Universal Credit claimants are being urged to check whether they could be entitled to an extra monthly payment, with some people able to boost their benefit by more than £200 if they meet the relevant eligibility rules. Many people may not realise the additional support is available, as it is not automatically included in every Universal Credit award and depends on an individual's circumstances.
What is the extra payment?
Universal Credit is a monthly payment designed to help people with their living costs. It is available to people on a low income, whether they are working, unemployed or unable to work because of a health condition or disability. The amount someone receives depends on their personal circumstances, including whether they qualify for any additional elements.
One of those extra payments is the lower Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) element, worth £217.26 a month. It is available to some people whose health condition or disability affects their ability to work and who meet the relevant eligibility rules.
Who could get the extra £217 payment?
People may qualify for the lower LCWRA payment of £217.26 a month if they are assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) and meet the relevant eligibility rules. Under rules introduced on April 6, 2026, the lower LCWRA amount applies to people who:
- declared a health condition or disability on or after April 6, 2026
- do not have a severe, lifelong health condition
- are not nearing the end of their life
- do not have a partner who qualifies for the higher LCWRA amount
The extra payment is added on top of a claimant's standard Universal Credit allowance.
Who could receive the higher payment?
Some claimants may instead qualify for the higher LCWRA payment of £429.80 a month. This higher amount is available to people who told the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about their health condition before April 6, 2026, were already receiving LCWRA before that date, transferred from the Employment and Support Allowance support group, have a severe lifelong health condition or disability, or are nearing the end of their life.
What changed in April 2026?
The Universal Credit Act 2025 changed how the LCWRA element is paid from April 6, 2026. Instead of one payment rate, there are now two rates. Which one someone receives depends on when they declared their health condition and whether they have a severe, lifelong condition or are nearing the end of their life. People who were already receiving LCWRA before April 6, 2026 are not affected by the changes and continue under the previous rules.
How are health conditions assessed?
The Department for Work and Pensions usually decides whether someone qualifies after a Work Capability Assessment. A health professional considers the medical evidence provided. People nearing the end of their life do not usually need to undergo a Work Capability Assessment. To be classed as having a severe, lifelong health condition or disability, the condition must generally prevent someone from working, be expected to last for the rest of their life, not be expected to improve and be formally diagnosed by a health professional. People who meet these conditions will usually not need another assessment in the future.
Other help available through Universal Credit
Depending on their circumstances, Universal Credit claimants may also qualify for additional support. Parents can receive extra payments for children, including additional amounts for disabled children. Working parents may also be able to claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs, while some claimants can receive help with housing costs. People caring for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit for at least 35 hours a week may be entitled to the Universal Credit carer's element, currently worth £209.34 a month, although this cannot usually be paid at the same time as the LCWRA element.
Who can claim Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is available to people on a low income, whether they are employed, self-employed, unemployed or unable to work because of a health condition. To qualify, people generally need to live in the UK, be aged 18 or over, be under State Pension age and have £16,000 or less in savings and investments. Couples usually need to make a joint claim, and anyone who thinks they could qualify can check their eligibility using one of the Government's approved online benefits calculators.
