Millions of benefit claimants could be in line for a pay-out due to a landmark court case taking place. A number of benefit claimants have taken the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to court over alleged discriminatory extra payments handed out during the Covid pandemic.
In March 2020 the UK government announced a £20 per week increase to the universal credit standard allowance basic element worth up to £1,040 a year for those facing hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The uplift was discontinued in October 2021, prompting fears that would send millions into financial trouble.
While the £20 uplift was given to those on UC - around 5.7 million people in the UK - it was not added to legacy benefits such as income support, housing benefit and child tax credit. It meant around 2.6 million people were estimated to have lost out on the pandemic top-up.
