UNIVERSAL Credit and a range of other benefits are set to rise within weeks – we reveal what dates exactly.
Millions will receive a pay boost from April as benefits go up in line with inflation for last September – 10.1%.
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The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced the news in his Autumn Statement.
But the dates they will rise vary depending on the type of benefit and when you normally get paid too.
For example, if you normally get paid your Universal Credit on the 4th of every month, you won’t see the pay boost until May 4th.
This is because Universal Credit rates are rising from April 10.
Here is when each benefit group will see their payments rise.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
Rates for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support will go up from April 1 while Housing Benefit rates will rise from April 1 if you pay rent monthly.
Housing Benefit rates will go up from April 3 if you pay rent weekly or fortnightly.
It’s worth bearing in mind the amount your Council Tax Support allowance goes up will vary depending on where you live.
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This is because each local council is responsible for operating its own support schemes.
These are the Housing Benefit rates and how much they will go up by:
Single person
- Aged under 25: Increasing from £61.05 to £67.20
- Any age and on main phase ESA: Increasing from £77 to £84.80
- Aged between 25 and state pension credit age: Increasing from £77 to £84.80
- Has reached pension age: Increasing from £197.10 to £217
Lone parent
- Aged under 18: Increasing from £61.05 to £67.20
- Any age and on main phase ESA: Increasing from £77 to £84.80
- Aged between 18 and state pension credit age: Increasing from £77 to £84.80
- Has reached state pension age: Increasing from £197.10 to £217
Couple
- Both aged under 18: Increasing from £92.20 to £101.50
- One or both aged between 18 and state pension credit age: Increasing from £121.05 to £133.30
- Any age and on main phase ESA: Increasing from £121.05 to £133.30
- One or both have reached pension age: Increasing from £294.90 to £324.70
Other
- Dependent child/young person aged under 20: Increasing from £70.80 to £77.78
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is paid to millions of people to help with everyday living costs.
It is paid monthly, or twice a month for some in Scotland.
The 10.1% increase will come into effect from April 10 for those on the benefit.
Under the system, you receive different amounts depending on your circumstances. Below is what the current rates are and what they will go up to, depending on your circumstances.
Standard allowance (per month)
- For those single and aged under 25, the standard allowance will rise from £265.31 to £292.11
- For those single and aged 25 or over, the standard allowance will rise from £334.91 to £368.74
- For joint claimants both under 25, the standard allowance will rise from £416.45 to £458.51
- For joint claimants where one or both are 25 or over, the standard allowance will rise from £525.72 to £578.82
Extra amounts for children
- For those with a first child born before April 6, 2017, the extra amount is going up from £290 to £315
- For those with a child born on or after April 6, 2017 or second child and subsequent child, the extra amount is going up from £244.58 to £269.58
- For those with a disabled child, the lower rate addition payment is going up from £132.89 to £146.31 and the higher rate from £414.88 to £456.89
Extra amounts for limited capability for work
- For those deemed to have limited capability for work, the extra amount is going up from £132.89 to £146.31
- For those deemed to have limited capability for work or work-related activity, the extra amount is going up from £354.28 to £390.06
Extra amounts for being a carer
You can get additional money on top of Universal Credit if you are caring from a severely disabled person at least 35 hours a week.
The amount you get a month will rise from £168.81 to £185.86.
Increased work allowance
- The higher work allowance (no housing amount) for someone claiming Universal Credit with one or more dependent children or limited capability for work is going up from £573 to £631
- The lower work allowance for someone claiming Universal Credit with one or more dependent children or limited capability for work is going up from £344 to £379
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is paid to those who have reached state pension age and are on a low income.
The benefit is intended to top people up so they can afford everyday living costs.
The 10.1% increase will come into effect from April 10 for those on the benefit.
That means from this date, the benefit will rise from £182.60 a week to £201.05. For couples it will go from £278.70 to £306.85.
You can get extra amounts to top up the benefit depending on your circumstances.
The “Savings Credit” part of Pension Credit is going up from April, from £14.48 a week to £15.94.
For couples it is going up from £16.20 to £17.84.
You can find out more about Pension Credit including how to apply in our guide.
Other means-tested benefits
Means-tested benefits, including Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, will go up on the first Monday after April 6, the start of the new tax year.
This means any means-tested benefit pay rises will come into effect from April 10.
The list of means-tested benefits includes:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) supports those who are out of work while they look for a job.
The maximum rate for the benefit will go up from £61.05 to £67.21 if you’re 24 or younger from April.
If you’re 25 or older it will go up from £77 to £84.77.
Meanwhile, Employment Support Allowance (ESA) tops up workers’ pay if they’re on a low income.
The rates for the benefit will go up as follows:
- Under 25 years old, from £61.05 to £67.20
- Age 25 and older, from £77 to £84.80
- Lone parent under 18, from £61.05 to £67.20
- Lone parent 18 or over, from £77 to £84.80
Income Support is extra money for people who don’t have enough to live on.
How much you get depends on your personal circumstances, however if you’re single and aged between 16 and 24, your weekly payments start from £61.05.
It will go up to £67.20 a week – a £6 a week pay rise, from April.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP is designed to help with extra living costs if you are suffering from a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability or have difficulty carrying out everyday tasks.
You can get the benefit if you are working, have savings or are receiving most other benefits.
The rates will go up from April 10, like the majority of other means-tested benefits.
There’s four different rates for PIP. This is what they currently are and what they are going up to:
- Daily living standard rate – £61.85 (going up to £68.09)
- Daily living enhanced rate – £92.40 (going up to £101.73)
- Mobility standard rate – £24.45 (going up to £26.91)
- Mobility enhanced rate – £64.50 (going up to £71.01)
State Pension
The State Pension is designed for people over state pension age to help with everyday costs.
The benefit will rise by 10.1% from April 10.
How much state pension you can get depends on how many National Insurance contributions you’ve made, so the rise will be different depending on the person.
But the full rate of the new State Pension will rise from £185.15 a week to £203.85.
The full rate of the old state pension will go up from £141.85 to £156.20.
Tax Credits
Child Tax Credits are paid to people to help them cover the costs of having a child.
Working Tax Credits are paid to those who are in work and on a low income.
The increase for both these tax credits come into effect from April 6.
Child Tax Credits come in four different rates. This is what they are and what they will rise to from April 6:
- Family element – (yearly amount) up to £545 (going up to £600)
- Child element – (yearly amount) up to £2,935 (going up to £3,231)
- For each disabled child (yearly amount) up to £3,545 (going up to £3,903)
- For each severely disabled child (yearly amount) up to £1,430 (going up to £1,574)
