Dwp dropping £317 in universal credit claimants' bank accounts after midnight

The Department for Work and Pensions is poised to deposit £317 directly into bank accounts from midnight. The DWP is adjusting Universal Credit payments at midnight on Friday, due to the May

Bank Holiday. As the Bank Holiday Monday falls on May 26, individuals under 25 who usually receive a Universal Credit payment on Monday will now receive their payment three days earlier, on

Friday, May 23, with £317 set to be disbursed. Universal Credit and other DWP-related benefits saw a 1.7 per cent increase on April 7. However, as most benefits are paid in arrears,

claimants will not see the full uprating until the next assessment period has been completed. Applications for Universal Credit can be made online. An account needs to be created to make a

claim. Claims must be completed within 28 days of creating an account or the process will need to be restarted. The claim commences on the date it is submitted in your account, reports

Birmingham Live. If you cohabit with your partner, both of you will need to create accounts. These will be linked together when you claim. You cannot claim individually. If you are unable to

claim online, you can claim via phone through the Universal Credit helpline. If you are already receiving benefits, you should calculate if you'll be better off before you or your

partner apply for Universal Credit. If you apply for Universal Credit those benefits might cease and you will not be able to reapply for them again, even if your application is not approved.

The Government is also introducing a new Fair Repayment Rate, which limits debt repayments made with Universal Credit to 15 per cent of the standard allowance. It asserts this will enable

1.2 million households to retain more of their Universal Credit award. Single claimants under 25 will receive £316.98 a month, an increase from £311.68 last year. Joint claimants under 25

will receive £497.55 a month, up from £489.23. Single claimants over 25 are set to receive £400.14, an increase from £393.45. Joint claimants over 25 will receive £628.09, up from the

current £617.60.