due course."

Winter Fuel Payment

Around 13.7 million people over the new Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules by the end of November. The letters will also encourage pensioners in England and Wales to see if they're eligible for Pension Credit which can help provide further support.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a payment issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to aid older people who may be unable to afford essential heating costs during the winter months. It was confirmed earlier this year that the government would make the eligiblity for this payment more narrow, leaving less pensioners able to receive the payment.

To be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment, you must have been born before September 23, 1958, live in England and Wales, and claim one of the following:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

You will also need to have received one of the benefits during the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, 2024.