Universal Credit is the Government's benefits system to support people who are low paid or out of work.
It was intended to combine or replace six other benefits including jobseeker's allowance, child tax credit and housing benefit and started to be rolled out at job centres in 2013.
It is a means-tested benefit, for people of working age who are on a low income.
READ MORE: DWP and HRMC benefits warning over 'cuts of up to £720'
The new financial year starts on April 6, and from this date Universal Credit and a number of other benefit payments will rise by 3.1%.
These include:
- Universal Credit
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Attendance Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefit
New Universal Credit payments for 2022/23 (monthly rates shown)
Standard allowance
Single
Single under 25: £265.31 (from £257.33)
Single 25 or over: £334.91 (from £324.84)
Couple
Joint claimants both under 25: £416.45 (from £403.93)
Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £525.72 (from £509.91)
Child elements
First child (born prior to April 6, 2017): £290 (from £282.60)
First child (born on or after April 6, 2017) or second child and subsequent child (where an exception or transitional provision applies): £244.58 (from £237.08)
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