AS THE clocks go forward and families across Britain start to look forward to a deserved Easter break, there is extra reason to have a spring in your step.

How so? Well, from today you’ll start to notice a few changes in your finances.

If you’re a working family or a disabled person claiming Universal Credit you’ll see more money in your pocket.

That’s because the changes we’ve made to make Universal Credit work better for you kick in from today, meaning you’ll now be up to £630 a year better off thanks to the decisions by this government.

This is all part of our drive to ensure Universal Credit is working for everyone.

For example, since 2016 we’ve invested nearly £10billion into Universal Credit so that no one has to wait five weeks for a first payment. And by slashing the work allowances and taper rates, people can keep more of what they earn.

And if you are disabled, further financial support is here. From today the maximum Access to Work grant – which pays for equipment or for interpreters to help disabled people to do their jobs – is worth nearly £60,000, an increase by £2,000 a year.

We are also increasing many of our benefits for pensioners, mums, carers and disabled people by 2.4 per cent and the State Pension by 2.6 per cent.

I know The Sun has campaigned vigorously for Universal Credit to be fairer and more flexible, which is why since becoming the Secretary of State I have taken steps to do just that.

And the changes we have made mean that every child born before April 2017 will be supported by Universal Credit.

I’ve also committed to touring the country to investigate how Universal Credit is working in different communities. It’s taken me across Britain from Warrington to Harlow and Cardiff to Stoke.

And the results of that review are already taking shape.

For example, I’ve said that by the summer a new specialist domestic abuse worker will be in place in every Jobcentre, all part of our commitment to ensuring the welfare system works for women.

The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work

Universal Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment.

One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2023, nearly 7 million will be on it.

But there are big problems with the flagship new system – it takes 5 weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year.

And while working families can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront – we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money.

Working parents across the country told us they’ve been unable to take on more hours – or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount they get their benefits cut.

It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the government to:

1. Get paid faster: The government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt.
2. Keep more of what you earn: The work allowance should be increased and the taper rate should be slashed from from 63p to 50p, helping at least 4 million families.
3. Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears.

Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.

Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email [email protected] to share your story. 

Along with Women’s Minister Penny Mordaunt we are absolutely determined that women get all the support they need.

That’s also why I’ve set out steps to ensure Universal Credit payments will go directly to a household's main carer – often, but not always, the woman of the household.

With the employment rate is at a record high and 32.7 million people taking home a wage, I know Sun readers are working hard to improve their lives and you can be assured that we too are working hard to help you on every step of the way.

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