Universal Credit


What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is a benefit for working age people. It combines six benefits into one single payment, which is usually made directly to the claimant each month. You will budget and will pay your rent to us out of your Universal Credit payment.

Universal Credit replaces:

  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Housing Benefit.

Any benefits you receive which are not included in this list, such as council tax support and carers allowance, will continue to be paid as usual.

Will I have to claim Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is being rolled out across the UK and you will continue to claim your benefits as normal, until you are told you need to claim Universal Credit instead.

How do I make a claim?

You have to apply for Universal Credit online. If you don’t have access to the internet at home, you can use computers at your local library or Jobcentre.

If you need help to make your claim, please call us on 0344 736 0066 or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Before claiming Universal Credit, we recommend you:

  • Choose where your payments will be made and ensure your account allows you to receive automated payments
  • Set up regular payments for things like rent and bills
  • Plan to budget monthly, rather than weekly, by working out how much money you have coming in each month and what you need to spend it on
  • Make sure you have access to the internet (so you can manage your account online) either at home, your local library or Jobcentre Plus. You will need an email address in order to claim.

Before you claim, make sure you have the following information to hand:

  • Your National Insurance number (and your partner’s if necessary)
  • Your postcode
  • Your landlord’s name and address
  • Your eligible rent (this can be different from your full rent – you can
  • Contact us to check what this is)
  • Details of any children, relatives or friends who live with you
  • Bank account details of where you want your payments to go
  • Details of any savings you may have
  • Your expected monthly wage (if you are working)
  • Details of any other income you receive
  • Your email address and contact telephone number(s).

Once you have made your claim

Once you have made your Universal Credit claim, you may need to go to the Jobcentre for an interview, to provide documents and discuss budgets.

If your circumstances change, such as changes in your employment or household, you will need to report these online.

You will need to make a separate claim for Council Tax Support from your local council.

How and when is Universal Credit paid?

Universal Credit is a single payment that is paid once a month into an account that you choose. If you and your partner are both claiming Universal Credit, you will need to choose which account it is paid into.

Your first payment will be made four to six weeks after your claim date, and then monthly after that. You may need to wait an additional seven days for your first Universal Credit payment. This is because the government introduced seven waiting days into the Universal Credit system. If you feel like you will struggle with monthly payments, you can ask for your Universal Credit to be made fortnightly. You will need to explain why you don’t think you can manage on monthly payments.

If you think you will struggle to manage while waiting for the first payment, you can ask the DWP for an advance payment. You’ll need to ask for this at your first interview, or call the helpline on 0345 600 0723. You will have to pay this advance back out of your future Universal Credit payments.

How much Universal Credit will I get?

How much you will receive will depend on you, your partners’ and any dependent children’s personal circumstances, such as any disabilities or being unfit to work, as well as income you already have coming in.

Most people will receive a similar amount to the amount they currently receive from benefits. However, some people will be better off on Universal Credit, and some people may be worse off.

Visit www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators to find out how much you could receive.

What is the Claimant Commitment?

To claim Universal Credit, you will need to sign a claimant commitment. This outlines what you need to do to receive your Universal Credit payments:

  • If you are fit to work but unemployed, you will need to look for work. Most people will be expected to spend 35 hours a week looking for work, unless you have children under the age of 13.
     
  • Some part-time and lower paid workers may also have to show that they are looking for more hours or higher paid work.
     
  • Failing to keep to your claimant commitment will mean losing some of your Universal Credit – this is called a sanction. Hardship Payments are available if you face a sanction, but these are loans and need to be repaid. If you have been sanctioned, we can check that that this is right and challenge this on your behalf if it is wrong.

Think about how you will budget

Universal Credit is paid monthly, but the amount you receive may change each month, depending on any other income you receive. It’s a good idea to make a budget for all your income and outgoings each month. This helps to make sure you can pay all your bills and manage your money until your next payment is due.

If you’re concerned about how you will manage your money, we can offer budgeting and money management advice, call us on 0344 736 0066.

Paying your rent

It’s really important that you prioritise paying your rent. This protects your tenancy and ensures you don’t go into rent arrears and risk losing your home. If you are ever concerned or struggling to pay your rent, it’s important that you talk to us as soon as possible on 0344 736 0066 – we’re here to help and we can do more to support you the earlier you talk to us.

We recommend paying a little extra towards your rent before you start to claim Universal Credit, so you do not go into arrears once you start to claim.  

Couples – can you claim Pension Credit?

If either you or your partner is Pension Credit age, you will be expected to claim Universal Credit unless you are getting Pension Credit. If you are awarded Pension Credit, you will not need to claim Universal Credit. Find out more about Pension Credit on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling 0800 731 7898.