ESA now paying my rent?

calcotti

Robbie64 said: The extra cash essentially brings the UC standard allowance level for a single person aged 25+ to roughly the same as SSP. I assume that is the reasoning behind why the increase is £20 per week as otherwise it's a random amount.

Exactly so. The stated purpose was so that a single self employed person over 25 claiming UC would get a standard allowance equivalent to SSP (which is not available to them). It of course doesn't give parity between the employed and self employed because someone who gets SSP can claim UC as well and will be entitled to some UC as well as SSP.

All UC Standard Allowances have had a similar increase of about £90/month plus the previously announced inflation linked increases (compared to 2019-20):

Single	Under 25	was £251.77	is now £342.72
	25 or over	was £317.82	is now £409.89
Couple	Both under 25	was £395.20	is now £488.59
	One or both 25 or over 25	was £498.89	is now £594.04