From Monday, September 26 the UK Government is raising the Administrative Earnings Threshold which will see approximately 114,000 people on Universal Credit move from the ‘Light Touch’ regime where most claimants do not need to engage with the Jobcentre, into regular contact with a dedicated work coach.
Those who are impacted will be contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about what it means for them, at the end of their first full assessment period after September 26. DWP said: “The change aims to help more low-earning households to increase their incomes and improve their pay and prospects.”
The change will see the threshold rise from nine hours a week to 12 hours a week for an individual and 19 hours a week for couples. In monetary terms, the earnings threshold will be increased to £494 per calendar month for individual claimants and £782 for couples, having previously been set at £355 per calendar month for individuals and £567 for couples.
