Universal Credit Claimants to Get Higher Payments of Up to £1,739 Starting Next Week, Confirms DWP

Millions of Britons will be getting higher payments beginning next week. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the changes will apply to potentially millions of people on Universal Credit.

Higher Universal Credit Payments from May and June 2024

The Government increased state benefits by 6.7% in April, which means recipients should have received higher payments from that date. But, because of the timing of payments, not everyone has yet received these increases.

Talking to BBC Radio 4's Money Box recently, researcher Sandra Hardial explained why Universal Credit claimants may still have not seen the new higher amounts appearing in their bank accounts.

She explained that the reason for this is that Universal Credit is paid "in arrears", meaning that you are paid each period for the previous assessment period.

As a result, many people won't see their benefits reflect the new higher payments until May, as the increases didn't take effect until April.

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 May 14 and some will have to wait until June 13.

Universal Credit New Monthly Rates

The new monthly Universal Credit amounts from April 2024 are as follows:

Single claimants

• Under 25: £311.68 (from £292.11)
• 25 or over: £393.45 (from £368.74)

Joint claimants

• Joint claimants both under 25: £489.23 (from £458.51)
• Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £617.60 (from £578.82)

Child Amounts

• First child (born prior to April 6, 2017): £333.33 (from £315.00)
• First child (born on or after April 6, 2017) / second child and subsequent child (where an exception or transitional provision applies): £287.92 (from £269.58)

Disabled Child Additions

• Lower rate addition: £156.11 (from £146.31)
• Higher rate addition: £487.58 (from £456.89)

Limited Capability for Work

• Monthly amount: £156.11 (from £146.31)

Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity

• Monthly amount: £416.19 (from £390.06)

Carer amount

• Monthly amount: £198.31 (from £185.86)

Childcare costs amount

• Maximum for one child: £1014.63 (from ££950.92)
• Maximum for two or more children: £1,739.37 (from £1630.15)
• Non-dependants’ housing cost contributions: £91.47 (from £85.73)

Work Allowances

• Higher work allowance (no housing amount)
• One or more dependent children or limited capability for work: £673.00 (from £631.00)

Lower work allowance

• One or more dependent children or limited capability for work: £404.00 (from £379.00)

Attendance Allowance

Disability Living Allowance