Changes to benefits brought in during Covid 19 lockdown
The column this week is to provide an update to certain benefit changes/ rule suspensions, etc. that were introduced during lockdown/pandemic and will now be coming to an end or are expected to end at later date.
Please as always be aware things may change either as a result of possible government u-turns or if pandemic control measures have to be extended, so asalwayskeepaneyeonthenews.
Thechangemostpeoplewillbe aware of is the ending of the £20/ week uplift for Universal Credit; the government has confirmed this will end in October.
There has been no indication of a date however, this may mean thatyourOctoberUCpaymentwill be the last time you get the £20 it could mean that your October paymentofUCwillnotincludethe £20;thegovernmentpressrelease is quite vague on this point.
We understand some UC claimants have already been notified via their journals before the government confirmed the uplift was ending.
Onefinalpointtoalsoconsider is the government is still getting petitions, lobbying, etc. to keep theupliftinpaymenttoassistpeople and aid in economic recovery so it may change.
For anyone self-employed and claiming UC the rules regarding calculating income from self-employment along with the suspension of minimum income floor (MIF) are ending.
Pre-pandemic rules will apply from 1/8/2021 but again some of the guidance currently available is somewhat vague and the position may change or be clarified at a later date.
MIF was a method of calculating self-employed earnings, in essenceirrespectiveofyourearnings if you were self-employed yourearningswereassumedtobe 35 hours/week at national minimum wage, even if you earned nowhere near this amount.
MIF didn't apply for new selfemployed persons, the rules only took effect after 12 months of being self-employed. During lockdown MIF was suspended, the start up period was extended for established businesses.
Againthegovernmenthaveadvised pre-pandemic rules apply from 1/8/2021 but there is some indication this will be a gradual introduction to prevent a sudden decrease in UC payments.
The current position re MIF can be viewed at https://www. gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-andself-employment-quick-guide/ universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide