Thousands of people across the UK could miss out on vital financial support worth thousands of pounds due to a looming and little-known deadline for Universal Credit claims.
The April Deadline You Need To Know
First-time applicants who need to claim support due to a health condition, disability, or long-term sickness face a critical cut-off point. You must start your Universal Credit claim before April 5, 2026, to be eligible for the current, higher rate of additional support.
If you apply on or after April 6, the extra monthly payment you could receive will be slashed by almost half. This change applies specifically to the 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA) element of Universal Credit.
Understanding the LCWRA Payment Cut
Currently, if the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) assesses you as having LCWRA, you receive an additional £423.27 each month on top of your standard Universal Credit. This amount is set to rise to £429.80 from April 2026 for those already receiving it.
However, for new claimants who start receiving the LCWRA element on or after April 6, 2026, the rate plummets to just £217.26 per month.
This represents a staggering loss of £206.01 every month. Over a full year, that adds up to a massive £2,472.12 less in financial support for some of the most vulnerable claimants.
How To Secure The Higher Rate
The key to locking in the current, higher payment is the date you start your claim. The three-month waiting period for the LCWRA element makes timing crucial.
To get the higher amount, you must report your health condition to the DWP as soon as possible. You need to have completed the three-month assessment period and be awarded the LCWRA element before April 6, 2026.
Based on the standard waiting period, this means the latest advisable date to report your condition and begin the process would be between early December 2025 and early January 2026. Experts strongly advise acting sooner rather than later to navigate the assessment process and secure the full payment.
It is important to note that if you are already receiving the higher LCWRA rate before April 2026, your payments will not be reduced. This change only affects new claimants assessed after the deadline.
If you have difficulty working due to sickness or disability, you should contact the DWP immediately to begin your claim and assessment. Delaying could prove extremely costly.
