Fairer Universal Credit for Freelancers | Leeds News

Leeds News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 8, 2026 · 1m

Self-employed folks are pushing back against Universal Credit’s rigid Minimum Income Floor, which forces benefits to be calculated based on a fixed monthly amount—even if actual earnings dip. A think tank proposes replacing this with a rolling 12-month average after a startup period, so freelancers get support that matches real income fluctuations. This would mean more help during lean months for those averaging above the floor, while still applying the current system if earnings consistently fall below it—aiming to make the system fairer and more realistic for small business owners. Listen…