Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment that helps people:

• With low income.
• Who have no job.

Who can apply?

• Anyone who is 18 or older.
• But you cannot get Universal Credit if you are over State Pension age.
• You have less than £16,000 in savings.

How to apply

• Apply for Universal Credit online.
• Make a phone claim on 0800 328 5644.
• You can also ask Citizens Advice to help by calling 0800 1448 444.

Standard allowance

This is the basic amount given to everyone claiming Universal Credit.

• If you’re single and under 25 you will get £311.68 a month.
• If you’re single and 25 or over you will get £393.45.
• If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25 you will get £489.23 for you both.
• If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over you will get £617.60 for you both.

Child element

You could get extra money if you have children living with you.

• You would get the extra money until the 31st August after their 16th birthday.
• Or until the 31st August after their 19th birthday if they're in education or training.
  • This includes GCSEs, A Levels, BTECS, Scottish Highers and SVQs or NVQs.
• You will only get extra money for your first and second child unless:
  • Your children were born before 6th April 2017.
  • You were already claiming for 3 or more children before 6th April 2017.
  • Other reasons might also apply - see here.

Disabled children 

You might get extra money monthly if any of your children are disabled. 

• For the lower rate you will get £156.11.
  • This is for children who get any rate of DLA except the highest rate of the care part.
  • Or who get either part of PIP except the enhanced rate of the daily living part.
• For the higher rate you will get £487.58.
  • This is for children who get the highest rate of the care part of DLA.
  • Or who get the enhanced rate of the daily living part of PIP.
  • You will also get this if your child is blind or severely sight impaired.

See more about Disability Living Allowance (DLA) on our Benefits page.

Childcare costs

You can claim up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re working.

• If you live with your partner both of you need to be working.
  • Unless one of you is unable to work due to a disability or health condition.
• The childcare needs to be from a provider that is registered. 
• This could include the cost of:
  • Nurseries.
  • Childminders.
  • Breakfast clubs, after school care and holiday clubs.
• You will have to to pay your childcare costs yourself and then claim the money back.
• You can get support to help you pay your childcare costs up front.
• Talk to your work coach after you’ve made your claim.

How much money can I get?

• For one child the most you will get is £1,014.63.
• For two or more children it is £1,739.37.

See this page on Universal Credit childcare costs for more information.

Can I get help with my rent and/or service charges?

If you get Universal Credit you can get an extra bit of money to pay towards housing costs.

To get this help you must be:

• Paying rent or service charges, like repairs and maintenance.
• A tenant in social housing, private rental, or certain supported housing.
• Over 18.
  • But 16 and 17-year-olds who are care leavers for example may be able to apply.

If you are a private renter:

• The Housing Element can cover rent up to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
  • The amount will depend on your area and household size.
• You must have a signed tenancy agreement and meet the LHA restrictions.

If you are in social housing:

• Universal Credit can pay your rent to your council or housing association.
• Deductions may apply if your home is considered larger than necessary.
  • This is under the bedroom tax rules.

If you are in supported or sheltered housing:

• You can apply for the Housing Element.
• But only if you're not getting care, support, or supervision.

If you own your own home:

• You could get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).
  • This is to cover interest payments or certain loans for repairs or improvements.
  • This is usually given as a loan, which you can pay back later.

Other help with housing costs

• You could apply for Council Tax Reduction.
  • This could be up to 100% off.
• You can also ask to pay your utility bills out of your benefits.

What if the Housing Element does not cover all my rent?

• You could apply for a ‘Discretionary Housing Payment’.
  • This could help with a rent deposit or moving costs.
  • You can apply through your local council.

If you live in Scotland 

• You can get rent paid to you in your Universal Credit payment.
  • Or paid straight to your landlord.
• You can choose whether Universal Credit is paid once or twice a month.
• When you’re paid twice a month your first payment will be for a full month.

I cannot work due to my disability and/or health conditions

You can get Limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA).

This means you are:

• Not required to look for work or engage in work-related activities.
  • This includes attending meetings with your work coach.
  • Actively looking for work.
• Able to get more money:
  • An extra £416.19 a month.
  • You can only get one extra monthly amount if you and your partner both have LCWRA.

My disability and/or health condition is stopping me from working at the moment

You could get Limited capability for work if your disability and/or health condition will improve or be manageable.

This means you are:

• Not required to look for work.
• But you may need to undertake certain work-related activities.
• These include:
  • Making a CV.
  • Going to training courses.
  • Meeting regularly with your work coach to talk about your progress.
• You may get an extra amount of £156.11 if you:
  • Started your health-related Universal Credit or ESA claim before 3rd April 2017.

How can I report my limited capability for work?

• Once you have reported your disability and/or health condition.
• You might be asked or you can ask your work coach for an assessment.
• You will be assessed to see if you are either:
  • Fit for work.
  • Have limited capability for work and must prepare for work in the future.
  • Or have limited capability for work and work related activity.

Applying for Universal Credit while still on legacy benefits

You can still apply for Universal Credit if you are on other benefits but:

• Once you apply you’ll only get your current legacy benefit paid for 2 more weeks.
• These legacy benefits only include:
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
  • Income Support.
  • Housing Benefit.
• You must still be eligible for your current benefit.
• You will not need to pay back the extra payments.
• They will not affect the Universal Credit you might get.

Applying for Universal Credit after getting a Migration Notice letter

All Migration Notice letters are being sent by the end of December 2025.

If you've still not got your letter visit the Universal Credit guidance.

• You must apply for Universal Credit by the deadline date on your letter.
• If you cannot apply before the deadline contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline:
  • 0800 169 0328.
  • Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
• You must request more time before your deadline date.  

Benefits that are being replaced by Universal Credit:

• Tax credits:
  • Working Tax Credit.
  • Child Tax Credit.
• Income Support.
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
• Housing Benefit.
  • Unless you’re in supported or temporary accommodation.

Other benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will stay the same.

If you got more from your previous benefits

You can get Transitional protection. This means that you can:

• Get an extra payment added to your Universal Credit.
  • This is to make up for any losses in the benefits you had before.
• For example:
  • Margaret got £800 for her old benefits.
  • She now gets £600 of Universal Credit.
  • Margaret can get £200 transitional protection per payment.

You might also be able to:

• Claim Universal Credit and have:
  • Money, savings and investments over £16,000.
  • For 12 assessment periods, if you receive tax credits.
• Claim Universal Credit if you’re a full-time student in higher education until:
  • You or your partner finish the course.

Its important to remember that:

• You do not need to apply for Transitional protection.
• But you will need to apply for Universal Credit before deadline.
• Transitional payments can change and go down depending on your circumstance.
• See here for more information on Transitional protection.

See our Benefits page for more information about other benefits that may be available to you.