London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Is Universal Credit going up in October - who is eligible?

Is Universal Credit going up in October - who is eligible?

Universal Credit – a payment made to millions each month to help with living costs for those on a low income – is set to change for many people.

The payment replaced individual benefits like Child Tax Credit and Jobseeker’s Allowance, instead giving one payment to include all the benefits you are eligible for, and since the start of lockdown, 3,200,000 people have claimed for the credit.

However, after it was introduced in 2013, many found themselves on less than before, with the change affecting people who were claiming Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Housing Benefit or Pension Credit.

Are Universal Credit payments increasing?

Is Universal Credit going up in October?


Yes, there will be boosts in the payments received by certain people on Universal Credit from October 8.

The boost in payments is designed to bridge the gap between the old benefits and Universal Credit.

Recipients of Universal Credit will get varying amounts, based on a number of factors. You can use the Government’s benefits calculator to work out what you could be owed.



An SDP (Severe Disability Premium) can be claimed if you are also getting an income-related benefit. Single claimants of SDP get £66.95 per week, while a couple gets £133.90 per week.

Justin Tomlinson, minister of state at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), confirmed the payment change to MPs last week.

He said: ‘On July 22, 2019, we laid legislation to provide additional financial support for former SDP recipients who had moved to Universal Credit on account of a change of circumstances…

‘This means that payments will be made through the UC system rather than manually, and all transitional protection will be subject to the same rules.

‘I will be signing a determination setting the conversion day to October 8, 2020.’

Since January 2020, SDP payments have been made manually, as opposed to part of Universal Credit, meaning claimants received two separate payments a month.

This has now been simplified, meaning those who are eligible will get an increase to their Universal Credit payments of £120, £285, or £405, depending on their circumstances.


What is changing for Universal Credit?

Who is eligible for the Universal Credit increase?


The breakdown of the boosts in Universal Credit work out as:

* £285 a month for claimants not in the Universal Credit limited capability for work related activity (LCWRA) group (roughly the equivalent of the lower rate (Severe Disability Premium) SDP at £65.85 a week)

* £120 a month where the Universal Credit claimant has been determined as having limited capability for work and therefore already receives an additional amount in their UC award because of their health condition.

* £405 a month where joint claimants were receiving the higher couple rate SDP in their existing benefits

* £285 a month where joint claimants were receiving the lower couple rate SDP and are not receiving the LCWRA component in Universal Credit

* £285 a month where joint claimants were receiving the lower couple rate SDP and are not receiving the LCWRA component in Universal Credit

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×