Universal Credit Claimant Commitment explained – what is required to receive payments | Personal Finance | Finance
The benefits is means tested, meaning the amount a person receives varies depending on their situation. The Claimant Commitment outlines a person’s responsibilities they have to accept to receive Universal Credit payments.
The document will include details of what a person agrees to do to prepare for and look for work, and how they need to look to increase their earnings if they are in work.
These requirements will be based on a person’s circumstances and will be reviewed and updated regularly.
Whenever the commitment is updated, a person will be required to accept a new Claimant Commitment, or face the possibility of sanctions on their payments.
What happens if a person doesn’t follow their Universal Credit Claimant Commitment?
The Claimant Commitment will include details warning a person what will happen if they fail to meet each of their responsibilities.
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There are exceptions from the requirements. If a medical professional has said the claimant may have less than 12 months to live, they will not need a Claimant Commitment.
Universal Credit payments are to increase by 10.1 percent in April, along with many other benefits.
This will provide a payment boost of around £600 a year for the average family on the benefit.
With the uprating, monthly payments will go up to:
- Single under 25: £292.11
- Single 25 or over: £368.74
- Joint claimants both under 25: £458.51
- Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £578.82.
