Autumn Statement 2015: What you need to know
Today's Autumn Statement was the third time Chancellor George Osborne laid out his financial plans this year - and the big news concerns tax credits and home buyers.
Here's what you need to know about the issues affecting you. We'll be updating this article with more detail as it comes through.
If you currently get tax credits
WHAT: Proposed changes to tax credits are not going ahead, partially because they are to be phased out anyway with the introduction of Universal Credit.
The tax credit taper rate and threshold for working tax credits and child tax credits is to remain unchanged. The minimum income amount to claim Universal Credit will rise with the minimum living wage.
WHEN: No changes to be made
If you get housing benefit
WHAT: Housing benefit for new social tenants will be capped at the same level as private sector allowance.
Housing benefits will also be stopped if you leave the country for more than four weeks.
Currently, Housing Benefit recipients can go abroad for up to 13 weeks while continuing to receive Housing Benefit.
WHEN: New tenants after April 2016
If you receive Pension Credits
WHAT: These too will be stopped if you leave the country for more than four weeks.
WHEN: April 2016
If you are a pensioner
WHAT: The basic State Pension will increase by £3.35 to £119.30 per week. This will be the highest real terms increase to the state pension for 15 years, so spells good news for pensioners.
Those reaching pensionable age will receive a new, 'single-tier' pension with a starting rate of £155.65.
WHEN: April 2016
If you want to buy your first home
WHAT: There will be 400,000 affordable homes built by the end of decade. They'll be affordable to rent and affordable to buy. Half of these will be starter homes with a 20% discount for under 40s.
There is also a new Help to Buy Shared Ownership scheme, with the current restrictions on who can apply for Shared Ownership properties removed.
Another new scheme is Help to Buy equity loan scheme for London. Here anyone in the capital with a 5% deposit can get an interest free loan for 40% for starter homes. It's 20% for the rest of the country.
WHEN: 1st April 2016
If you want to buy a second home
WHAT: A new stamp duty increase of 3% will be applied to people buying second homes and buy to let properties.
WHEN: April 2016
If you want to buy your council house
WHAT: Right to Buy on properties will be extended to housing association tenants.
WHEN: 2016
If you have young children
WHAT: Free 30 hours of childcare will go ahead. Parents must work 16 hours and have an income of less than £100,000.
There will also be increased funding for nursery places.
WHEN: From September 2017
If you start a new Job Seekers claim
WHAT: New JSA applicants will have to visit the job centre every week for three months.
WHEN: To be confirmed
If you drive
WHAT: A £40 to £50 cut in motor insurance will be passed down by insurance companies after a crackdown on exaggerated or fraudulent minor injury claims.
There will also be increased spending on road maintenance.
WHEN: 2016
If you pay the bills
WHAT: Local authorities have the power to increase Council Tax by 2%.
There will also be a cheaper energy obligation on energy suppliers from 2017 that will see households save around £30 a year.
The Warm House Discount scheme will also be extended to 2021.
WHEN: 2017
If you're planning to be a part-time student
WHAT: Part time students will be able to receive maintenance loans. Grants for student nurses are also to be scrapped and replaced by loans.
WHEN: From 2018-19
And the rest...
Here are some other bits you may have missed from the Autumn Statement.
£15m raised on 'tampon tax' a year is to go to women's charities.
Free entrance to museums and galleries is to continue.
Everyone will get a digital tax account by the end of the decade.
Commuters will soon be able to claim compensation if trains are delayed by more than 15 minutes. There will also be flexible part time season tickets introduced on some train lines.
