YCL! June 2014 | Page 9

Your guide to Universal Credits ! The amount you receive in benefits is likely to change. If you are under 25, the basic amount you get will be less than people over 25. BUT The amount you get as housing costs will be less if you are 35. If you are out of work there is a limit on how much you can receive in benefit payments. The limit has been set at £500 per week for couples and £350 per week for single adults. This amount includes housing costs. As you get a job and earn your own money, the money you get in benefits will change. You can earn a small amount before it has any impact on your benefits. This amount is different for everyone- depending on your circumstances. For every £1 extra you earn after tax over that amount, your benefits will be reduced by 65p. So this means you will still e 35p better off for every £1 you earn. If you are already getting benefits but would get less when you switch to Universal Credit, you will get a top up so that the amount you get remains the same. This top up will last until your circumstances change or until the amount you are entitled to get under Universal Credit catches up with what you were getting before. If you have any questions: ask your Dreamcatcher worker for more info! :)