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Millions of people are moving onto the government's new all-in-one benefits system, Universal Credit.

And if you're one of them, from today onwards, there's an important sliver of good news.

From today, anyone joining the benefit will face a wait of five weeks, not six, for their first payment.

Tory ministers announced the move in November's budget, after widespread outcry that claimants were struggling to make rent because they had to wait too long for their benefits.

Here's our guide to what's happening, when it will start and whether it will affect you.

What is happening?

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

One of the major complaints about Universal Credit is the length of time between registering as a claimant, and the money arriving in your account.

Previously the Department for Work and Pensions have said the timescale for this is six weeks - although some people have had to wait much longer.

Up to now, the first seven days after you first make your claim are called "waiting days", with the seventh day being the day of the month that you're paid.

Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears, so there's four weeks to wait before they pay your money in.

And then they allow seven days for the payment to reach your account. Altogether that's six weeks.

The change coming in today removes the seven "waiting days" and starts your claim from the day you register.

Why is it happening?

(Image: PA)

Universal Credit's botched rollout was heavily criticised. The flawed system left people without enough money to pay their rent on time, leaving them in arrears and facing eviction.

And the uproar wasn't restricted to opponents of the policy.

It was only after the anger spread to Tory MPs, who agreed with the idea, but blasted the flawed implementation, that Chancellor Philip Hammond caved in and agreed to a £1.5 billion package of measures to mitigate the impact of the bungled rollout.

Will it affect me?

(Image: Getty Images)

If you're a new claimant, you are affected.

This means if you are not currently claiming benefits (or in some cases have had a break in your claim).

If you're already on non-UC benefits, you are unlikely to be affected. That's because the process of moving existing claimants over only gets going in 2019, except in some cases like if there's a gap in your claim.

Find out when Universal Credit reaches your area here.

What else is coming down the track?

From April, a change will be made that will allow those already on Housing Benefit to continue to receive their award for the first two weeks of their Universal Credit claim.

And from February 2019, families with more than two children who make new claims for Universal Credit will no longer be directed to claim Child Tax Credit instead.