Millions of benefit claimants are set for a pay rise in the next few days as the benefit payment hikes from last month are finally implemented.
Universal Credit and other Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Carer’s Allowance, rise by 1.7% from April 7. The state pension rose by a bigger 4.1% from the same date, because the increase was dictated by the triple lock, which sees the state pension rise by whichever is biggest out of inflation, wage growth or 2.5%.
However, due to how the benefit system works, households have not yet seen the hikes applied to their monthly payments. In good news for claimants, some will see the increases in this month’s benefit payment.
The delay is due to the DWP’s assessment period. This is when the benefits department looks at your financial situation to see how much Universal Credit you will get.
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Normally, Universal Credit is paid seven days after the four week assessment period. This is because there is no set amount for how much Universal Credit you can get, as the total you can be paid depends on your personal circumstances, which include things like age, whether you live in a couple, have a disability, and whether you have children.
You can also work while claiming Universal Credit – but the more you earn the less you get. All this means is that the amount you get paid can change from month to month. It is also paid in arrears, so your payments are always based on your previous month’s circumstances.
So to get the new rates, your assessment period needs to start after April 7. If this is the case, you will then see your benefits rise in your May Universal Credit payment. This will start landing in bank accounts from May 13.
However, anyone whose assessment started after April 7 will need to wait until June for the new higher rates to kick in. This is because the new rates only apply after your first full assessment period of the new tax year.
The DWP has confirmed in previous years that backpay will be awarded for those yet to see the increase, as the delay is the standard annual protocol for applying new rises.
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Turn2us benefits expert Halide Kalfaoglu said in an example: “John’s assessment period starts on March 26. It runs for a complete calendar month to April 25, with a new assessment period beginning on April 26.
They added: “Rachel’s assessment period starts on April 12. It runs for a complete calendar month to May 11, with a new assessment period beginning on May 12.
“Universal Credit payments are paid a week after the last date of each assessment period, so Rachel will receive her payment on May 18. Rachel’s assessment period starts after April 7, so the new rates will take effect and she will receive increased Universal Credit payment on May 18.”
As mentioned before, there is no set level for how much money you get every month – what you get is dependent on your personal circumstances.
The additional payments are added on top of your “standard allowance” before deductions are made based on whether you work, have savings, and other measures.
Universal Credit’s standard allowance rates rose in April 2025, and below is the 2024-25 rate – alongside what it rose to this year:
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