Pay rise for millions on Universal Credit from today – how much more will you get?

MILLIONS of families claiming Universal Credit will receive more money each month, starting from today.

On April 9, the government confirmed that Universal Credit payments would rise by 6.7% in line with inflation.

The number was calculated using the Consumer Price Index inflation figures for September 2023.

But due to the way that Universal Credit is calculated and paid, some claimants will see the amount they receive go up for the first time from today.

This is because Universal Credit works using monthly assessment periods, where your next payment is calculated based on how much you earnt in the previous month.

The amount can vary in each period, and the new up-rate only kicks in after the first full assessment period of the tax year.

The DWP confirmed that the earliest that people could possibly see the money was today (May 14).

However, it said some people would have to wait until as late as June 13 to get their cash.

Ultimately, when you get the higher payments boils down to when your assessment period started.

People whose assessment periods began before April 8 will get the up-rate quickest, with those starting towards the end of April having to wait till June to see any benefit.

How much extra you’ll get in pounds and pence depends on your individual benefit circumstances.

But the DWP has released a handy list of how each Universal Credit element is changing, which you can use to calculate what you’ll get.

Here is the full list:

Standard allowance (per month)

• single and aged under 25: rises from £292.11 to £311.68
• single and aged 25 or over: rises from £368.74 to £393.45
• Joint claimants both under 25: rises from £458.51 to £489.23
• Joint claimants where one or both are 25 or over: rises from £578.82 to £617.60

Limited capability for work amount

• Increases from £146.31 to £156.11

Limited capability for work and work-related activity amount

• Increases from £390.06 to £416.19

Child amount

• Standard amount per child: increases from £269.58 to £287.92 
• First child born prior to 6 April 2017: increases from £315 to £333.33

Disabled child addition

• Lower rate: increases from £146.31 to £156.11
• Higher rate: increases from £456.80 to £487.58

Carer amount

• Increases from £186.86 to £198.31

Childcare costs amount

• Maximum for 1 child: increases from £950.92 to £1,014.63
• Maximum for 2+ children: Increases from £1,630.15 to £1739.37

Work allowances

• Higher work allowance (no housing amount): increases from £631 to £673
• Lower work allowance (with housing amount): increases from £379 to £404

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