The month of June will see a number of major changes planned by the government and other authorities that could have a big impact on people's lives.
These include cost of living support payments, changing interest rates and the introduction of Dáithí’s Law that will mean that organ donation moves to an opt-out system.
There will also be a rates increase for those on Universal Credit and have childcare costs.
Read more: Belfast patients waiting over four years on average for first appointment
Organ Donation/ Dáithí’s Law
From 1 June 2023, the law around organ and tissue donation in Northern Ireland will move to an opt-out system. This will mean that all adults in Northern Ireland will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt-out or are in an excluded group. The new law will be known as Dáithí’s Law in recognition of Dáithí Mac Gabhann, who has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since 2018, when he was just a baby.Key June 2023 Universal Credit benefits, driving laws, and bills changes
Disability Cost of Living Payment to be paid
The £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment will start to be paid out in June to those eligible. People may be entitled to it if they’re getting any of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance for adults, Disability Living Allowance for children, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland), Child Disability Payment (in Scotland), Armed Forces Independence Payment, War Pension Mobility Supplement.
You must have received a payment of one of these benefits for 1 April 2023 to get the Disability Cost of Living Payment. Most people will be paid the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment automatically between 20 June 2023 and 4 July 2023.
DVLA to change eyesight rules
According to reports the DVLA is intending to update its guidance on eye conditions ‘within the coming weeks’. Optometry Today says the DVLA will release updated guidance on its list of notifiable eye conditions. The Association of Optometrists raised concerns over the list that could apply to almost every driver who has an eye test. The rules would mean that almost every driver wearing glasses needs to report themselves to the DVLA.
Adam Sampson, chief executive for the AOP, said: “We’ve continued to have an open dialogue with the DVLA on this important issue to work towards a pragmatic solution for our members, patients and the DVLA. “The move is sure to remove an unnecessary administrative burden for practitioners but also alleviate worry for many patients.” The rule the DVLA issued in October was that if vision was a factor in an accident, a £1,000 fine and three points issued to the driver is to be expected, only if the driver had not notified the DVLA of the condition prior to the incident. In more serious cases, it could result in a driving disqualification.”
Universal Credit childcare rates increase
From 29 June those who qualify for the Department for Work and Pension's Universal Credit and have childcare costs will see their rates increase. People on UC and have children can in some cases claim back up to 85 per cent of childcare costs. Currently, these are up to a maximum of £646.35 for one child, or £1,108.04 for two.
These rates are due to increase to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two children from 29 June 2023. To get the childcare costs element of Universal Credit, people must be in paid work, or have an offer of paid work that’s due to start before the end of your next Universal Credit monthly assessment period.
If you’re in a couple, your partner must also be in paid work. This is unless they can’t provide childcare because of a limited capability for work, or they’re caring for a severely disabled person. People can claim the child element of Universal Credit for all qualifying children born before 6 April 2017. If your children were born on or after 6 April 2017, you’ll only be able to claim for the first two. For more information visit the government website here.
Energy Price Cap
Every household in the land will see a big change in their power bills after the end of June. From July 1 the average household energy bill to fall by £426 after Ofgem dropped its price cap following tumbling wholesale prices. The regulator announced it is cutting its price cap from £3,280 to £2,074 from July 1, marking the first time consumers on default tariffs have seen their prices fall since the global gas crisis took hold more than 18 months ago.
At its peak, the price cap reached £4,279 and, “whilst today’s level is lower than last quarter, it is still above the levels it was before the energy crisis took hold, meaning many households could still struggle to pay bills”, the regulator said. Households have been partly shielded from the most recent rise in prices by the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG), which limited annual energy costs to £2,500 for the average household – subsidising Ofgem’s price cap.
Ofgem’s latest cut means its cap will again govern household bills, resulting in a reduction of £426 from £2,500 to £2,074 – a fall of about 17%.
Interest Rates
On June 22 the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to set the Bank of England’s base rate. The Bank of England base rate has been hiked 12 consecutive times in a bid to tackle inflation, pushing up costs for some mortgage holders on variable rates.
The number of homes being repossessed and homeowners in arrears jumped in the first quarter of this year, according to figures from a trade association.
There was a 50% increase in the number of homeowner mortgaged properties being repossessed in the first quarter of 2023, compared with the previous three months, UK Finance said. The series of rate hikes have taken the base rate from 0.1% to 4.5%.
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