Universal Credit

Overview

Universal Credit is being rolled out to replace six older benefits which are

  • Income based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Housing Benefit (for working age people)
  • Income Support
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit

If you receive one of those benefits you are due to be moved onto Universal Credit by the end of the 2028/2029 tax year.

Who can claim

To be eligible for universal credit you must:

  • be 18 or over;
  • be under the qualifying age for pension credit
  • be habitually resident and have the right to reside in the UK
  • not be in education
  • not have capital of more than £16,000
  • any earnings or income you have must not be too high for any universal credit to be paid.

How to claim

You can claim Universal credit online Universal Credit: What Universal Credit is – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you need help to claim Citizens Advice can help you Help to Claim Universal Credit | Citizens Advice Scotland (cas.org.uk)

 

Before you start

What you need:

Your online claim will time out after 20 minutes of no activity so make sure you have all the following information before you start for yourself and your partner:

  • your postcode
  • your NI number
  • details of your bank, building society, credit union or Post Office card account
  • the type of accommodation you have and how much rent you pay
  • your landlord’s address and landlord’s phone number
  • details of any savings you have and any other ‘capital’ investments
  • details of any income that’s not from work, eg from a pension or insurance plan
  • details of how much you earn from work,
  • how much you pay for childcare
  • details of any other benefits you’re getting
  • child benefit reference numbers for any children you have. It is likely that you will only receive amounts for a maximum of two children. 

How you get paid

If you are successful, you should get your first payment 5-6 weeks after you made your claim. If you need money during this time, you can apply for an advance payment loan.  This will then be repaid by reducing the amount you get each month until the advance payment is repaid. In some areas of Scotland you may be able to get help during this time from your council’s Scottish Welfare Fund.

Universal Credit is usually paid monthly. In Scotland you can choose to receive your money twice a month. 

The Interview

You will need to go to an interview at a Jobcentre to finish your application. This is called a ‘work search interview’ or ‘claimant commitment interview’.

After checking your claim, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will contact you to arrange this interview. If you don’t attend, your application will be cancelled and you will have to start again.

The interview will be with a member of staff who will be your ‘work coach’. If you’re in a couple you’ll have separate interviews.

The purpose of the interview is to:

  • check you are who you say you are
  • help you understand how Universal Credit works and what will happen next
  • look at your situation and assess whether you need to take steps to look for work as a condition of qualifying for Universal Credit 
  • arrange your ‘claimant commitment’ and you’ll have to sign it

Claimant Commitment

Your Claimant Commitment will set out what (if anything) you must do to prepare for and look for work, or to increase your earnings if you are already working. It will be based on your personal circumstances and will be reviewed regularly. 

Sanctions

Your Claimant Commitment will state what will happen if you don’t meet your responsibilities. You may have a cut in your benefit, known as a sanction, if you fail to meet one of your responsibilities and can’t give a good reason to explain why.

 

Work and Universal Credit

Your Universal Credit payment will reduce gradually as you earn more. Some people will qualify for a work allowance, but after that for every £1 you earn your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by 65p.

Information last updated on 31 January 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.

If you would like this information guide in another version then please contact us and we will post or email you a copy.

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