Thursday 15 Feb 2018 @ 11:20
Department for Work and Pensions
Printable version

First Universal Credit payment paid quicker

Universal Credit will be paid sooner to new claimants as of yesterday (14 February 2018).

Everyone is now entitled to Universal Credit from the first day they claim, removing 7 days some had to wait.

This change was announced as part of a wider £1.5 billion package of improvements to Universal Credit in the Autumn Budget 2017.

Work and Pensions Secretary of State Esther McVey said:

It can be a worrying time looking for work and our priorities are to help people find employment quickly and to improve lives. Our package of support affords better help for people as soon as they make a claim to Universal Credit.

We will be removing the 7 waiting days, which means no one has to wait 6 weeks for their first Universal Credit payment and this will benefit the average household by around £160.

Advance payments

The comprehensive package also includes an increase in advance payments to 100% of the expected Universal Credit payment. This means anyone who needs help before their first Universal Credit payment can receive up to their full expected Universal Credit within 5 days, or on the same day if in urgent need. The repayment period has also been extended to a year

Housing Benefit

From April 2018, anyone in receipt of Housing Benefit who moves onto Universal Credit will continue to have their rent paid for 2 weeks during the wait for their first payment, and that payment is non recoverable.

Personalised support

Under Universal Credit, people get more personalised support that meets their individual needs and we are seeing jobseekers moving into work faster and staying in work longer than compared to the old system.

Contact Press Office

Press Office

Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA

London Press Office (national media and London area enquiries only – not questions about personal claims) 020 3267 5144

Out-of-hours (journalists only) 076 59 108 883

England and Wales (local media enquiries) 029 20 586 then 097 or 098 or 099

Scotland (local media enquiries) 0131 310 1122

Follow DWP on:

 

Channel website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

Original article link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-universal-credit-payment-paid-quicker

Share this article

Latest News from
Department for Work and Pensions

Back to work boost as quarter of a million workplace training places delivered

17/04/2024 15:10:00

More than a quarter of a million workplace training places for benefit claimants have been delivered in just three years, new data reveals.

£1.5 Million investment to improve in-work health services as part of government drive to tackle inactivity

15/04/2024 12:10:00

Reforms to occupational health services will be shaped through a £1.5m innovation fund, as the government continues its drive to tackle in work sickness and boost economic activity using new technology and artificial intelligence.

Working parents on Universal Credit set receive up to £20,872 a year in childcare support

10/04/2024 16:20:00

Parents on Universal Credit can now receive up to £1,311 more a year in childcare support following a 6.7% boost coming into effect, as the government’s expansion of free childcare for working parents delivers 150,000 places in a week.

Fraudsters behind £53.9 million benefits scam brought to justice in country’s largest benefit fraud case

10/04/2024 14:15:00

A group who stole over £50 million of taxpayers’ money has been brought to justice in the largest ever benefit fraud case in England and Wales.

Government reaffirms commitment to backing pensioners with £900 rise to state pension

10/04/2024 10:10:10

The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement.

Half a million more benefit claimants set to benefit from back to work support as Universal Credit expands

10/04/2024 09:20:00

Half a million people claiming old benefits will be invited to claim Universal Credit, unlocking all the work support it offers.

New guide published to help businesses boost disabled people’s prospects at work

09/04/2024 12:20:00

A new Disability Confident guide for managers helping them recruit, retain, and foster the progression of disabled people and those with health conditions in the workplace has been published today by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

£5 billion in support for energy bills paid this Winter

05/04/2024 15:25:00

An estimated £5 billion in support has been paid throughout Winter to help families with energy costs.

New laws to cut migration and put British workers first in force

05/04/2024 12:12:00

Changes that are now in force will slash migration and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers looking to recruit cheap labour from overseas.