Universal Credit Guide

  You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount each month. You need to report changes as soon as they happen. Any delay may mean you receive too much money and will have to make a repayment. Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you’re paid for your whole assessment period - not just from the date you report them. Changes can include: finding or finishing a job having a child moving in with your partner starting to care for a child or disabled person your child stopping or restarting education or training, if they’re aged 16 to 19 changing your mobile number or email address moving to a new address going outside Great Britain for any length of time, if you live there going outside Northern Ireland for any length of time, if you live there changing your bank details your rent going up or down changes to your health condition becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach changes to your earnings (only if you’re self-employed) ch...

  To get Universal Credit payments, you’ll need to accept an agreement called a ‘claimant commitment’. This is a record of what you agree to do to: prepare for and look for work increase your earnings, if you are already working. If you live with your partner, you both have to claim Universal Credit. You’ll each have your own claimant commitment. You must do everything you agree to in your commitment or your payment could be reduced or stopped. This is called a sanction. If a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live, you will not need a claimant commitment and you will not get a sanction. Agreeing your commitments You will have a meeting to discuss your claimant commitment, usually at the jobcentre. In this meeting you’ll discuss your circumstances and talk about anything that could make it hard for you to do what’s in your commitment. For example, if you have a mental health condition, or if you care for someone. You must accept your claimant commitme...

  If you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs while you wait for your first Universal Credit payment, you can apply to get an advance. The most you can get as an advance is the amount of your first estimated payment. How to apply You can apply for an advance payment in your  online account  or through your Jobcentre Plus work coach. You’ll need to: explain why you need an advance verify your identity (you’ll do this when you apply online or on the phone with a work coach) provide bank account details for the advance (talk to your work coach if you cannot open an account) You’ll usually find out the same day if you can get an advance. If you need help Call the Universal Credit helpline  if you need help applying for an advance payment. How you pay back your advance You must usually pay back the advance within 24 months. You start paying it back out of your first payment. Example Your first estimated payment is £344 and you get £344 as an advance. You pay b...

  You can apply for Universal Credit online. You need to create an account to make a claim. You must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again. Your claim starts on the date you submit it in your account. If you live with your partner, you will both need to create accounts. You’ll link them together when you claim. You cannot claim by yourself. If you cannot claim online, you can claim by phone through the Universal Credit helpline. Check if you’re better off on Universal Credit before you apply If you already get benefits or tax credits, you should work out if you’ll be better off before you or your partner claim Universal Credit. If you apply for Universal Credit those benefits might end and you will not be able to apply for them again, even if your application is not approved. To check if you’re better off, you can: use a  benefits calculator contact  the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service ask a  local benefits ...

  Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account. Your payment can include  money for your rent  or other housing costs. You’ll usually need to pay this to your landlord. If you’re not able to open a bank, building society or credit union account,  call the Universal Credit helpline  to arrange a different way of getting paid. Find out how you’ll be paid if  you’re in Northern Ireland . Your first payment It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment. If you need money while you wait for your first payment, you can  apply for an advance . Your monthly assessment periods Universal Credit is  calculated based on your circumstances  each month. These are called your ‘assessment periods’. You’ll  usually get your Universal Credit payment 7 days after each monthly assessment period ends. Changes in your circumstances  can affect how much you’re paid for your assessment ...

  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. If your wages go up, your Universal Credit payment will reduce. If you stop working or your wages go down, your payment will increase. There are different rules  if you’re self-employed . For every £1 you earn from working, your Universal Credit payment goes down by 55p. Your income will be your wages plus your new Universal Credit payment. Use a  benefits calculator  to see how your Universal Credit changes if your wages go up. Most employers will report your wages for you. You will normally only need to report monthly earnings if you’re self-employed. If you have a disability, health condition or have children You can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit starts to be reduced if you or your partner are either: responsible for a child or young person living with a  ...