Extra Universal Credit & more coronavirus financial support

Last updated March 2021

 Do you receive Universal Credit, or a different form of benefits? Or do you think you might need to start claiming benefits soon? Either way, you might be wondering what the Budget announcements last week meant for you.

The £20/week uplift

Since early on in the coronavirus pandemic, Universal Credit claimants have been paid an ‘uplift’ of an extra £20 per week. This had been due to end on 6 April 2021, but it will now last until the end of September 2021.

• The continued uplift applies to all new and existing claimants.
• As before, you don’t need to make a claim for this extra payment. It will be paid straight into your bank account, or wherever your Universal Credit payment is usually paid into.
• Like the rest of your Universal Credit, it will usually be paid monthly.
• You can find out more on the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) website.

What if I don’t get Universal Credit?

Have you checked whether you’re eligible to make a claim for Universal Credit? Try our free, independent benefits calculator.

A number of people don’t get Universal Credit yet. You might still receive ‘legacy benefits’ like Income Support or tax credits. But anyone who was claiming Working Tax Credit as of 2 March 2021 will now also receive an uplift.

This will take the form of a one-off £500 payment. The payment will be made between now and mid-April. Again, you don’t need to make a new claim. You should receive this payment automatically.

What if you’re employed, or self-employed, but can’t work for public health reasons? For example, you might be isolating following an exposure to coronavirus; infected with coronavirus yourself; or living with someone who is. You may be entitled to benefits, statutory sick pay or a combination of the two. You can find out more on the government’s website.

If you’re in one of the circumstances above you may also be able to claim a one-off support grant. However, there are slightly different schemes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. So you may have to meet certain additional criteria to be eligible: see below.

• In England, you may be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment. You can only claim this if you’ve been told to isolate by Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app.
• In Wales, this is called the Self-isolation support scheme. It also takes the form of a £500 grant. You may be able to apply if you’ve been told to isolate. You can also apply for a payment in Wales if you’ve had a positive coronavirus test result.
• In Scotland, if Test and Protect tell you to isolate, you could get a £500 Self Isolation Support Grant.
• In Northern Ireland, you could get a self-isolation grant if you’ve tested positive or been told to isolate.

 

Got other concerns about your income? If you’re one of our DMP, IVA, Trust Deed or DAS customers, you can always get in touch with us. We can help make sure your budget is working for you. You can find our contact details here.