Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs.
For more information please either use the dropdowns below or visit the website.
Who can get Universal Credit
Whether you can claim Universal Credit depends on your circumstances and where you live.
Your circumstances
You can claim Universal Credit if you are on a low income or unemployed.
You will usually only be able to claim Universal Credit if you are aged 18 or over, but some people aged 16 or 17 can get it, depending on their circumstances.
And you usually won’t be able to claim Universal Credit if you’re in full-time education or training, but people with certain circumstances can still apply.
Read the detailed guidance on eligibility to find out more.
You can use a benefits calculator to help you understand what benefits you could get. You will be asked to enter information about your circumstances, and it will tell you which benefits you might be able to apply for. One of those might be Universal Credit.
Where you live
The Citizens Advice eligibility checker will tell you if you live in an area where you can claim Universal Credit. Using this link will take you to the Citizens Advice website.
Universal Credit is being introduced in stages, so even if you can’t claim Universal Credit now, it may become available in your area in the future.
If you want to go straight to making a claim for Universal Credit visit gov.uk/universal-credit
What Universal Credit replaces
Universal Credit replaces:
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Working Tax Credit
If you are already claiming these benefits or tax credits you don’t need to do anything now. The Department for Work and Pensions will get in touch with you before there are any changes to your benefits or tax credits.
If you receive these benefits or tax credits and your circumstances change, it may mean that you will no longer be able to get those benefits or tax credits. You will need to make a claim for Universal Credit instead.
If you are receiving any of these benefits or tax credits they will stop if you start receiving Universal Credit. If you are getting tax credits you can still choose to apply for Universal Credit, depending on your circumstances, but you can’t receive both.