Universal Credit is being introduced in stages. When it affects you will depend on your personal situation, where you live and any benefits you currently claim. You can check if you can get Universal Credit by going to www.gov.uk/universalcredit. To be eligible to claim Universal Credit (as opposed to existing benefits), you must:
- live at your usual address, in an area where Universal Credit is available
- not be homeless, in supported or temporary accommodation, nor a homeowner
- be a British citizen with a National Insurance number
- be aged between 18 years and 60 years and six months
- be fit for work • not have applied for a fitness for work note
- consider yourself/yourselves fit for work
- not be pregnant nor have given birth within the last 15 weeks
- not be receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance(JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS), Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- not be awaiting a decision on a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS), Housing Benefit (HB), Child Tax Credit (CTC) or Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- not be appealing against a decision of non-entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS)
- not be awaiting the outcome of an application to revise a decision of non-entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS) or Housing Benefit (HB)
- not have any caring responsibilities (such as for a disabled person)
- not be self employed, a company director or part of a limited liability partnership
- not be in education or on a training course of any kind
- not have a person acting on your behalf over your claim
- have at least one suitable account that DWP can pay your money into
- not live in the same household as a member of the regular or reserve forces who is away on duty
- have lived in the UK for the last two years, and not have been abroad for more than four weeks continuously during that time
- not be required to pay child maintenance via the Child Support Agency
- not have savings in excess of £6,000 • not be an approved foster parent (even if you currently have no foster children)
- not be expecting to adopt a child in the next two months
- not expect to receive take home pay of more than £330 in the next month • not be responsible for a young person under 20 who is in non-advanced education or training*
- not expect to receive any earnings from self employment in the next month If you and your partner are claiming as a couple you must also:
- live at the same address • be married to each other, civil partners of each other, or living together as if you were married
- not expect to receive joint take home pay of more than £525 in the next month
- not have savings in excess of £6,000 between the two of you *If you have children you may be able to make a Universal Credit claim if you live in certain parts of the country. For more information see the list of jobcentres where Universal Credit is available and the guide to Universal Credit and your family for details. In time Universal Credit will be extended to groups of people who cannot claim it at the moment. For the latest information visit www.gov.uk/universalcredit.