Families, workers and pensioners locally to benefit as cost-of-living action comes into force

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

THURSDAY 9^th APRIL 2026

The second wave of the Government’s cost-of-living measures will come into force this week benefitting families, workers and pensioners in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The Government’s central domestic priority is easing the cost-of-living, putting the British people first with new policies aimed at getting money back into people’s pockets.  

Thanks to Labour’s decisions at the last Budget, the following measures came into force this week.

• The two child limit will be removed – a move that is expected to benefit 1390 children in Alistair Strathern MP’s Hitchin constituency, and lift 450,000 children out of poverty across the country

• The state pension will be increased by 4.8% - reaching up to £241.30 per week for 17,680 in the Hitchin constituency (an increase of up to £575 a year)

• Workers will get Statutory Sick Pay rights from day one of employment

• Workers will also get day one entitlement to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave

• Universal Credit standard allowances will increase by 2.3% more than inflation – benefitting 680,000 in the East of England

The measures follow a raft of other policies coming into force from 1^st April.

They include an average cut to energy bills of £117 a year, increases to both the National Living Wage – a £900 pay rise for full time workers – and the National Minimum Wage – a boost of £1,500 for over 200,000 young workers, and the start of the £1 billion Crisis & Resilience Fund to support vulnerable households with things like heating oil. 

Alistair Strathern MP said: 

“I know the cost-of-living pressures that my constituents face and the impact on their family finances. They rightly want a government that will support them.

“Today’s measures show how determined we are to do just that, helping families, workers and pensioners to secure more money in their pockets and more rights to protect them at work.

“I am aware more is needed and the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite but I am really pleased we have been able to support millions of families.”