The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is making early Universal Credit payments of £424 to claimants in May, ahead of the upcoming spring bank holiday.
If your Universal Credit payment is scheduled for Monday, May 25, which coincides with the May spring bank holiday, the DWP will instead process the payment three days earlier on Friday, May 22. This ensures you receive the money one working day before the holiday.
The DWP stated: "After the first payment, you'll be paid on the same date of every month. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you'll be paid on the working day before. You can see your monthly statement in your online account. This tells you how much Universal Credit you're going to get."
Universal Credit Standard Allowance Increase
From April, the Universal Credit standard allowance for a single person aged 25 or over will rise by nearly £25 per month, increasing from £400.14 to £424.90. For joint claimants where one or both are 25 or over, the monthly amount will increase from £628.10 to £666.97. This above-inflation rise has been confirmed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Citizens Advice Guidance
Citizens Advice issued an update: "The amount of Universal Credit you get will change. This is because the Universal Credit 'standard allowance' is increasing. A monthly Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance plus any additional amounts you might get based on your circumstances."
Universal Credit is provided to individuals on a low income, those who are out of work, or those who cannot work. The amount you receive depends on your circumstances, including your standard allowance, any extra amounts you qualify for, your employment status, and your earnings.
Additionally, the Labour government is planning to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which would allow larger families to claim more in Universal Credit benefits. You may also receive extra money on top of your standard allowance if you have children or meet other eligibility criteria.
These changes are expected to provide a significant cost-of-living boost for millions of the UK's poorest families.
