LRD guides and handbook June 2020

State support and coronavirus - a trade union guide

Chapter 4

Standard allowance

[ch 4: page 30]

The standard allowance is the starting point for Universal Credit. It varies depending on your age – with a lower rate for those aged under 25 – and whether you are living on your own or as a couple. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, the government announced a £1,000 per year increase in the standard allowance for the duration of the outbreak. For example, the standard allowance for a single Universal Credit claimant (aged 25 and over) increased on 6 April 2020 from £317.82 to £409.89 a month.

The TUC says that is not enough and called for an urgent increase in the basic level of Universal Credit for the duration of the outbreak to 80% of the real living wage  – or £260 a week.  

The current monthly allowances are set out below:

Single and under 25 £342.72
Single and 25 or over £409.89
In a couple both under 25 £489.59 (per couple)
In a couple and one is 25 or over £594.04 (per couple)