DWP Universal Credit changes coming in April 2026 – what you need to know – The Mirror
Need to know
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is introducing major changes to Universal Credit from this April
What you need to know about Universal Credit April 2026 changes
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is introducing major changes to Universal Credit from this April. There is good and bad news, as the standard allowance will go up, but there are significant cuts coming to the linked health element for new claimants.
The Universal Credit standard allowance – the basic amount everyone receives before additional elements are added for children, sickness, or caring responsibilities – will rise above the rate of inflation. The standard allowance for a single person aged 25 and over will increase from £91 to £98 a week.
The health-related Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) element of Universal Credit provides an extra monthly payment for claimants whose health or disability limits their ability to work. This will be limited to £50 a week for new claimants from this April.
Existing claimants will see the top up frozen at £97 a week until 2030, with no annual increases. By 2030, the LCWRA element will be scrapped entirely and replaced with a new health element linked to PIP.
A new subgroup within the LCWRA will be introduced in April for people with the most serious, lifetime disabilities and illnesses. The new Severe Conditions Category (SCC) will receive the higher, current rate of the LCWRA element.
They will also be exempt from routine reassessments for this element. It is understood claimants will not be assessed on what their condition is, but on how it impacts them.
Labour has previously said the the reforms are needed to “rebalance” the benefits system, but critics argue that many of the changes will reduce support for people most in need.
All legacy benefits will be moved across to Universal Credit by the end of March 2026. Universal Credit is replacing Tax Credits, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit.
If you have yet to be moved over, you will receive a “migration notice” in the post. This will give you a three-month deadline to move across to Universal Credit – after this point, your existing benefits will be stopped.
DWP full list of Universal Credit changes coming from April 2026
