There’s going to be a big change to Universal Credit in just a few weeks. Check whether this also applies to you
THOUSANDS of households on Universal Credit will see their payments hit their accounts earlier than normal in the coming weeks.
HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) do not pay benefits on public holidays.
If yours are due on March 29 (Good Friday) or April 1 (Easter Monday) this year, you will be paid on the first business day before these dates: March 28.
Anyone who expects a payment on March 30 or 31 will also see the payment appear in their account on March 28.
This is because benefits are not typically paid on weekends, regardless of the month.
Here is a full list of benefits that will be paid out in the coming weeks:
Read more in Universal Credit
If you do not receive your benefit one working day before the public holiday, you should contact DWP directly.
You can also file a complaint if your payment is incorrect.
Please note that your payment date will change, but the amount you normally receive will not, unless there are changed circumstances.
What are the payment dates for other holidays?
After the upcoming Bank Holiday, there are five more this year that could affect when you receive your benefit.
This is when the DWP or HMRC will make your payments if you expect them on a public holiday:
- 6 May – payments will be made on May 3 instead
- 27th of May – payments will be made on May 24 instead
- August 26 – payments will be made on August 23 instead
- December 25 and 26 – payments will be made on December 24 instead
It comes as Universal Credit and a host of other benefits are set to rise in just weeks.
Those on Universal Credit will see their payments rise from April in line with last September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate of 6.7%.
The increase was confirmed in government documents last week, meaning millions will see payments rise by up to £465.
The amount your Universal Credit payments will increase will of course depend on your exact circumstances.
However, these are the amounts that could increase your payments:
- The current standard allowance for single UC beneficiaries under the age of 25 will increase from £292.11 per month to £311.68 per month
- The standard benefit for singles over 25 will increase from £368.74 per month to £393.45 per month
- If you live with your partner and are both under 25 years old, your monthly amount will be increased from €458.51 to €489.23
- If you live with your partner and one of you is 25 years or older, your payments will increase from €578.82 per month to €617.60 per month
How much Universal Credit can you get?
TRYING to figure out how much Universal Credit you can get can be overwhelming.
There are so many different elements that can affect your claim and that makes the whole process even more complicated.
There are several free calculators you can use to help you get an estimate, such as UK Government, Civil advice, Money Saving Expert, StepChange And Turn2Us.
You will need:
- Details of all your income, such as existing benefits, tax credits, labor income and your pensions,
- Information about your partner’s income if you are married, have a registered partnership or live together. You will be assessed as a couple
- Information about your savings,
- How much you pay in council tax per year and whether you receive discounts, rebates or exemptions,
- Information about your rent or mortgage payments,
- Employment and income information about someone else living with you, such as adult children,
- Details about your informal care allowance if you receive it.
To get the truest estimate, make sure the information provided is as accurate as possible.
In other news, an HR manager has revealed she is £4.2k better off for a year after claiming Universal Credit.
Meanwhile, a single mother has told The Sun she has had to pay back more than £24,000 in Universal Credit payments after a DWP error.
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