Brits who have not seen their Universal Credit rise in line with higher rates will see their payments upped from this week.
Benefits were raised by 10.1% from April 10 however the increase has not kicked in just yet due to the way Universal Credit is paid.
Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears and is calculated based on your circumstances for that month. The assessment periods vary for each claimant.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed claimants will see the higher Universal Credit rate from Tuesday, May 16.
This was confirmed by Minister for Employment Guy Opperman MP in a written response to a question from Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith earlier this week.
Opperman was asked: "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the inflation-based rise to Universal Credit was paid to claimants in their April benefit payment."
The employment minister explained how the increases in Universal Credit would come into force from the start of the first assessment period beginning on or after the first Monday of the tax year.
He said: "As Universal Credit is a calendar monthly assessed benefit that is paid monthly in arrears, a claimant will receive their uprated benefit award in payments due from 16 May.”
It should also be noted that some Universal Credit claimants may not see the increase until June.
If your assessment period started on March 26, it would then run until April 25 - with a new assessment period starting on April 26.
You usually get your Universal Credit payment seven days after each monthly assessment period so if this is your period you would get your money on May 2.
But because the new rates hadn't been introduced when your assessment period started then you will have to wait another round to get it.
This will see your payment increase on June 2 rise instead.
If you haven't received your uplift yet then you should check your assessment period.
This can be done on your Universal Credit online journal.
How much is Universal Credit in 2023-24?
From April 10 2023, the Universal Credit standard allowance is:
- Single under 25: £292.11 per month - up from £265.31
- Single 25 or over: £368.74 per month - up from £334.91
- Joint claimants both under 25: £458.51 per month - up from £416.45
- Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £578.82 per month - up from £525.72
Child payments
- First child payments to parents with children born before April 6, 2017: £315 - up from £290
- Payments for children born after April 2017 and second children/additional children: £269.58 - up from £244.58
- The lower rate for parents of disabled children: £146.31 - up from £132.89
- The higher rate for severely disabled children: £456.89 - up from £414.88
Limited capability for work
- For those who have been classed by the DWP as having "limited capability for work" the extra amount: £146.31 - up from £132.89
- For those classed as having "limited capability for work or work-related activity" the extra amount: £390.06 - up from £354.28
Carer's element
You can get additional money on top of Universal Credit if you are caring for a disabled person for at least 35 hours a week.
This amount is now £185.86 - up from £168.81.
Work allowance
If you are in paid work you sometimes can have a "Work Allowance" which is where you receive some of your earnings before your Universal Credit payment starts to be affected.
There are two Work Allowance rates and which one you get depends on whether you receive help with housing costs, either as part of your Universal Credit payment or through Housing Benefits:
- Higher work allowance - no housing amount - with one or more dependent children or limited capability for work: £631 - up from £573
- Lower work allowance - who have help with housing costs - with one or more dependent children or limited capability for work: £379 - up from £344
You can see the full list of all the 2023-24 Universal Credit rates here.
