Bills for utilities, council tax and train travel are set to increase at a faster pace than inflation, putting pressure on the government to do more to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis

The move comes as a cash boost of £15m has been given to help people make new Universal Credit claims or to switch from Employment and Support Allowance

The £15 million funding boost comes in a bid to support Government’s acceleration of Move to Universal Credit programme, before it ends in March 2026. 943,343 households were contacted between July 2022 and September 2024.

Pensioners could freeze this winter if they miss the deadline to receive Pension Credit.

If the five per cent cap is maintained, the amount paid by an average household could increase by £109 to a total of £2,280 by April, with 2.5million set to pay £3,000 by 2025/26.

Which? Principal Researcher Paul Davies says pensioners have thrown their weight behind the move.

Rotherham Council is set to utilise a £2.5m government grant from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and new Labour Party government.