Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now New Universal Credit guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) aims to help people recognise whether a call they receive from them is genuine or a scammer trying to trick them into handing over personal or financial information. The DWP telephony systems mean calls from them may display as 0800 numbers, or an unknown number. If you get a call from an unknown number following a message in your online account, DWP is urging claimants not to ignore it and ‘please pick up’ as it’s likely to be them. However, to help people make sure it is the DWP on the phone and not a would-be fraudster, DWP said it will “ensure that you know the call is genuine”. In the updated ‘Universal Credit and You’ page on GOV.UK , DWP said: “There are scams preying on people, so do not share information if you’re not sure the call is from DWP. If you are in any doubt, ask the caller to post a specific form of words into your journal so you can be sure it’s us. Read More Related Articles New weekly pay rates due from next month for people on PIP, State Pension and other benefits Read More Related Articles Five red flags to help people identify fraud phone calls faster after they answer The recently added guidance explains: “Our phone systems mean calls from us may display as 0800 numbers, or an unknown number. If you get a call from an unknown number following our message in your online account please pick up, as it’s likely to be DWP. We will ensure that you know the call is genuine.” You can read the full update for Universal Credit claimants on GOV.UK here. The latest statistics from the DWP show that at the end of November 2023 there were 6.27 million people claiming Universal Credit. That figure includes 2.3m people in employment and claiming the income-related benefit. DWP benefits, including Universal Credit, are set to increase by 6.7 per cent from April 8, however, claimants are not likely to see the full uplift until May as payments are made in arrears. Payments due after April 8 will contain a mix of the old and new rates until a full payment cycle under the new rates has been completed. Top Money Stories Today Blue Badge rules every user must know New benefit pay rates start in 10 days Check for £800 Council Tax discount £600 pensioner heating help due to end New Universal Credit payment rates 2024/25 Monthly rates are shown unless otherwise stated. A full list of all the proposed new DWP benefit payment rates due to start on April 8 can be found on GOV.UK here . Universal Credit (monthly rates) Single claimants Under 25: £311.68 (from £292.11) 25 or over: £393.45 (from £368.74) Joint claimants Joint claimants both under 25: £489.23 (from £458.51) Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £617.60 (from £578.82) Child Amounts First child (born prior to April 6, 2017): £333.33 (from £315.00) First child (born on or after April 6, 2017) / second child and subsequent child (where an exception or transitional provision applies): £287.92 (from £269.58) Disabled Child Additions Lower rate addition: £156.11 (from £146.31) Higher rate addition: £487.58 (from £456.89) Limited Capability for Work Monthly amount: £156.11 (from £146.31) Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity Monthly amount: £416.19 (from £390.06) Latest Benefits News New Child Benefit rates start next week 10-year PIP award for older people Update on pensioner mobility benefit How to automatically get a Blue Badge Carer amount Monthly amount: £198.31 (from £185.86) Childcare costs amount Maximum for one child: £1014.63 (from ££950.92) Maximum for two or more children: £1,739.37 (from £1630.15) Non-dependants’ housing cost contributions: £91.47 (from £85.73) Get the latest Record Money news Join the conversation on our Money Saving
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WhatsApp community . Work Allowances Higher work allowance (no housing amount) One or more dependent children or limited capability for work: £673.00 (from £631.00) Lower work allowance One or more dependent children or limited capability for work: £404.00 (from £379.00) Full details on Universal Credit deduction amounts based on household circumstances can be found on GOV.UK here. Join our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community here to receive alerts on the latest money news from benefits to shopping deals. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record Facebook
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