Universal Credit

Campaigners have called on the Government to fix "absurd flaws" with the benefits system that prevent vulnerable people from getting help from family and friends to manage their universal credit accounts. Without this help, campaigners warn claimants ultimately risk losing their benefits.    

Millions of universal credit claimants will continue to get a £20/week uplift to their payments for a further six months, it was announced today, after Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a series of benefits adjustments in his 2021 Budget.

MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has warned of the "sinkhole" waiting for many self-employed people in November, when the planned return of the universal credit "minimum income floor" could mean payments are slashed. 

Pensioners who live together as a couple will only be able to make a new claim for pension credit when both partners are over the state pension age, under new rules set to come into effect in May - a change which could cost some £7,000 per year. If you'll be affected and are eligible to claim, do it ASAP to avoid missing out. 

Income tax cuts will be brought in a year earlier than planned and an extra £1 billion spent to help protect those moving onto universal credit, as part of the 2018 Budget unveiled by the Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Universal credit work allowances are to increase by £1,000 a year for working families and those with disabilities, meaning they could have an extra £630 a year in their pockets, the Chancellor revealed today.

A fifth of universal credit claimants are still receiving their first payment late, a new report reveals.

The standard wait for universal credit claimants to get their first benefit payment will be cut from six to five weeks from February, it was revealed today.

Controversial charges of up to 55p a minute for calls to the universal credit helpline are to be abolished, the Government has announced.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the student loan repayment threshold will be increased from £21,000 to £25,000 as part of a wide-ranging review of student finance.