Thousands of people claiming Universal Credit in Scotland are choosing to receive their payments twice a month instead of monthly, according to new figures. Latest Scottish Government statistics show 187,520 eligible claims with an active Universal Credit payment were using the twice-monthly option in March 2026.
This represented around 32 per cent of eligible claims and is one of two Universal Credit Scottish Choices designed to give people north of the border greater control over how they receive their benefit.
The other allows the housing costs included in a Universal Credit award to be paid directly to a landlord rather than being received by the claimant. Some 88,770 claims were using this option in March, representing around 38 per cent of those eligible for it.
Claimants can use both options
Claimants can also choose to use both options, meaning they can receive Universal Credit twice monthly while having their housing costs sent directly to their landlord.
The latest figures come as the number of people receiving Universal Credit in Scotland continues to increase, partly as claimants receiving older legacy benefits are moved onto the newer system. There were around 600,000 open Universal Credit claims in Scotland by early 2026, according to the Scottish Government, an increase of around 50 per cent compared with 2023.
How Universal Credit Scottish Choices work
Universal Credit is normally paid once a month, but people living in Scotland can ask for their award to be split into two payments each month. The option can help people who find it easier to budget over shorter periods rather than managing one monthly payment.
The second Scottish Choice concerns housing costs. Universal Credit can include money towards rent for eligible claimants. Normally this is included in the payment made to the claimant, who is then responsible for paying their landlord. In Scotland, eligible claimants can instead ask for the housing costs element of their Universal Credit award to be paid directly to their landlord.
The options have been available since Universal Credit Scottish Choices were introduced in October 2017. Scottish Government figures show 424,410 new Universal Credit clients have accepted at least one Scottish Choice since their introduction. This includes 370,780 who accepted more frequent payments and 97,280 who opted to have housing costs paid directly to their landlord. Some 43,650 accepted both choices.
Who can use the payment options?
Scottish Choices are available to eligible people receiving Universal Credit who live in Scotland. However, not everyone claiming Universal Credit can use both options. For example, someone who does not have housing costs included in their Universal Credit award cannot choose to have housing costs paid directly to a landlord.
People who already have certain Alternative Payment Arrangements put in place by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may also be unable to use one or both Scottish Choices.
New claimants are normally offered Scottish Choices after their first Universal Credit assessment period. Existing Universal Credit claimants in Scotland who are eligible can also request them rather than waiting to be offered the options.
The choices are not permanent. Claimants who change their mind can ask to return to their previous payment arrangement. People considering the direct-to-landlord option should also be aware that their landlord will need to be involved in the arrangement because the housing payment will be sent directly to them.
The latest figures highlight how widely the additional flexibility is being used, with around one in three eligible claims receiving Universal Credit twice monthly and almost four in 10 eligible claims having housing costs paid directly to landlords.
