Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.
Official update
Universal Credit
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Watched source: GOV.UK — Universal Credit
What the official page says
Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland . You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work. This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) and in an easy read format . If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland . Sign in Sign in to your Universal Credit account if you already have one. If you already get other benefits Universal Credit is replacing Housing Benefit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA ). If you’re getting these benefits, you do not need to do anything unless either: your circumstances change you get a letter called a ‘Migration Notice’ telling you that you must claim Universal Credit If you get a Migration Notice, you must move to Universal Credit by the deadline date in your letter to keep getting financial support. You’ll stop getting these benefits when you or your partner claim Universal Credit. If you or your partner gets Pension Credit, this will also stop if one of you claims Universal Credit. You’ll continue getting any other benefits you already receive, such as Personal Independence
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 You can use a benefits calculator to check what benefits you could get. If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen You and your family might also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get Universal Credit. Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme . If you live with your partner You will both need to claim Universal Credit. You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible. How much you can get will depend on your partner’s income and savings, as well as your own. If one of you has reached State Pension age If only one of you has reached State Pension age , you and your partner can still claim Universal Credit as a couple. Your Universal Credit claim will stop when you both reach State Pension age.
Universal Credit is paid monthly . How much you get depends on: your standard allowance any extra amounts that apply to you any money taken off your payment if you’re working, how much you earn See how much you could get by using a benefits calculator . Standard allowance You’ll get one standard allowance for your household. How much you’ll get Monthly standard allowance If you’re single and under 25 £338.58 If you’re single and 25 or over £424.90 If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25 £528.34 (for you both) If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over £666.97 (for you both) Extra amounts You may get more money on top of your standard allowance if you’re eligible. You will need to report changes when you become eligible for an extra amount. They are not added automatically. For example, if you become a carer you need to tell DWP. The carer’s element of Universal Credit is not automatically applied if you start getting Carer’s Allowance. If you have children You’ll get £303.94 a month for each child that lives with you. If your first child was born before 6 April 2017, you’ll get an extra £47.94 a month for that child. You get money for each child u
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 disability or health condition that affects your ability to work This amount is called a ‘work allowance’. Working out your work allowance How much you can earn before your Universal Credit payment is reduced depends on whether yo
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 . They will be able to give you advice on arranging 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 period. You should report a change of circumstances to get the correct payment. Your first assessment period starts the day you make a claim. Example Sam makes a new Universal Credit claim on 10 September. Sam’s first assessm
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, 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 adviser What you need to apply To apply online you’ll need: your bank, building society or credit union account details an email address access to a phone If you do not have these, you can call the Universal Credit helpline or go to a jobc
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’re nearing the end of life , 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 commitment in your online account or your Universal Credit claim will be stopped. Your claimant commitment is reviewed regularly and will change if your circumstances change. For example, if you get ill, your partner start
Who it may affect
Anyone claiming NHS help with health costs, Universal Credit free prescriptions, PPC holders, or people with an NHSBSA enquiry letter / PCN — check whether the page change applies to your situation.
What to do
- Open the official source and confirm the wording and any amounts.
- If thresholds, PPC prices, or PCN rules changed, update the evergreen guides.
- Edit this draft for clarity, then Publish.
Official source
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Captured 2026-08-10 00:02 UTC by NHS Fine Help watcher.