Universal Credit Claimants to Get Pay Rise – Here's When

• Benefit payments up by 1.7% this year – worth £100s to some families
• Most claimants get boost in June due to how payments are assessed
• Payments rise automatically based on your assessment period
• Find out the exact date your payment will increase

Thousands of Universal Credit claimants are in line for a surprise pay bump this month – but not everyone will get it at the same time.

A 1.7% increase in benefit payments came into effect on April 7, in line with September 2024’s inflation rate. But due to the way Universal Credit is assessed and paid, many households are only now starting to see the money land in their accounts.

Unlike other benefits, Universal Credit is calculated monthly based on your “assessment period” – that’s the date you first applied for the benefit and the month-long period that follows. This means the new rates won’t apply until after a full month’s assessment post-April 7.

Some claimants got their increases as early as May 13. But most will only see the new, higher rates from June 1 to June 12 – depending on when their individual assessment window fell.

Here’s when you’ll get your Universal Credit pay boost:

Assessment Period New Rate Paid On

Mar 28 – Apr 27 June 1

Mar 29 – Apr 28 June 2

Mar 30 – Apr 29 June 5

Mar 31 – Apr 30 June 6

Apr 1 – Apr 31 June 7

Apr 2 – May 1 June 8

Apr 3 – May 2 June 9

Apr 4 – May 3 June 10

Apr 5 – May 4 June 11

Apr 6 – May 5 June 12

From new parents to carers and renters, the changes will impact millions. For example:

• Single claimants over 25 now get £400.14 per month (up from £393.45)
• Parents with one child born after 2017 will get £292.81 extra per child (up from £287.92)
• Carers get £201.68 for looking after someone severely disabled 35+ hours a week.

You can also check how much more you’re entitled to using a free benefits calculator from Turn2Us, Entitledto, or Policy in Practice.

Councils are also issuing extra support via the Household Support Fund. In Middlesbrough, payments of up to £120 are being made to struggling residents. Check your local authority for what’s available in your area via gov.uk/find-local-council.

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk said, “This is one of those sneaky changes that many people won’t realise is even happening – but the impact could be hundreds of pounds across the year. It’s worth double-checking your assessment period, and make sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to.”