UNIVERSAL Credit claimants whose children are leaving post-16 education will see their payments reduced in just weeks.
As the cost of living crisis sees people’s budgets stretched further, the benefit will be providing a much needed incomings boost to thousands.
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Energy bills are predicted to soar to over £6,000 next year and inflation has already hit 10.1%.
Those with children who are leaving post-16 education will see their monthly Universal Credit payments drop off in September.
That’s because you receive more of the benefit if your child, aged 16 to 19, is attending or enrolled in full-time, non-advanced education or on approved training.
Anna Stevenson, benefits expert from charity Turn2US, recently told The Sun people often don’t realise their payments will go down in this situation.
She advised people to budget and plan for it.
She said: “Use a benefit calculator to figure out what your benefits will be once that child is not on your claim anymore.”
It comes as millions across the UK are “migrated” from old “legacy benefits” onto Universal Credit.
Five areas have been impacted so far, with the government planning to finish the process by 2024.
What is Universal Credit and am I eligible?
Universal Credit is a welfare scheme which is supposed to combine a number of old “legacy benefits” into a single monthly payment.
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The old legacy benefits it replaced are:
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Working Tax Credit
Whether you are eligible will depend on your specific circumstances.
But you may be eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:
- you’re on a low income or out of work
- you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
- you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)
- you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
- you live in the UK
Your partner’s income and savings will be taken into account, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit.
There are other factors that might make you eligible for a claim as well, for instance if you care for a disabled person, you’re in further education or if you’ve recently had a child.
You can read the full eligibility criteria on the government’s website.
How do you apply for Universal Credit?
Applying for Universal Credit should be relatively easy.
You have to go online, create an account, then make a claim for the benefit within 28 days.
If you live with your partner, you’ll both have to create accounts and you’ll join them together when you claim.
If you’re struggling to claim online you can call the Universal Credit helpline which is 0800 328 5644.
