Drawing on a three year, two wave, ESRC-funded qualitative, longitudinal research study entitled Couples balancing work, money and care under the shifting landscape of Universal Credit (ESRC ES/ R004811/1), this policy brief presents new empirical findings for how the £20 uplift was experienced and responded to by UC claimants themselves. This focus on the experience of claimants highlights how the means-tested design of Universal Credit affects claimants in different ways according to their circumstances, and especially whether or not they have any earnings.