Universal Credit

What is Universal Credit (UC)?

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work. You may be financially worse off if you claim Universal Credit, you should always seek advice before you make a claim for Universal Credit. Once you claim Universal Credit you cannot reclaim your old-style benefits.

Universal Credit is a social security benefit for people of working age who are in or out of work. Universal Credit combines means tested support for adults, children & housing costs into one payment.

Universal Credit replaces the following benefits:

Child Tax Credits
Working tax credits.
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income related Employment & Support Allowance.

If you currently receive any of these benefits, you can’t claim Universal Credit at the same time. If you make a claim for Universal Credit payments your old-style payments will stop. You may be financially worse off if you claim Universal Credit, you should always seek advice before you make a claim for Universal Credit.

Universal Credit Tool

You can find out more about Universal Credit here A guide to Universal credit

If you require advice on how Universal Credit may affect you, please make an appointment with our Income Advisor on 0141 781 1884.

Frequently asked questions about Universal Credit

Q. Will I be put on Universal Credit (UC) automatically?

A. No, but you could be contacted by DWP in the future to make a claim for Universal Credit.

If you are eligible for Universal Credit Payments & currently receiving one of the following benefits you may be invited to your local Job Centre Plus to make a claim for Universal Credit at some point in the future.

Child Tax Credits
Working tax credits.
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income related Employment & Support Allowance

If you receive a letter inviting you to apply for Universal credit, please do not ignore the letter or your benefits may stop.

A change in your circumstances may mean you have to claim Universal Credit, speak to the Income Advice Officer if you have been advised to make a claim for Universal Credit.

Q. Do I need a bank account to be paid Universal Credit (UC)?

A. To receive Universal Credit payments you will usually need a bank account or credit union account. If you do not have a bank account or credit union account, you will need to open an account.

Many banks offer free basic bank accounts. Basic bank accounts are available even if you have poor credit history.

You won’t be able to submit an online claim without entering valid bank details. You may be able to use a trusted family member or friends bank account for your first payment, however you would need to open your own account for the second payment.

Q. How do I make a claim for Universal Credit?

A. You should only make a new claim for Universal Credit if you are sure you will not be financially worse off, once you have submitted a claim any old-style means tested benefits you receive will stop.

Claims for Universal Credit are normally made online at https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

In exceptional circumstances DWP may allow a telephone only claim. You can contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 if you:

need help finding or using a computer to make a claim
have questions about applying
need information in alternative formats (for example braille or large print)

You can watch shorts videos on how to make a Universal Credit claim here:

Getting ready to make your claim for Universal Credit
How to make your Universal Credit

(Department of working Pensions YouTube Video Guide)

Q. I don’t have access to the internet, what do I do?

A. To create or access your Universal Credit online account you will need access to the internet. If you do not have access to the internet you can:

Contact your local Job Centre, your local Job Centre Plus office offers access to Wi-Fi, this means you can connect your smart phone or tablet to the internet at the Job Centre office. (Restrictions may apply due to Covid-19)
Contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644, they may be able to help you.

Q. What identification do I need to complete a claim & how do I verify who I am?

A. When you have submitted your claim for Universal Credit you will be asked to prove your identity. The quickest & most secure way to prove your identity is to use the UK Verify system. You will be guided through this process using your online Universal Credit account.

You can watch a short video about GOV.UK Verify below.

Please watch the DWP video - Proving your identify with GOV.UK Verify.

(Department of working Pensions YouTube Video Guide)

Alternatively you may be asked to verify your identity in person by attending an appointment at your local Jobcentre Plus. (Restrictions may apply due to Covid-19)

You may need to provide two forms of ID; this may include things like a driving license or passport. If you do not have any identification, Please contact the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644 to discuss your verification options.

Q. When do I get my Universal Credit (UC) payments?

A. Universal Credit is paid monthly; you will receive your first payment 5 weeks after you complete your claim. Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears and is calculated over your monthly assessment period.

Example

You make a claim on 10^th October

Your monthly assessment period is calculated between 10^th of October to 9^th November. DWP assess your circumstances between these dates and make a payment to you seven days later on 16^th November.

Your monthly assessment periods and payment date will always be the same for each month.

Scottish Choices – For people who claim Universal Credit and are living in Scotland

Scottish claimants who make a new claim for Universal Credit can request their payment is paid twice monthly, this is known as Scottish Choices.

After your first assessment period, you will receive two offers via your Universal Credit Journal,

Offer 1 – You will be offered your Universal Credit payment twice monthly.

Offer 2 – You will be offered to have your housing costs paid directly to your landlord.

If you change your mind you can request to be changed back to a single monthly payment at any time using your online journal.

Q. How do I manage 5 weeks with no income while waiting on my first Universal Credit (UC) Payment?

A. If you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs while you wait for your first Universal Credit payment, you can apply to get an advance payment. The most you can get as an advance is the amount of your first estimated payment. Ask your DWP Advisor about an advance payment if you need one.

You start paying back your advance from your Universal Credit first payment. DWP deduct this automatically from your benefit every month.

You can choose how many months you pay the advance back over, within the time limit. You must usually pay back the advance within:

24 months if you apply on or after 12 April 2021
12 months if you applied before 12 April 2021

You do not pay interest on it - the total amount you pay back is the same.

For example if your Universal Credit payment is estimated at £324.84 and you borrow £324.84, You will have to pay back £13.54 every time month for 24 months.

For further information on advance payments click here

Q. How much is my rent charge?

A. You can find out how much your rent is by asking your landlord, details of any rent charge are normally found on your tenancy agreement or on any rent increase notice you received in April.

Please be aware that it is your responsibility to tell DWP how much rent you pay and to notify them of changes. If you need proof of your rent charge, speak to your landlord. If you need to report a change in circumstances this can be done using your online Universal Credit Journal.

Q. Can I get my rent paid directly to Wellhouse Housing Association?

A. Yes, if you are liable to pay rent you will be entitled to have housing costs included in your Universal Credit calculation.

Housing costs are paid to help you with rent costs, housing costs would normally be paid directly to you from DWP but you can ask Universal Credit to pay your housing costs directly to your landlord. This is known as Scottish Choices.

Your monthly Universal Credit statement will tell you who Housing costs have been paid to.

The statement will show one of two things:

We can pay you this amount towards housing costs, you should pay this to your landlord.
We can pay you this amount towards housing costs, we will pay this directly to your landlord.

You should always check your Universal Credit statement to check who your Housing Costs have been paid to.

Q. How do I manage my account online?

A. You can manage your account online by logging in with your secure details using the link https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit

You may find it useful to watch some helpful videos from DWP’s YouTube channel on the link below.

Understanding my Universal Credit statement
Understanding my Universal Credit Journal
Money-Manager Tool – Can help you manage your new Universal Credit payment.

For more information about Universal Credit click the link. A guide to Universal credit

Q. What is a claimant commitment?

A. When you claim Universal Credit you will need to accept your Claimant Commitment, the claimant commitment sets out things you have agreed to do in order to receive your benefit. It will be based on your personal circumstances and will be reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. Each time it is updated, you will need to accept a new Claimant Commitment to keep receiving Universal Credit.

You must only accept your claimant commitment if you agreed with it, if you do not agree with it speak to your DWP Advisor.

If you claim Universal Credit as a couple, both of you will need to accept an individual Commitment.

Examples of things you may be asked to do as part of your claimant commitment.

Create a CV.
Attend an ICT skills course.
Update your journal every day.

If you fail to meet one or more of your responsibilities, you may receive a sanction; this means your benefit will be reduced.

If you have good reason for not complying with your claimant commitment, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within 4 weeks of the date the sanction was applied. Sometimes a late mandatory reconsideration can be accepted if you have good cause for not requesting one sooner.

Q. What is the ‘To do’ list on my online UC account?

A. If you have an online Universal Credit account The “To do list” can be found when you login. The to do list may have contain actions you need to complete in order to receive your benefit.

Your to do list may have actions that you must complete that have been set by your job coach.

This may include things like:

Create a CV.
Submit a fit note
Attend an appointment with your work coach.

You should check your “To do list” regularly.

Q. What if my circumstances change?

A. If your circumstances change you must notify DWP as soon as you can, it is your responsibility to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of any changes that could affect your entitlement to benefit.

For example if your rent increases, you must notify DWP using your online Universal Credit account, you will have access to a section labelled “Report a change of circumstances.”

If you do not have an online Universal Credit account you can contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 to report your change.

Q. How do we claim Universal Credit as a couple?

A. To make a claim for Universal Credit as a couple, both partners will have to set up a Universal Credit account with separate user names and passwords. The accounts will then be joined together using a partner code.

The first partner making a Universal Credit account will be asked if they have a partner, they should select “Yes” and a partner code will be given. The second partner should enter the partner code into their own account to join the claims together.

When the accounts are joined you will be able to see outstanding tasks for both you and your partner, you may be able to complete each other’s tasks where appropriate.

Please note payments are made to one bank account. If you have any concerns about accessing your payments and need to discuss alternative payment arrangements, contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644. DWP may be able to split the payment between you and your partner in certain circumstances.

Should your circumstances change and you are no longer part of a couple, your accounts will be separated when you report a change in circumstances.

Warning – Seek advice

You may be financially worse off if you claim Universal Credit, you should always seek advice before you make a claim for Universal Credit. Once you claim Universal Credit you cannot reclaim your old-style benefits.