Universal Credit recipients will see income boost from this week
The increased Universal Credit rates are set to come into effect this week
GETTY
Although a 6.7 per cent uplift was applied to most benefits from April, Universal Credit recipients are only seeing the increases this week.
People on Universal Credit have had to wait for the uplift as they are paid in arrears and amounts are based on a monthly rate, rather than weekly.
These long delays have caused many people to seek for change through an online petition.
Some individuals will start receiving the updated rate of Universal Credit this week, while others will have to wait until June.
The first people to get the new amounts are those receiving their Universal Credit on Tuesday, May 14.
With most other benefits getting paid out every week, two weeks or four weeks, those receiving more than one benefit will have already seen the rise in their Child Benefit, ESA, PIP and Carer's Allowance, for instance.
Although a 6.7 per cent uplift was applied to most benefits from April, Universal Credit recipients are only seeing the increases this week
GETTY
This has left many Universal Credit recipients baffled as to when they will see a rise in their payments too.
Full list of dates when new Universal Credit increase will be applied
Everyone on Universal Credit will see the new payment rates applied from May 14, as detailed below:
- May 14 - for individuals whose assessment period runs from April 8-May 7.
- May 15 - for those assessed from April 9-May 8.
- May 16 - for those evaluated between April 10-May 9.
- May 17 - for people with an assessment period of April 11-May 10.
- May 18 - for those assessed from April 12-May 11.
- May 19 - for individuals whose assessment period is April 13-May 12.
- May 20 - for those evaluated between April 14-May 13.
- May 21 - for people with an assessment period of April 15-May 14.
- May 22 - for those assessed from April 16-May 15.
- May 23 - for individuals whose assessment period is April 17-May 16.
- May 24 - for those evaluated between April 18-May 17.
- May 25 - for people with an assessment period of April 19-May 18.
- May 26 - for those assessed from April 20-May 19.
- May 28 - for those evaluated between April 22-May 21.
- May 29 - for people with an assessment period of April 23-May 22.
- May 30 - for those assessed from April 24-May 23.
- May 31 - for individuals whose assessment period is April 25-May 24.
The first to get it in June are those whose assessment runs from April 26 to May 25 and who get paid on June 1.
Who is eligible for Universal Credit?
People with low incomes and those in need of additional assistance with living expenses are the target audience for Universal Credit. They might be:
- Unemployed
- Unable to work because of a medical condition, illness or disability
- Working (including self-employed and part-time work)
- An unpaid carer
To qualify for Universal Credit, people have to:
- Live in the UK
- Be aged 18 or over (there are certain exceptions for people aged 16 or 17)
- Be under the state pension age
- Have £16,000 or less (including any savings and investments they have)
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Universal Credit is a single payment, comprised of smaller amounts.
How much people get depends on their personal circumstances, such as their earnings (if they’re working), their partner’s earnings (if they’re working) and any other income their household earns.
The 2024/2025 Universal Credit basic standard allowance for people over 25 is now worth £393.45 per month if someone is single and £617.60 per month if they’re in a couple.
If they’re under 25, this allowance is now worth £311.68 per month if they’re single and £489.23 per month if they’re in a couple.