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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The important universal credit DWP rules you should know about
As the number of people claiming universal credit hits a record high, here are some little-known rules that claimants should bear in mind. A record number of people have turned to universal credit (UC) for help with the cost of living, new figures have shown. The number of claimants jumped by more than a million in the past year to 8 million claimants, according to official statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – the highest level since universal credit was introduced in 2013. The rise has been largely driven by people who are not required to work, for example those in full-time education, over the state pension age, and those considered to have no prospect of work. Here's what you need to know about your universal credit award, and the key rules to bear in mind. It will take five weeks to receive your first payment If your universal credit application is approved, it will take a further five weeks from that date to receive your first payment. The five-week wait, which several anti-poverty charities are campaigning to end, is due to the way the system is designed to pay benefits in arrears following a monthly assessment period. Sometimes, this wait can often extend beyond five weeks due to errors or complications with claims. If you have no choice and require the payment earlier, you can request an advance online. It's worth bearing in mind that you'll need to repay this amount, which is normally deducted from your next universal credit payments. The repayment period is typically over 24 months, and deductions start with your first payment after the advance is issued. You may lose out if you are paid weekly Being paid weekly, fortnightly or every four weeks (instead of on a set monthly date), may result in some challenges during one of your assessment periods. If you are paid more than once during one month — for example, if you are paid fortnightly – there will be two months a year when you receive three pay cheques. In that case, all of those payments will be taken into account during that month's assessment period. This means that your award for that month can be drastically reduced, which could impact any budgeting plans. Retail and distribution trade union Usdaw is campaigning for the government to look at changing this to make it fairer for workers on universal credit. Usdaw's general secretary Joanne Thomas told Yahoo News: 'When the Tories introduced universal credit, they simply failed to understand the lives of many low-paid working people who are very often paid four-weekly, fortnightly or weekly. "Universal credit is paid monthly and that creates enormous difficulties for those who aren't, because two pay days in a single calendar month mean loss of this much-needed income support. 'We very much welcome that Labour has committed to reviewing universal credit, to help make work pay, something Usdaw has long called for. It is our sincere hope that this will lead to substantial changes, to help ensure that the lowest-paid workers get the social security they need.' Be careful when going abroad If universal credit claimants travel abroad, they can only do so for up to one month at a time. You can still receive payments, provided you remain eligible and continue to meet the conditions of your claim. For example, if you are in the "intensive work search" group, you must continue to look for work and may need to provide evidence of your job search activities even while abroad. If a claimant is unable to accept a claimant commitment and fails the good reason test because they are abroad on holiday, they will be required to make a new claim on their return. What happens if you are admitted hospital? If you claim universal credit, reporting a hospital stay is required so your claim can be managed correctly. If it's not reported, it may lead to a stoppage or reduction of benefits. Your work coach needs to be aware of your hospital admission to adjust your claimant commitments and work-related activities accordingly, especially if your health condition temporarily or permanently affects your capability to work. If you're feeling mentally unwell, the work coach should support your transition back to work, but this must be done without compromising your recovery and only when you are clinically ready. Your entitlement may be cut due to new welfare reforms While the standard allowance of universal credit is going up under Labour's welfare bill, the health top-up element will be drastically reduced from April 2026. From this date, those who are eligible for the health top-up – such as if they have a health condition or a terminal illness – will be cut from £97 per week to £50 per week. However, existing claimants and those classified as having a severe condition will receive the pre-2026 amount. What about bank holidays? If your universal credit payment date falls on a bank holiday, it's likely you'll be paid the working day before. This is because if the payment date falls on a bank holiday, banks are closed and cannot process payments on that day. If you think one of your payments is delayed over the August bank holiday, call the universal credit helpline. Were you on a legacy benefit? An influx of people claiming universal credit is also down to the fact many people have been transferred from a legacy benefit — like jobseekers' allowance or employment support allowance. When a person is transferred from a legacy benefit onto universal credit, they are given a guarantee that their payments cannot drop below what they received before. However, this protection can be removed if: A claimant's universal credit entitlement matches or exceeds their previous legacy benefits Or if their universal credit drops to zero for four months Their earnings stay below thresholds for three months, known as the lower limit For zero hours contract workers, or those who are self-employed, this can cause a big headache. Double check with your work coach to make sure you're across what those upper and lower limits are. More information can also be found on the website.
BBC News
13-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans submitted to turn Hull offices into SEND school
Plans to turn offices in Hull into a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school have been independent school would replace the headquarters of Fast Forward Vocational Training, which would run the facility on site would extend to the adjoining Scott Street, near the River application to Hull City Council states that the "much needed" school would provide full-time education for students aged 14 to 19. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the school would have up to 80 students, with a maximum of 60 on site at any would be between 25 and 40 staff, with up to 10 at the premises at a school would be accessed from Scott Street, which would also lead to a car park. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
