Universal Credit

Find out how to claim Universal Credit and about the support available to you.

About Universal Credit

Universal Credit has replaced the following benefits:

Income support (IS)
Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSAIB)
Income-related employment support allowance (ESAIR)
Housing benefit (HB)
Working tax credit (WTC)
Child Tax Credit (CTC)

How the introduction of Universal Credit may affect you

New claim

If you are of working age, unemployed or a low-wage earner, and are making a new claim for any of these benefits, you will need to apply for GOV.UK - Claim Universal Credit instead.

Change in circumstances

You may also need to apply for GOV.UK - Claim Universal Credit if your circumstances change at any time, which means you have to re-apply for benefits and/or tax credits.

If you are unsure if you need to claim for Universal Credit, please contact us using the details on this page. You can also check Changes that trigger UC.

If you already claim benefit

If there are no changes to your circumstances, you will be gradually be transferred over to Universal Credit between 2019 and 2024.

Exceptions to the changes

You will still claim help with your rent through the council if you:

Are considered homeless and living in temporary accommodation
Are living in supported accommodation
Are a pensioner
Are receiving a benefit such income support, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker's allowance or housing benefit that includes a severe disability premium

Help with your council tax

If you need help with your council tax, you will still need to apply direct to the council using our Council tax support form.

Making a claim for Universal Credit

You will need to make a claim to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

You will need to do this online and will need an email address. If you do not have an email address, you will need to create one. Please see the Guide to setting up an e-mail account.

Details you will need when you apply for Universal Credit

Your bank, building society or credit union account details - you can call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 if you do not have one
An email address
Your National Insurance number
Information about your housing, for example how much rent you pay
Details of your income, for example payslips
Details of savings and any investments, like shares or a property that you rent out
Details of how much you pay for childcare if you're applying for help with childcare costs

If you do not provide the right information when you apply, it might affect when or how much you get paid.

You may also need these details for other people that live with you, including a partner or grown up children.

You will also need to verify your identity online by using the gov uk verify service . You will need to have proof of your identity to hand to speed up this process.

Getting help to claim Universal Credit

Helpline

If you need extra support with making your claim, you can also call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Citizens Advice Rushmoor

Citizens Advice Rushmoor offer support with making a new claim for Universal Credit, from opening your account to receiving your first full payment.

Their trained advisors can help you to:

Set up your Universal Credit account
Complete your claim to-dos
Verify your identity
Make sure you are providing the right evidence to the Jobcentre
Understand more about what Universal Credit will mean for you

If you aren't sure what help you need, just get in touch with them and they will work out what support you need.

Please see Citizens Advice Rushmoor for more information.

Payment of Universal Credit

It will normally take five weeks for you to receive your first payment.

If you will not be able to manage your budget until the first payment, you can ask for an advance payment of Universal Credit, but you will have to pay this back. The repayments will be taken out of your later payments (you can ask that this is done over 12 months). You can ask for an advance payment at the same time as you make your claim, via your online journal or the Jobcentre.

Universal Credit covers daily living costs and housing costs. It is paid monthly in arrears, on the same day each month, based on the date of your claim.

In most cases, it is paid direct into a bank account and you may want to consider setting up direct debits to pay your regular bills.

The Money Advice Service - Universal Credit and other benefits offers advice and more information on Universal Credit and other benefits.

How much Universal Credit you will get

This will depend on your circumstances. You can get an idea of what help you might receive on the Turn to Us - Universal Credit website about Universal Credit.

Help you can get with housing costs

If you pay rent or have a mortgage, a housing costs element is included in Universal Credit.

If you are an owner-occupier, you may get support for mortgage interest, as well as certain service charges. There is a waiting period of three months before you can claim this.

If you are a private tenant paying rent, your housing cost element will depend on the number of rooms you need. This is the same as the current housing benefit scheme.

Housing costs are no longer paid direct to landlords apart from in exceptional circumstances, or if you are living in certain types of accommodation where your landlord provides care and support. In these cases, the council may continue to pay you housing benefit.