Exact date 6.7million households on Universal Credit to get inflation-busting payment boost

HELPING HAND Exact date 6.7million households on Universal Credit to get inflation-busting payment boost
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
MILLIONS of households on Universal Credit will receive a bumper pay rise within months.
Almost seven million households claiming the benefit will see their standard allowance rise by more than inflation from April 2026.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
The standard allowance is the basic payment for households on Universal Credit
Credit: Alamy
This change will become law, pending Parliamentary approval of the DWP's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which was introduced earlier this week.
This means 6.7 million households could receive around £750 more per year in cash by 2030.
The standard allowance is the basic payment for households on Universal Credit.
Currently, single people under 25 receive £316.98 a month and couples under 25 get £497.55 a month.
Meanwhile, single people over 25 get £400.14 a month and couples aged 25 or older receive £628.10 a month.
Normally, benefit payments go up each spring to help people keep pace with the rising cost of living, like food, fuel, and household bills.
These increases typically match the consumer price index of inflation from the previous September.
But, the government has claimed that the four-year benefit freeze from 2015 to 2019 has caused millions of payments to fall behind rising inflation.
As a result, from April 2026, the government wants to hike the standard allowance by more than inflation over the next four years.
This means that by 2030, the amount a claimant receives will be almost 5% higher than if it had only risen to match inflation.
Rachel Reeves delivers the Spring Budget in full
The increases will be worked out by adding the inflation rate from the previous September, plus an extra fixed boost.
These extra percentages will be set at:
2.3% for 2026-27
3.1% for 2027-28
4.0% for 2028-29
4.8% for 2029-30
The government wants to help more people return to work and rely less on incapacity benefits, which face huge cuts.
To save £5billion a year by 2030, it plans to make PIP assessments stricter and freeze the extra health payments in Universal Credit for those unable to work.
The government believes that raising the standard allowance for everyone while reducing the health top-up will make returning to work more financially worthwhile and possible.
What is the Universal Credit standard allowance?
UNIVERSAL Credit is a welfare scheme which was designed to combine several of the old "legacy benefits
The standard allowance is the basic monthly payment provided to individuals or families who qualify.
The amount you receive depends on your age and whether you're single or in a couple: Single, under 25: £316.98
Single, 25 or over: £400.14
Couple, both under 25: £497.55
Couple, one or both 25 or over: £628.09
You may also be eligible for additional amounts if you have children, have a disability or health condition, or need help with housing costs.
Meanwhile, around 400,000 households receiving income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) are being urged to make the move to Universal Credit.
The government is progressing with its plans to transfer all legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit, through a process referred to as "managed migration."
The managed migration process officially began back in July 2022 after a successful pilot in July 2019.
Since then, households receiving one of five legacy benefits, have been receiving postal notifications outlining the steps required to transition to Universal Credit.
Upon receiving a migration letter, claimants are given up to three months to make the switch.
Failure to act within this timeframe could result in the loss of existing benefits.
The latest data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that 381,440 individuals lost their benefits after failing to act within this time frame.
Initially, the government planned to transfer all ESA claimants to Universal Credit by the end of 2028.
However, this deadline was brought forward to March 2026.
How can I get help claiming Universal Credit?
As well as benefit calculators, anyone moving from ESA to Universal Credit can find help in a number of ways.
You can visit your local Jobcentre by searching at find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/.
There's also a free service called Help to Claim from Citizen's Advice:
England: 0800 144 8 444
Scotland: 0800 023 2581
Wales: 08000 241 220
You can also get help online from advisers at citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scottish Sun

an hour ago

• Scottish Sun

Major café chain with 473 locations in UK to shut busy branch just 3 years after it reopened with staff ‘left in tears'

Shoppers have been left stunned as the chain announced the shock closure HAS BEAN Major café chain with 473 locations in UK to shut busy branch just 3 years after it reopened with staff 'left in tears' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR café chain with 473 locations in the UK is due to shut a popular branch with staff 'left in tears'. Pret A Manger has announced its closing the store, just three years after it re-opened. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The closure of the branch has seen staff 'left in tears' Credit: Getty - Contributor The Gallowtree Gate branch in Leicester City Centre, initially closed in 2020 due to "the effects of the pandemic". However, it made a shock return following an announcement two years later. It re-opened on July 25, 2022 at the same location. But rumours started swirling earlier this week that the popular chain was to shut for good once again. A source told Leicestershire Live that staff were told on Thursday and that there were "lots of tears". A spokesperson for Pret A Manger confirmed that they will be leaving Leister for a second time. They did not give a specific date for the closure but it is expected to be some time in July. They said: "It has been a pleasure serving our customers at Pret's Gallowtree Gate shop in Leicester. "Closing a shop is never a decision we take lightly, and our priority now is supporting our team members." Shoppers were recently stunned when another Pret A Manager branch suddenly closed with no warning in April. The store in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, caught loyal customers by surprise and had been a well-loved part of the outlet centre for years. Another chain, Starbucks, which has over 1,000 UK venues also abruptly pulled the plug on one of its stores in Oxford last month. Pret opened its first shop in London in 1986 and the chain employs 12,500 staff in more than 700 locations across 21 countries. The Sun reported previously reported that Pret's owner, Luxembourg-based Jab Holding, was planning a stock market flotation and could consider selling a stake in the business first. JAB, which also owns Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Keurig Dr Pepper, has ambitions in the insurance and asset management industry and wants to reduce its reliance on the consumer sector. The chain came under fire from customers in April following sweeping changes to its Club Pret subscription. Once offering five free barista-made drinks a day for £30 a month, members now only receive 50 per cent off five drinks a day instead.

Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

Reform is on course to WIN next General Election, new poll shows - as Nigel Farage's party takes nine-point lead over Labour

Reform UK is now on course to win the next General Election, a shock new poll shows - as they take a stunning nine-point lead over Labour. The voting intention for Nigel Farage 's party's was more than double that of the Tories, who languished in third with 15 per cent, compared to Labour's 25 per cent and Reform's 34 per cent. An Ipsos opinion poll highlighted the rocketing success of the party and rising contempt for Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves ' chaotic first year in power. Replicated in a General Election, the figures would give Reform an overwhelming 400 seats in the Commons - with a majority of 200, The Telegraph reports. Figures show that 54 per cent of Labour voters and 48 per cent of Tory voters have changed their support - with a high proportion of defectors from both going to Reform. Farage would become Prime Minister and there would be just 10 Conservative seats, while Labour would be reduced from 403 to 140. 'This poll shows Reform can and will win the next general election,' Farage told the broadsheet. Figures from the polling of 1,180 Brits show Labour's plunging popularity, after winning the 2024 General Election with the biggest majority since Tony Blair. But figures now show him to be the least popular prime minister at this stage of his time in office since records began. Just 19 per cent say they are satisified with the work he is doing - while 73 per cent are dissatisfied. In comparison, after the same amount of time Boris Johnson had an approval raiting of 48 per cent, Blair's was 68 per cent and John Major's was 54 per cent. The Conservatives' polling is also the worst since records began, with only 11 per cent of voters satisfied with Kemi Badenoch's work. Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, told The Telegraph: 'Reform UK has continued to build on its success, helped by high levels of enthusiasm among its own support and among working-class voters in particular, and taking votes from both Labour and especially the Conservatives, who show little sign of recovery. 'The disappointment with Labour is clear, even among those who voted for the party in 2024.' It comes after the public swing of support tp Reform was dramatically shown in the local elections, scoring victory in a Runcorn by-election on the same night. In a night of jaw-dropping results, Reform UK claimed outright majorities in Staffordshire and Lincolnshire County Councils, toppling long-standing Conservative dominance.

Wales Online

an hour ago

• Wales Online

‘Wales is being treated with contempt' say campaigners as bill on PIP presented in Westminster before Welsh consultation is held

'Wales is being treated with contempt' say campaigners as bill on PIP presented in Westminster before Welsh consultation is held Wales is expected to be hardest hit by the proposed reforms People had decended to the streets of Cardiff and Swansea to protest against the proposed reforms to disability benefits (Image: Mark Lewis ) Activists campaigning against proposed reforms to disability benefits are furious after the concerned bill was tabled in Westminster before an in-person public consultation was held in Wales. The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was introduced in Westminster on June 18, 2025 — this was five days before a public consultation for Wales is held on Monday, June 23. Under the proposed UK government plans, people currently availing PIP will need to score at least four points in at at least one daily living activity to avail support for everyday tasks. ‌ Data released by Liberal Demoracts following a written parliamentary question, shows that currently, throughout Wales, every local authority has at least 80% of those receiving the standard rate of PIP at a risk of losing support with more than half of Welsh Local authorities seeing 90% at risk. ‌ Ben Golighty, a member of DPAC Cymru who is at risk of losing PIP under new reforms (Image: Shaurya Shaurya ) Wales is said to be particularly hard hit by the proposed reforms, making it more painful for campaigners that the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was introduced before a public consultation is held here. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here 'I think it's outrageous. The consultation was always going to be unfair because half the proposals, like the most important proposals they were never up for discussion at all from the beginning,' said Ben Golighty, a member of Disabled People Againt Cuts (DPAC) Cymru. Article continues below 'And they'll be voting on it three days after the consultation ends, basically before the ink is even dry in the consultation responses, before they've had a chance to read it,' he said. 'It's just a mockery. They're not even pretending to listen. 'I think it treats disabled people with contempt, it treats Wales with contempt…It's outrageous that they're not listening to disabled people and carers.' The public consultation has already drawn ire from campaigners as it was cancelled once at the last minute by the venue. ‌ 'I think it's really important to note that whey they cancelled it, they didn't plan to reschedule it,' Ben said. 'The original one was it was totally inaccessible, it was so badly organised, it was basically disability discrimination and the only reason we have one at all now is because Disabled People Against Cuts protested, we got media scrutiny and we got a member of the Senedd to wave a letter in the Welsh Parliament. 'So the only reason we have a consultation in Wales at all is because we forced them to do better and I think it's just another example of how badly we've been treated.' A DWP spokesperson has said: 'It is crucial that the views and voices of sick or disabled people across Wales are at the heart of our reforms, which is why we've rescheduled a consultation event in Cardiff after it was cancelled by the venue. ‌ 'We are determined to create a welfare system that supports people into work and out of poverty. That is why we have today introduced a Bill to Parliament to reform the welfare system, putting social security spending on a more sustainable footing while ensuring protection for those who need it most. 'We will continue to look at the specific impacts for those living in Wales as we seek to support people back into work if they are able, while also protecting those who rely on our social security system.' Many people on PIP says they will be pushed into poverty if their support is withdrawn (Image: Mark Lewis ) ‌ DPAC Cymru members have also expressed their discontent at some of the language used by Labour leaders, and have alleged that they have received 'copy paste' replies from their MPs when they have sought a meeting regarding the proposed changes. 'MPs would be telling us, 'don't worry, take part in the consultation'. The consultation was always going to be unfair, but, the bill is in parliament before the consultation has even ended. The consultation isn't enough,' Ben said. 'So there's got to be that leadership from MPs who're supposed to be representing us. Also, in particular, we just need clear answers from them and not copy and paste responses.' He added: 'A lot of Labour MPs and ministers have been able to go on the news and say quite offensive things like Rachael Reeves comparing disability benefits to children's pocket money. ‌ 'She never actually apologised. The news headline said she apologised, but she didn't. And I think disabled people should be able to have a right of reply and should be able to argue.' Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones had been criticised for drawing up an analogy between the disability benefits and children's pocket money, for which he had later apologised. When asked about the chief Secretary's comments by LBC, Chancellor Rachel Reeves had said: "My children and the chief secretary's children are too young, but if you have a 16-year-old and you say, 'Do you know what I'm not going to give you so much pocket money. I want you to go out to work'. ‌ "And then the OBR [Office for Budget Responsibility] does an impact assessment and says your child is going to be worse off - well, they're going to be worse off if they don't go and get themselves a Saturday job. "But if they do go and get themselves a Saturday job, they'll probably be better off and they probably might enjoy it as well. Now, I know, that's not the right analogy, but there are lots of people who have a disability that are desperate to work." Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has refused making comments comparing PIP to children's pocket money (Image: Getty Images ) ‌ When Ms Reeves was later asked at a select committee if she would apologise for for the minister's comments, which it was said that she repeated, she replied: 'The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has apologised for the clumsy language that he used. "It wasn't the right language. I was asked a specific question, I did not, first of all hear, the previous interview of the chief secretary and so the question to me was put about pocket money but it's not a right analogy and apologies have already been made.' When asked if she would apologise for the comments that she made, the Chancellor said: 'I don't think I made the same comments but that analogy of comparing pocket money and personal independence payment is clearly not right.' ‌ DPAC Cymru members have also expressed particular discontent with Swansea West MP Torsten Bell, who they accuse of calling them 'keyboard warriors' and have alleged that the minister has refused to have a discussion with them on numerous occasions. However, the a spokesperson for Mr Bell has refuted all their claims and has said that his statements have been taken out of context. A spokesperson for Torsten Bell has said: 'It is simply untrue that Torsten has refused to meet with Swansea DPAC. Torsten has been meeting regularly with constituents about proposed changes to the welfare system and will continue to do so – as individuals and as part of groups. ‌ 'Every constituent that has approached our office asking for a meeting has been offered one. This is the same approach as taken by neighbouring MPs, and is in accordance with strict rules that prohibit MPs from pursuing issues raised by people who are not resident in their constituency.' A placard held at the DPAC Cymru protest in May, accusing Mr Bell of avoiding the campaign group (Image: Shaurya Shaurya ) Ben from DPAC Cymru said: 'On the day of the spring statement when we had our protest in Swansea, and there were like dozens and dozens of comments from disabled people. ‌ 'Because the spring statement, all the focus was on the disability cuts. So it was taken very badly by lots of disabled people on the day." 'Then later he used the word burden in the context of carers, which disabled people are quite sensitive about that word,' Ben said. 'It's one that most guidelines about language say you shouldn't really use that word, so that was one we pointed out to him. Without acknowledging it, when the media asked questions about it, he deleted that many called us liars.' Ben said: 'I just think there's no need. He's using this language all the time... ‌ 'Recently, just about a week ago, he made a video and he attacked what he called garbage meme muppets and recently as well, he was talking to pension economists and he called them cheap and lazy. He's accused us of saying things that are disgracefully untrue, spreading falsehoods, liars.' The Facebook post by MP Torsten Bell where DPAC member says the word 'burden' was used in context of carers for disabled people (Image: Facebook Screengrab Torsten Bell MP ) The Swansea West Labour Party post, where DPAC say they were called "keyboard warriors" (Image: Facebook Screengrab Swansea West Labour Party ) ‌ The spokesperson for Mr Bell added: 'The proposed changes to disability and incapacity benefits need to be discussed in a manner reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the issue. Torsten will continue to do that with constituents and always encourages people to get in touch. 'Torsten has categorically never used this language to describe disabled people. These quotes are made-up, using language that was never used in the context of this issue, but will cause real distress to some extremely vulnerable people.' As of now, and according to figures released by Liberal Democrats post their written parliamentary question, 90.19% of PIP claimants recieiving the standard rate in Mr Bell's constituency, Swansea West scored less than four points in daily living activities, meaning they are at risk of losing support. ‌ 'It'll [proposed bill] push people away from work. They've mentioned the so-called support that's going to help people. They haven't said what that will be yet,' Ben said. 'They're cutting support before they've even told us what they're going to help people with.' He added: 'I don't think it'll even save money. You know it's supposed to be about cuts, about saving money for taxpayer. I don't think it will even do that. A lot of government departments and a lot of economists have warned it's not going to save the money they think it will. 'All I think it's about is, it's quite cynical, I think they think it is about votes, it is about electoral strategy from the Labour Party.' ‌ Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has said: 'Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. 'This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. 'This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot - putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.' ‌ Phil Coleman says he'll be pushed into poverty with the new disability reforms (Image: Shaurya Shaurya ) Phil Coleman, 58, from Pontardawe, who once thrived as a maintenance technician at Swansea's National Waterfront Museum is now grappling with the debilitating effects of long-Covid, unable to continue his work. Now reliant on benefits and his life savings for income, he told WalesOnline during the DPAC postest in Swansea against the proposed reforms in May this year: "I've got long Covid, and I got long Covid three years ago. Before that, I was a very fit, healthy person, and I've paid tax and national insurance for 40 years. ‌ "So I feel I've already paid into the system. So I think it's absolutely atrocious now that the benefits of some of the most vulnerable people in society are being cut." He emphasised the difficulty he faces if his financial support is slashed further. Phil outlined: "I'm on a benefit, I'm on employment support allowance, which is not a lot of money. It's great and I'm lucky that I've got savings because I've worked for 40 years and I am actually using my savings because the benefit is not enough to live on. It's as simple as that. It [reduction in benefits] will plunge me into poverty, basically." ‌ Addressing his bleak retirement prospects, he shared: "I'm 10 years off retiring. I've been denied early retirement on grounds of ill health because at the moment I've been told, 'Well, you've got long Covid, you could get better.' "I also have a heart problem that was caused by long Covid. So I can't retire early. If likely I lose my benefit... that's my only income at the moment." You can read more about the experiences of those on PIP at risk of losing support by clicking here. Article continues below