Universal Credit

Universal Credit has replaced six older means-tested benefits:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Housing Benefit for people who are working age (HB)
• Income Support (IS)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Working Tax Credit (WTC).

Most people can no longer make a new claim for an older benefit and must claim Universal Credit instead. Claiming Universal Credit puts an end to any claim for one of the older benefits, so get advice if you are not clear which benefit to claim. Once you claim Universal Credit you cannot go back to claiming one of the older benefits.

You can claim Universal Credit if:

• you have a low income and savings of £16,000 or less
• you or your partner have not yet reached State Pension age
• you meet the residence and/or immigration status rules for your situation
• you are not in education
• you accept a ‘claimant commitment’

A claimant commitment sets out what you have to do to receive Universal Credit. This will vary depending on your circumstances. If you don't do the things you have agreed to in your claimant commitment, your Universal Credit payments may be reduced or stopped altogether. 

You may receive more than the standard amount of Universal Credit if for example you are responsible for children, you have childcare costs, you are a carer, you have a disability or health condition or you have to pay rent or service charges to live in your home. You may also be eligible for Support for Mortgage Interest, in the form of a loan secured against your property, if you own your own home.

Benefit Workshops

The benefits system is complicated. It can be difficult to work out what you are entitled to, and how to claim it. Find out about joining one of our Benefit Workshops here.