This year there will be several changes made to Universal Credit, a benefit around six million people claim in the UK.
Universal Credit will increase from April 2024. The monthly standard allowance for claimants under 25 will rise from £292.11 to £311.68, while the monthly standard allowance for claimants over 25 will rise from £368.74 to £393.45.
Couples under 25 will see their monthly payment increase from £458.51 to £489.23, while couples over 25 will see their payment increase from £578.82 to £617.60 a month.
Those claiming other benefits including the personal independence payment (PIP), disability living allowance, and attendance allowance will also see their monthly payments increase.
Some will also be asked to migrate to Universal Credit this year, as the Government moves away from other types of benefit payments.
Several benefit payments will be migrating to Universal Credit, such as Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Working Tax Credit.
People who claim these benefits or tax credits will be automatically switched to the Universal Credit system — unless their circumstances change.
Most people will be migrated automatically, but if you receive a Migration Notice letter, you need to switch to Universal Credit within three months.
What is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is a monthly payment that helps people who are unemployed or on low incomes with their living costs.
It replaced several other benefits such as housing benefits, income support, and working tax credits, for example.
The amount that someone will get depends on several factors. Some people will be eligible for extra amounts on top of the standard allowance, while others will have money taken off their payment.
The amount is also based on someone’s circumstances each month.
Who is eligible for Universal Credit?
People are eligible for Universal Credit if they’re on a low income. They could be unemployed, self-employed, or unable to work due to health reasons, for example.
Claimants must live in the UK, be aged 18 or over (with some exceptions for 16- and 17-year-olds), be under the state pension age, and have less than £16,000.
Eligibility also depends on someone’s living situation; for example, if they live with a partner who isn’t eligible for Universal Credit, or if their partner has reached state pension age but they haven’t.
Universal Credit is also available to some people in full-time education, depending on their living situations.
