Benefits

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has today announced a host of changes to benefits, transport and more in her Autumn Budget. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has shared his instant reaction and explained what the changes mean for you, and we've added more detail on them below.

If you're an unpaid carer, you'll soon be able to earn £45 more a week without losing your entitlement to Carer's Allowance. The move has been announced by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves in today's Autumn Budget. From 7 April 2025, the earnings limit for carers will rise from £151 to £196 – but earn a penny over this and you'll still see the entire benefit clawed back.

A carer paying back nearly £20,000 in Carer's Allowance after going over the earnings limit without realising told MoneySavingExpert.com the experience has left her "devastated".

The full State Pension is set to rise by £362.65 (4.1%) a year for most pensioners on 6 April 2025, under what's known as the 'triple lock' guarantee. Those on the full new state pension will see a rise of £474.85. Meanwhile certain benefits, including Universal Credit, are expected to increase by 1.7%.

Winter Fuel Payments – a tax-free payment made to all pensioners to help with winter energy bills – are to be restricted to those on benefits and Pension Credit, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced. But MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has urged the Government to include a wider group, and to leave no stone unturned ensuring the 800,000 eligible who miss out on Pension Credit get it.

Demands to repay Carer's Allowance overpayments are having a "shocking" impact on unpaid carers' lives, according to a new report from Carers UK. The charity has called for urgent action to prevent carers from unwittingly building up huge debts – an issue MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) founder Martin Lewis has also raised with the Government. 

Confused about the 'two-child benefit cap' and what it really means? MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has a quick and simple video briefing to clear up some of the misinformation. It takes you through Child Benefit rules, the two-child limit for Universal Credit and the benefits cap.

MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has grilled the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on whether he'll fix the Carer's Allowance "cliff-edge" that causes people to lose their entitlement when they earn just a penny over the threshold. The interview took place just before the general election was called last week.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has today (Wednesday 6 March) revealed plans to address the "unfairness" in the current Child Benefit system. This follows extensive campaigning on the issue by MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) and its founder Martin Lewis. Currently, some families get less (or no) support as a result of overcomplicated tax rules.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has today announced a range of new tax, benefits and savings measures in his Spring Budget. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has shared his instant reaction and explained what the changes mean for you, and we've added more detail on them below.