With fuel costs rising and the cost of living crisis squeezing budgets further, being aware of what cash is coming into bank accounts is essential. Those claiming Universal Credit have a rise on the cards from April 2023. Here's details of the increase that claimants can expect in the forthcoming months.
Universal Credit is a government payment admistered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that is designed to help with living costs. The monthly amount is payable for certain Brits who are on a low income, regardless of whether you are in or out of work - or if you cannot work.
Claimants are set to get payment increases to their monthly payments from April 2023, following an announcement by Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Autumn statement. At the time, he said that all DWP and HMRC benefits would get a 10.1% rise in the next financial year, based on the September 2022 rate of inflation.
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The new benefit payment rates will kick in from the beginning of the 2023/2024 financial year and most Universal Credit claimants will get the 10.1% increase in their payments.
So, how much of a rise will you get? Thanks to Chronicle Live, here's the new Universal Credit month amounts from April 2023.
What you need to know
Standard allowance
The standard Universal Credit monthly payment will increase from £265.31 to £292.11 for single claimants aged under 25. The payment for those over 25 will increase from £334.91 to £368.74.
Joint claimants - couples in the same household - will get £458.51 per month if they are both under 25, up from £416.45. Joint claimants will get £578.82 if at least one of them is over 25, up from £525.72.
Children - extra amounts for first and second children
These payments are made to parents claiming Universal Credit. Most only get extra payments for up to two children, but those whose children were born before April 6, 2017, or were claiming for three or more children before that date can get payments for additional children.
First-child payments to parents with children born before April 6, 2017, will increase to £315, up from £290. Payments for children born after April 2017 and second children/additional children will increase from £244.58 to £269.58.
Parents will disabled children can get additional payments. These rise from £132.89 to £146.31 for parents of disabled kids, and up to £456.89 from £414.88 for parents of severely disabled children.
If you have a disability or health condition
People with disabilities or health conditions that limit their ability to work can get extra on top of their standard Universal Credit payments.
Those eligible for the Limited Capability for Work amount will get their payments increased from £132.89 to £146.31. The Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity amount will rise from £354.28 to £390.06
Carers
Payments to carers who look after somebody for 35 hours a week will increase from £168.81 to £185.86.
Childcare costs
Universal Credit recipients who are working can claim back up to 85% of their childcare cost up to a maximum amount. Unlike other aspects of Universal Credit, that allowance is not being increased from April. It will remain at £646.35 for one child and £1108.04 for two or more.
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