This week (24 November) the Government has announced changes to Universal Credit which means working families can get more support.
If you used to earn too much to claim...
You can earn more before your Universal Credit starts going down. Now your family can earn over £500 per month before your Universal Credit starts going down.
This means that if you used to earn over the limit to claim benefits, you might be able to claim now. It's worth going onto a benefits calculator to check if you're able to apply and putting in a claim. We can help if you haven't claimed before and need some advice.
If you get Universal Credit now...
The Government are also changing something called the 'Universal Credit taper rates'. The taper rate is how much Universal Credit goes down as you earn more money.
Before Universal Credit used to go down by 63p for every £1 extra you earn - now it will only go down by 55p.If you're on Universal Credit and you work, the money you get could be going up.
What does this mean?
The hope is that these changes will help families on lower wages or with children, where it can be hard for both parents to work.
If you work, it's worth checking a benefits calculator to see if you could claim Universal Credit and get support with your finances OR (if you already claim) how much you might get now.
When?
The changes will come in from 1 December 2021.
How much could my Universal Credit be?
This will depend on your situation - how much you earn, whether your partner works, etc. The best thing to do is click on the link below to open a benefits calculator, or get in touch with us for advice.