Universal Credit claimants who have yet to see their payments increase will finally see their benefit uprated from this week.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that benefits will rise by 6.7% from April 8 - but because of how Universal Credit is paid, not everyone has seen the increase filter through to their payments yet. Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears, based on your "assessment period" - and the new increased rate will not be paid until a new Universal Credit assessment period begins on or after April 8.
You usually get your Universal Credit payment seven days after each monthly assessment period. The date the first people saw any increase in their payments was on May 14, but the last date the increase will filter through is on June 13.
Back in April, Money Box on BBC Radio 4 heard from programme researcher Sandra Hardial, who warned people won’t actually get the money straight away. She said: “The six million people on Universal Credit face the longest wait. The DWP has told Money Box that none of them will get the higher rate before the 14th of May and some will have to wait until the 13th of June.”
Universal Credit is made up of a "standard allowance" which is based on your age and if you’re claiming as a single person, or in a couple. You may also then get additional payments on top of this - for example, if you look after a child, or you're unable to work due to health issues.
Any additional amounts you may be entitled to are then applied to give your total figure before any deductions are then made. You may be subject to deductions if you're in work, if you have savings, or if you owe the DWP money. Here is how much the Universal Credit “standard allowance” is now worth:
Single under 25: £311.68 a month
Single 25 or over: £393.45 a month
Joint claimants both under 25: £489.23 a month
Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £617.60 a month