This information applies to England and Wales.
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit. You may be eligible if you:
Check your eligibility for Universal Credit (GOV.UK)
Use an online benefits calculator to find out what benefits you are entitled to.
When you make your claim, you must be:
Citizens Advice runs a Help to Claim service. They can support you to work out if you can get Universal Credit.
Help to Claim (Citizens Advice)
Help applying for Universal Credit
You will have to wait at least 5 weeks for your first Universal Credit payment.
After this UC is usually paid once a month. If it is hard to stick to a monthly budget, you can ask if you can be paid more often.
Alternative payment arrangements (GOV.UK)
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You can ask for an advance payment of your Universal Credit 5 days after submitting your claim.
You pay the advance back within 24 months by receiving a lower payment every month. You do not pay interest on the advance.
Get an advance payment (GOV.UK)
Universal Credit has a standard allowance. You may be eligible for extra payments, known as elements. These are extra amounts for things like childcare or housing, or if you cannot work because of sickness or disability.
Check how much Universal Credit you’ll get (Citizens Advice)
You may be claiming New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You may also be able to claim Universal Credit at the same time.
A benefits calculator can help you work out if you’ll be better off on both benefits.
New Style ESA counts as income. Any New Style ESA payments will reduce your Universal Credit payments.
There are some differences between the 2 benefits.
New Style ESA is:
Universal Credit is:
Universal Credit has replaced legacy benefits including:
You may be claiming any of these benefits and have the choice of applying for Universal Credit. These legacy benefits will stop if you do. Check that you will not be worse off.
You cannot make new claims for legacy benefits. Everyone on legacy benefits will be invited to claim Universal Credit.
You may be claiming disability benefits like:
If you have the choice of applying for Universal Credit it should not affect these.
When you apply for Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will ask if you have a condition that affects your ability to work.
That may lead to a Work Capability Assessment. This will decide how much money you receive.
The assessment usually has 2 parts:
Work Capability Assessment for ESA or Universal Credit
UC50 form (GOV.UK)
If it is reasonable to think that your illness could be terminal within 12 months, you can apply to fast-track your Universal Credit application. This would mean you would not need to fill out a UC50 form and would not need a Work Capability Assessment.
After your Work Capability Assessment, the DWP will put you into 1 of 3 groups:
DWP decisions after your assessment
The Universal Credit group will outline:
This means they assess you as having limited capability for work and work-related activity.
You do not have to work or prepare for work. You will receive extra money as well as the standard allowance.
This means they assess you as having limited capability for work.
You do not have to work now, but you need to prepare to work in the future. You will not receive any more money if you’re in this group.
Your work coach may ask you to do some regular tasks to get ready for work, such as:
These are called claimant commitments.
Speak to your work coach if you struggle to manage the requirements.
You can look for work if you want to, but you do not need to.
This is also known as ‘capable for work’.
You must do regular tasks to get ready for work. Your work coach will tell you how many hours you should spend looking for work each week.
You will not receive more money if you’re in this group.
For example, if you live with a partner and apply for Universal Credit, you will need to make a joint claim. Your partner's income or savings will be treated as if they’re your income or savings.
Only one of you will be eligible for the Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity element. The other person may be eligible for the carer’s element of Universal Credit.
You may get a reduced housing element if you live with another adult who is not your partner, for example:
This is because the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) thinks the people living with you can help with the housing costs.
You will not get less Universal Credit housing element if you claim disability benefits like:
Universal Credit: What if I have another adult living with me? (Turn2us)
If you have a disabled child, you might get the disabled child element added to your Universal Credit if:
Qualifying young person when your child is 16 to 19
There are 2 additions:
When your child gets the DLA or PIP award, report it to the DWP. You can do this by:
The addition will be added to your next payment. It can be backdated to the date you applied for DLA or PIP.
You have to live in the UK as your main home to claim Universal Credit. You also need to have a right to claim public funds.
Getting benefits if you’ve recently moved to the UK (Citizens Advice)
You can apply for Universal Credit if you’re homeless. For example, you:
Applying for UC: information for homeless people (GOV.UK)
You can also get general help and advice from your local council if you’re homeless.
You can apply for Universal Credit if you work and are on a low income.
If you are self-employed and claiming Universal Credit, you will need to show your income and expenses every month.
You can apply for Universal Credit online.
How to claim Universal Credit (GOV.UK)
There is also support available if you need it.
Call the Universal Credit helpline to:
You can also call to get a form in:
Contact Universal Credit (GOV.UK)
Citizens Advice runs a Help to Claim phone service. It can give you support filling in your application form.
Help to Claim (Citizens Advice)
If your condition affects your ability to work, you will have to fill in a work capability questionnaire (UC50 form).
Get ready to fill in the work capability form for Universal Credit (Citizens Advice)
Work Capability Assessment for ESA or Universal Credit
There are also local organisations that can help you fill in the form.
You may not feel you can manage your own application or be able to find the information you need. You can ask another person or organisation to apply for you.
If a friend or family member already manages your benefits, they can apply for Universal Credit on your behalf. This is called being an appointee.
You need to give DWP information about:
How to claim Universal Credit (GOV.UK)
DWP cannot access your NHS records without your permission.
If they ask to see your pay slips, bank statements or other information, you do not have to show them. But there’s a risk that they could close your application if you do not.
The DWP will ask for evidence that your health or condition affects your ability to work.
You need to send this with your work capability questionnaire (UC50 form).
Fill in the work capability form: how your conditions affect you (Citizens Advice)
You can ask your medical staff to write a letter for you. For example, your:
There may be a charge for this.
It will not matter if you do not have an official diagnosis. But you will need to show evidence that you cannot work.
There is other evidence you can use. For example:
Citizens Advice may be able to give advice on finding medical evidence.
Help to Claim (Citizens Advice)
When you apply for Universal Credit, you create a Universal Credit account and then upload the evidence to your account.
Create a Universal Credit account (GOV.UK)
If you’ve claimed Universal Credit before, you can sign in to your account to do this.
Sign in to your Universal Credit account (GOV.UK)
Call the Universal Credit helpline for support in how to upload your evidence.
Contact Universal Credit (GOV.UK)
You can also post a message on your journal to ask what evidence you need.
A fit note is a document from your GP to say you cannot work. It is the same as a sick note.
It covers you if you’re waiting for a Work Capability Assessment or waiting to hear the outcome of a Work Capability Assessment.
You will not need to get fit notes again if you’re put into:
You should not pay for a fit note. You need to upload it onto your Universal Credit journal.
If your fit note runs out in a few weeks, make sure you contact your GP to keep it renewed.
Ask your GP to backdate the fit note if:
If you’ve applied for Universal Credit but are struggling to afford your bills, there is support available.
Universal Credit: what else you are entitled to
If you’ve missed a rent payment and owe money to your landlord, this is called being in rent arrears. Advance payments could be a way to pay off some of your rent arrears.
If you are 2 months or more behind with rent, your landlord can ask for the housing element of your Universal Credit to go directly to them. This means you receive a smaller payment each month.
Check if rent arrears will be taken out of your Universal Credit payments in the future.
You could also ask for housing element payments to go straight to your landlord in future. This might help if you struggle to manage your rent.
Use a benefits calculator to see if you’re receiving all the benefits you’re entitled to.
If you’re in debt or getting into debt, there’s advice available.
There are places where you can get free or cheap food.
If you need support with energy bills, there is some support available from government and local authorities.
Government help with energy bills
Contact Scope to arrange an appointment if you would like free phone or email support.
If you are in debt, there are things you can do.
The benefit process can be stressful. There are things you can do if it is affecting your mental health. These can include:
Support if claiming benefits affects your mental health
If your mental health means you find it hard to work or do daily tasks, you could claim benefits. These will depend on the criteria but can include depression or anxiety.
Last reviewed by Scope on: 10/06/2024
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