DWP - Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly. 

You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

If you already get other benefits:

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits and tax credits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Working Tax Credit

Eligibility:

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be:

• out of work
• working (including self-employed or part time)
• unable to work, for example because of a health condition

To claim you must:

• live in the UK
• be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
• be under State Pension age
• have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments

Students with disabilities or health conditions:

You can claim Universal Credit if you’re in full-time education, and have been assessed as having limited capability for work by a Work Capability Assessment before starting your course. You must also be entitled to any of the following:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

Claiming if you’re 16 or 17:

You can make a claim for Universal Credit if any of the following apply:

• you have a health condition or disability and have medical evidence for it, such as a fit note
• you’re caring for someone who gets a health or disability-related benefit
• you’re responsible for a child
• you live with your partner, have responsibility for a child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit
• you’re pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks
• you’ve had a baby in the last 15 weeks
• you do not have parental support, for example you do not live with your parents and are not under local authority care

If you have a disability or health condition:

If you have a health condition that affects your ability to work you might get extra money for Universal Credit.

Entitledto:

Visit the free, anonymous benefits calculator at Entitledto for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, contribution-based benefits, and more.

How to Apply:

For more information and to apply, visit Universal Credit.

Resources:

• DWP: Get Help With Benefits and Pensions if You Have Accessibility Needs (Link)
• DWP: Universal Credit, Easyread (Link)