Latest news with #assessmentperiod
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Thousands on Universal Credit to get huge pay rise this month – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of households on Universal Credit will get a huge pay rise this month. Benefit payments rose by 1.7% on April 7, which was in line with the consumer price index (CPI) level of inflation for September 2024. But although the new rates came into effect in April, most people did not see their payments increase until last month. Meanwhile, others will have to wait until this month to get the boost. This is because people on Universal Credit have to wait longer to receive the uprating because of how the benefit is assessed. The date you will receive the pay boost depends on when your last assessment period was. Universal Credit is paid monthly and is based on your circumstances each month. This is known as your 'assessment period' and begins the day you make your claim. The new Universal Credit rates will not come into effect until after the first full one-month assessment period, which started on or after April 7. Those whose assessment period started after April 7 saw their benefits rise as early as May 13. But those whose assessment period started earlier than this could be forced to wait until June 12 to get the payment boost. Here is when you will get the payment boost based on your previous assessment period: All the freebies you can get on Universal Credit March 28 to April 27 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 1 March 29 to April 28 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 2 March 30 to April 29 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 5 March 31 to April 30 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 6 April 1 to April 31 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 7 April 2 to May 1 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 8 April 3 to May 2 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 9 April 4 to May 3 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 10 April 5 to May 4 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 11 April 6 to May 5 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 12 Below is a full list of the new benefit rates for 2025-26 so you can check how much extra you might get. Universal Credit Universal Credit standard allowance - paid monthly Single, under 25: £316.98 (up from £311.68) Single, 25 or over: £400.14 (up from £393.45) Joint claimants both under 25: £497.55 (up from £489.23) Joint claimants, one or both 25+: £628.10 (up from £617.60) Extra for limited capability for work Limited capability: £158.76 (up from £156.11) Work-related activity: £423.27 (up from £416.19) Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. Extra amounts for children First child (born before April 6, 2017): £339 (up from £333.33) Child born after April 6, 2017 or subsequent children: £292.81 (up from £287.92) Disabled child (lower rate): £158.76 (up from £156.11) Disabled child (higher rate): £495.87 (up from £487.58) Work allowance increases Higher work allowance (no housing): £684 (up from £673) Lower work allowance (with housing): £411 (up from £404) Carer's element Caring for a severely disabled person at least 35 hours a week: £201.68 (up from £198.31) Other help for those on benefits Councils across England have started giving out help after receiving funding through the Household Support Fund (HSF). Some of these councils are distributing support to those on benefits, including Universal Credit. worth up to £120 to those who are struggling. Contact your council to find out what help is on offer. You can find your council area by visiting .
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Thousands on Universal Credit to get huge pay rise in DAYS – here's when you'll get the extra cash
THOUSANDS of households on Universal Credit will continue getting a huge pay rise in the coming days. Benefit payment rates rose by 1.7% on April 7, in line with the consumer price index (CPI) level of inflation for September 2024. 1 It's important to note that, although the new rates are now in effect, most people won't see an increase in their payments until later this month or in June. This is because those on Universal Credit have to wait a bit longer to receive the uprating because of how the benefit is assessed. It means that the date you'll receive the pay boost will depend on when your last assessment period was. Universal Credit is paid monthly and is based on your circumstances each month. This is called your "assessment period", and it starts the day you make your claim. The new Universal Credit rates will not come into effect until after the first full one-month assessment period, which starts on or after April 7. Those whose assessment periods started after April 7 saw their benefits rise as early as May 13. However, those whose assessment periods started before this date could be waiting until June 12 to receive the payment boost. Here's how your previous assessment period affects when you'll get the payment boost: March 17 to April 16 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 21 March 18 to April 17 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 22 March 19 to April 18 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 23 March 20 to April 19 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 24 March 21 to April 20 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 25 March 22 to April 21 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 26 March 23 to April 22 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 27 March 24 to April 23 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 28 March 25 to April 24 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 29 March 26 to April 25 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 30 March 27 to April 26 - increase applied in May, you'll get it in your payment on May 31 March 28 to April 27 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 1 March 29 to April 28 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 2 March 30 to April 29 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 5 March 31 to April 30 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 6 April 1 to April 31 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 7 April 2 to May 1 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 8 April 3 to May 2 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 9 April 4 to May 3 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 10 April 5 to May 4 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 11 April 6 to May 5 - increase applied in June, you'll get it in your payment on June 12 How does work affect Universal Credit? Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. Here's a full list of the new benefit rates for 2025-26 so you can check how much extra you might get. Universal Credit Universal Credit standard allowance (monthly) Single, under 25: £316.98 (up from £311.68) Single, 25 or over: £400.14 (up from £393.45) Joint claimants both under 25: £497.55 (up from £489.23) Joint claimants, one or both 25+: £628.10 (up from £617.60) Extra amounts for children First child (born before April 6, 2017): £339 (up from £333.33) Child born after April 6, 2017 or subsequent children: £292.81 (up from £287.92) Disabled child (lower rate): £158.76 (up from £156.11) Disabled child (higher rate): £495.87 (up from £487.58) Extra for limited capability for work Limited capability: £158.76 (up from £156.11) Work-related activity: £423.27 (up from £416.19) Carer's element Caring for a severely disabled person at least 35 hours a week: £201.68 (up from £198.31) Work allowance increases
