New DWP Universal Credit payments start from today - see how much more money you will get

Linda Howard & Sonia Sharma
·3-min read
Universal Credit claimants will start to get more money from today
Universal Credit claimants will start to get more money from today -Credit:PA


People who claim Universal Credit will start to see more money in their accounts from today. Benefit payments have risen by 6.7%.

Although the increase was introduced on April 8, claimants didn't actually receive more cash at that point. This is because Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears. Recipients need a full one-month assessment period on or after April 8 for the new rates to be applied.

So people will start to see the new benefit rates fully reflected in their payments from Tuesday, May 14. The first claimants to see the rise will be those whose assessment period ran from April 8 to May 7, which means they will be paid on May 14.

However some Universal Credit claimants will not get the higher monthly payments until June, reports the Daily Record. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that some people will have to wait until June 13 to receive the higher amount.

The update was shared in a recent edition of Money Box on BBC Radio 4 by programme researcher Sandra Hardial. She explained how Universal Credit payments increased by 6.7% in April but people weren't actually getting the money straight away because the benefit is paid in arrears.

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.”

New Universal Credit payment rates 2024/25

Monthly rates are shown unless otherwise stated. A full list of all the new DWP benefit payment rates, including Housing Benefit and deductions can be found on GOV.UK here.

Universal Credit (monthly rates)

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)

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