Universal Credit is a single monthly payment designed to replace six key "legacy" benefits for working-age people on low incomes or out of work. The six benefits included are:
Universal Credit has replaced these benefits for most people:
Benefits that will end and move to Universal Credit
Income - Based Jobseeker's Allowance. Income - Related Employment and Support Allowance. Housing Benefit if you are working age and rent a home, excluding payments for rates.
You may be entitled to other benefits, for example: Carer's Allowance. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (parts of Constant Attendance Allowance and Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance may not be included) Maternity Allowance.
Universal Credit ( UC ) is a means-tested benefit that was introduced in the UK to replace 6 'legacy' benefits: income-related Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA ), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance ( JSA ), Housing Benefit ( HB ), Income Support ( IS ), Working Tax Credit ( WTC ), and Child Tax Credit ( CTC ).
If you or your partner get any of the following benefits, the amount you get will be taken off your Universal Credit payments.
Your claim starts on the day you submit it in your account, however it usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment. If you need help with your living costs while you wait for your first payment, you can apply for an advance within your Universal Credit online account.
Universal Credit is pushing claimants into debt, including into the arms of pay day loan companies and loan sharks. Universal Credit is having a detrimental impact on claimants' mental health which is increasing the risk of suicide. The application process is unfair, complicated and difficult to access.
Universal Credit
If you or your partner are working, how much Universal Credit you get will depend on how much you earn. There's no limit to how many hours you can work and still get Universal Credit.
The maximum award is subject to the 'benefit cap' – for couples or lone parents this is £1,835.00 a month (£2110.25 in Greater London) and for single claimants without children £1,229.42 a month (£1,413.92 in Greater London).
Universal Credit is replacing older benefits
These are called 'legacy benefits': Housing Benefit. income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
You cannot claim Universal Credit if you have reached State Pension age. State Pension age for men and women is 66 years old. You can also claim Universal Credit if, together, you and your partner have savings of £16,000 or less. If you have worked in the last 2 to 3 years, you may also be able to get other benefits.
Depending on your income, you'll be entitled to help towards the cost of your glasses or contact lenses if you're receiving Universal Credit.
If you're getting Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), it will continue to be paid along with your Universal Credit payment.
If you get Universal Credit (UC), you'll get free dental treatment if your income is below certain limits. You must get UC as a single person or a member of a couple. During your most recent assessment period your earnings, or combined earnings with your partner, must have been: £435 or less.
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If you're entitled to free NHS prescriptions because you claim Universal Credit and your take home pay is under the limit, tick box 'U' on the prescription form. Not all prescription forms have a tick box for Universal Credit. If that's the case you should tick box 'K' for income-based Jobseeker's Allowance instead.
You might be able to get a Jobcentre Plus travel discount card. This gives you half-price train tickets for up to 3 months. You can apply for this if you claim Universal Credit and either: you're aged 18 to 24 and you've been getting the benefit for between 3 and 9 months.
Self-employed people can often find they are much worse off on Universal Credit than on the old benefits system. This is because of a rule called the Minimum Income Floor.
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The claimant was suffering a temporary period of sickness or medical emergency The claimant has shown that the nature of their illness is temporary, and can include a physical or mental condition. This might include where the claimant underwent a medical emergency or dental treatment which prevented them attending.
To complete your claim you will need to provide information about: your housing, for example how much rent you pay. your earnings, for example payslips.
You'll have to move to Universal Credit when you get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) telling you to claim by a certain date - this is a 'migration notice'. If you get a migration notice, you should claim Universal Credit by the date on the letter to keep getting financial support.