The UK government has increased the benefits of the Department for Work and Pensions by 1.7% and the State Pension by 4.1% under the Triple Lock rule. The boost in the DWP benefits will be effective from this month.
Under the increased benefits, Universal Credit is one of the schemes DWP that will help citizens with living costs. It is paid monthly or twice a month to people eligible for the Credit in Scotland. According to the reports, around 7.5 million people in the UK received the benefit of the Universal Credit in January 2025.
Most of the Universal Credit recipients come from ethnic groups, and the rest from Asian/ Asian British ethnicity groups, Black/ Caribbean/ African/ Black British ethnicity groups, mixed/ multiple ethnic groups, and others.
| Who qualifies? | People living in the UK who earn a low income, do not work, or are unable to work, and need support with living costs |
| Maxi. Payout | Up to £628.10 |
| Boost by | 1.7% |
| Effective from | April 2025 |
| Changes in April Date | 17 April 2025 (Only for people who will receive the payout on 18 or 21 April 2025) |
| Official Website | https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit |
Who is eligible?
According to the DWP, UK citizens who meet the following criteria can receive the Universal Credit:
- You could receive the Universal Credit when you earn a low income or need support to survive the rising living costs, when you are:
- When you are out of work or unemployed for some reason;
- When you can’t work due to some health issues or disability that limits your capability;
- When you are working or working part-time, or self-employed.
- You must be living in the UK and you must be at least 18 or over.
- If you are between the ages of 16 and 17, you may be eligible for Universal Credit with several limitations.
- You must be under the State Pension Age or have £16,000 or less in savings, money. And investments.
- If you are a Swiss, EU, or EEA citizen, you should have the settled or pre-settled status to get the Universal Credit.
- If you are in the armed forces stationed abroad, you can also apply for the Universal Credit.
Increased Universal Credit
The Universal Credit recipients must be delighted to hear the news that the payout amount will be increased from April 2025 by 1.7%. According to the benefit increase rate 2025/26, you can check the new payout of Universal Credit (Standard allowance) amount below:
| Your situation | Monthly allowance |
| Single and Under 25 | £316.98 |
| Single and aged 25 or over | £400.14 |
| You live with your partner, and you both are under 25 | £497.55 (for both) |
| You live with a partner and one of you is aged 25 or over | £628.10 (for both) |
The Universal credit recipients may receive extra payments with credit on the following conditions:
- If the child has a disability, they could get £158.76 (lower rate), or £495.87 (higher rate)
- If your child is in childcare, you can expect to receive 85% of the childcare costs.
- If the recipient has a disability or health condition, you can receive an extra payout of £423.27 for limited capability of work, or £158.76 for the limited capability of work, and you receive the Universal Credit or ESA before 03 April 2017.
- If you care for someone who has health issues or disability and receives the disability-related benefit, you can expect an extra amount of Universal Credit.
When to expect?
The Universal Credit is paid to the recipients every month into their bank account, building society account, or credit union account. The credit is calculated every month based on the recipient’s circumstances. The recipients generally receive the Universal Credit seven days after the monthly assessment period ends.
The DWP processes the payment on the same date every month when you receive your first payment. Hence, the payment date may vary from recipient to recipient. The recipient waiting for the April 2025 payment should know their payment date may be affected if it falls during the Easter Holidays, 18 April or 21 April 2025.
So, the recipients who will receive the payment on 18 April or 21 April 2025 cna expect their payment to be made to their account earlier on 17 April 2025.
Changes to Report
Universal Credit recipients should know they need to report the changes that occur in their lives affecting their payment to continue receiving the payment. The changes you must report to the DWP when you are a Universal Credit recipient:
- When you have a new addition to the family, like a newborn, adopted child, or others
- When you move to a new place or live with your partner;
- When you are looking for a job or ending work, or stopping work.
- When you have changed your mobile number or email address;
- You move to a foreign land or move out of Northern Ireland.
- When your child is aged aged16 or 19 and he/she stopped their education or training;
- When you make changes to your Building Society account information or bank account;
- When your health condition changes or you are diagnosed with a new condition;
- When your housing costs are changed, or your income, savings, and investments have some changes;
- If you have a changed immigration status when you are not a British citizen.
The Universal Credit is one of the important benefits for many people living in the UK. Now that the payment has increased from this month, the recipients should check their accounts when the payment hits their accounts.