DWP Universal Credit change this month that parents need to know | Personal Finance | Finance

Families receiving Universal Credit will start to notice a change to their payments from next month.

From April 6, 2026, the restriction on claiming support for more than two children was removed, meaning households can now receive the child element for every child they are responsible for. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that while the change is already in force, most claimants will not see the increase straight away, with higher payments expected to begin arriving from May or June.

The DWP said the timing depends on each claimant’s monthly assessment period, which determines when Universal Credit is calculated and paid.

What the rule change means

Previously, most families could only receive the child element of Universal Credit for their first two children, unless they qualified for specific exemptions, reports the Daily Record.

This policy, known as the ‘two-child limit’, has now been abolished. As a result, families with three or more children can now receive additional monthly support for each extra child, boosting their overall Universal Credit entitlement.

The change applies across the entire Universal Credit system, meaning both new and existing claimants stand to benefit.

How much more you could get

The child element of Universal Credit is currently worth:

• £333.33 a month for a first child (born before April 6, 2017)
• £287.92 a month for each additional child

This means families will now be able to receive an extra £287.92 a month for every additional child who was previously not included in their claim. Over a year, that is worth more than £3,400 per child.

When the extra money will be paid

Although the policy change took effect from April 6, payments will only increase after a claimant completes their next full monthly assessment period.

This means:

• Some households will see higher payments from May
• Others will not receive the increase until June

DWP guidance states that the exact timing will vary depending on individual payment cycles.

What families need to do

There is no need to make a new claim or contact DWP, as the changes should be applied automatically.

However, claimants are advised to check their Universal Credit statements to ensure the correct number of children are included in their award.

Further details regarding how the changes operate, including eligibility criteria and payment timings, can be found on GOV.UK.