Benefits claimants transferring to Universal Credit could receive a payment that is equivalent to two weeks of money.
The one-time payment, known as a run-on, is to help people during their first assessment period, and does not have to be paid back.
From July 22, if someone’s existing claim of income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support ends due to them applying for Universal Credit they will receive a payment worth up to two weeks of their legacy award.
It will be paid automatically to eligible claimants when they claim Universal Credit for the first time, so people don’t have to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to receive it, Chronicle Live reports.
It will not have an impact on the amount of Universal Credit people receive.
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Minister for Welfare Delivery Will Quince said: “This one-off payment will provide additional support as claimants move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
"It doesn’t have to be paid back and won’t affect their UC award, so is welcome extra cash in pockets.”
Run-on payments will include other premiums that claimants have been receiving prior to moving over to Universal Credit, including Enhanced Disability Premium, carer premium or ESA work-related activity component.
Universal Credit is supposed to simplify the benefit system and replaces six previous legacy benefits with a single monthly payment.
But the scheme has attracted some controversy.
Since mid-March the DWP has managed to process more than 2.5 million claims for Universal Credit and pay over one million new claims advances.
The Government lists independent benefit calculators to help people check to see how much support through Universal Credit they are entitled before moving from legacy benefits.
