Universal Credit
What you’ll need to apply
You’ll need:
- your bank, building society or credit union account details
Call the Universal Credit helpline if you do not have one – Tel. (freephone) 0800 328 5644 Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm
- An email address
- 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
Need more help … want to make a claim?
Go to the Government website for more information or/and to make a claim
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim
or
Phone Universal Credit helpline – Tel. (freephone) 0800 328 5644 Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm
What changes in circumstances might trigger a move to Universal Credit?
The government’s current plan is that existing benefit claimants will be moved over to Universal Credit from 2019 onwards. A small number will start to be moved from July 2019 but the main ‘managed migration’ will take place from 2020 onwards and is currently due to be completed by December 2023.
However, anyone who has a change of circumstance before that point will be moved earlier via ‘natural migration’. This group of people will also lose their right to transitional protection.
In general, natural migration could be triggered if entitlement to your current benefit ends (prompting a need to claim a new one) or you become entitled to a different or extra benefit. It shouldn’t happen when you make changes to benefits you are already claiming.
The following gives examples of what may happen in a range of circumstances:
First, a word of warning – if you decide to switch from legacy benefits to Universal Credit we suggest you seek advice before doing so. It is not just the amount of money you may be entitled to that could change. Some of the overall rules may be different, including; the initial waiting days you will not be paid for; the frequency of your payments (e.g., weekly, fortnightly, monthly); or the commitments you need to agree to in order to remain eligible. See our Universal Credit guide for more details on each of these areas – there is usually no going back to your previous benefits once a claim for Universal Credit has been made, so get advice if you’re considering doing this.
A change in employment status
If you… |
You should… |
|
don’t already claim Child Tax Credits but do claim Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support or Income-related Employment Support Allowance and you start work with enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit conditions |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
don’t already claim Child Tax Credits but do claim legacy benefits such as Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit and you start work but not enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit |
have a choice – either remain on adjusted existing benefit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
|
already claim Child Tax Credits and income based legacy benefits and you start work with enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit conditions |
have a choice – either remain on existing benefits with added Working Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
|
are on Working Tax Credit and your hours fall below 16 |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
are on Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and your hours increase over 16 |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
already claim Child Tax Credit and start work to satisfy Working Tax Credit rules |
stay on Child Tax Credit and add Working Tax Credit |
|
already claim Working Tax Credit and you increase your hours |
have a choice – remain on adjusted Working Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
|
already claim Working Tax Credit and you become sick |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
A change in family circumstances
If you… |
You should… |
|
already claim Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Housing Benefit and your household becomes responsible for a first child |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
already claim Working Tax Credit only and your household becomes responsible for a first child |
have a choice – either remain on existing benefits with added Child Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
|
are a lone parent on Income Support and your youngest child turns 5 years old |
be asked to claim Universal Credit, unless there is another reason to stay on Income Support |
|
already claim Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and your baby is due within 11 weeks |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
already claim Child Tax Credit (with or without WTC) and you have another child or go from 2 to 1 |
have a choice – remain on adjusted tax credits or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
A partner leaving or joining the household
If you… |
You should… |
|
are a couple on Tax Credits and you separate |
both be asked to claim Universal Credit as single people |
|
are a lone parent on Income Support and Child Tax Credit and you form a couple with a partner working less than 24 hours a week |
be asked to claim Universal Credit as a couple |
|
are a lone parent on Income Support and Child Tax Credit and you form a couple with a partner working more than 24 hours a week |
be asked to claim Universal Credit as a couple |
|
are a couple on Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance with children under 5 and become lone parents |
both be asked to claim Universal Credit as single people |
|
are a single person under pension age on ‘legacy benefits’ and you become a couple with someone of Pension Credit qualifying age |
be asked to claim Pension Credit until Universal Credit is fully rolled out across the country |
Starting or stopping being a carer
If you… |
You should… |
|
satisfy Carer’s Allowance rules and are making a new benefit claim |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
are a carer on Income Support who stops being a carer |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
Starting or stopping a claim based on disability
If you… |
You should… |
|
already claim Income-related Employment Support Allowance but you fail a Work Capability Assessment |
be asked to claim Universal Credit (note: if you challenge your Work Capability Assessment and win you will remain on Universal Credit) |
|
already claim Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and you become sick |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
Changes to tax credits
If you… |
You should… |
|
are renewing your existing Tax Credit claim |
have a choice – remain on adjusted Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
|
claim Tax Credit but your change of circumstances wouldn’t have led to a claim for a new ‘legacy benefit’ (for example you have less income) |
have a choice – remain on adjusted Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
Moving home and taking up a new tenancy
If you… |
You should… |
|
already claim Housing Benefit and you move into a new local authority |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
already claim Housing Benefit and you move within the same local authority |
have a choice – remain on adjusted Housing Benefit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
|
are on Tax Credit, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and take up a new tenancy for the first time |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
Other changes
If you… |
You should… |
|
claim Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and you need to attend court or jury service |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
claim Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and you are remanded in custody |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
claim Income Support and you cease full time education |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
|
are on Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance and are entitled to Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance |
be asked to claim Universal Credit |
Every Tuesday and Thursday between 1pm and 4pm we offer drop in sessions at our Wellingborough Library for those who want to talk to us about the help & support we can offer, or to speak to our Benefit and Debt Advisor!