What you’ll get
Universal Credit payment is normally paid monthly and how much you get could be dependent on:
- Your standard allowance
- Any extra amount that applies to you
- Any money taken off your payment
- If you’re working, how much you make
Eligibility
To be eligible for Universal Credit, you could be:
- Be out of work
- Unable to work due to health condition
- Working (including self-employed or part time)
- Be aged 18 and over (with some exceptions for age 16 to 17)
- Be under State pension age
- Must live in the UK
- Have £16,000 or less in money, savings, and investments
If you live with your partner, you will both need to make a joint claim for Universal Credit for your household even if one of you is not eligible. You can also claim Universal Credit if you’re 21 or under studying any qualification equivalent up to A level and do not have any financial or parental support.
How to claim Universal Credit
Universal Credit can be claimed in two ways which can either be claiming online by going to www.gov.uk and creating an account to make a claim which must be completed within 28days of opening the account or you start all over. Alternatively, you can call the Universal Credit helplines to make a claim.
Universal Credit Helplines:
- Telephone: 0800 328 5644
- Textphone: 0800 328 1344
- Welsh Language: 0800 328 1744
- Relay UK (If you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 1800 then 0800 328 5644
What you need to apply:
To apply you will need the following information:
- Your bank, building society or credit union
- An email address
- Access to a phone
- Driving licence
- Passport
- Debit or credit card
- Payslip or p60
- Information about your housing, for example, how much rent you pay
- Other benefits you get
- Health condition that affects your work
- Savings and shares
- How much you pay for childcare if you want help with childcare.
Once you have submitted your application, you will need to book an interview with a Department of Work and Pension adviser. They will confirm the information that you’ve provided, discuss your work prospects and the support you need and draw up a claimant commitment. These interviews usually take place at your local Jobcentre plus offices and you will need to book an interview within one week of claim otherwise the claim may fail.
On your interview day, take along your physical documents for verification. If you cannot take part in the interview, get in touch with the office arranging interview to explain the reasons and rearrange.
Advanced payment
When you apply for Universal Credit, you can apply for advanced payment. This is useful if you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs while you wait for your first payment. You can apply online through your journal, or through your Jobcentre plus work coach.
You will need to:
- Explain why you need the money
- Provide bank account details for the advance (talk to your work coach if you cannot open an account for alternative payments)
- Verify your identity
How the advance is repaid
You will need to pay back any advance within 24 months from your future Universal Credit payments, or by any means if you stop getting Universal Credit. For example, from your wages or other benefits you might be getting.
As such it is advised to be careful of how much advance you take and make sure it is a minimal amount because of repayments.
Late claims and back payment
Universal Credit allowance can only be backdated by one month if any of the following applies to you:
- You had an illness that prevented you from claiming and have provided evidence of this to DWP
- You were unable to claim online because the system was not working, but did as soon as it worked
- You were previously receiving benefits and you were not informed that it will stop after claim
- You have a disability
- A joint claim has been refused or terminated because of prior joint claim and you are now claiming as a single person
Change of Circumstances
You should always report any change in your circumstances that could affect your entitlement to claim Universal Credit to DWP (department of work and pension), you can report these circumstances in your online account or in writing or calling the Universal Credit help lines or service centre.
For advice and support regarding Universal Credit or help with completion of the process, please speak to our team of advisors at Advice Portsmouth.
Telephone: 02392 794 340
Email: advice.portsmouth@theyoutrust.org.uk
Opening Times
Mondays- Wednesdays: 09:00-17:00
Thursdays: 13:00 – 19:30
Fridays: 09:00 – 16:30
Address
Anchor House,116 Kingston, Crescent North-end, Portsmouth, PO2 8AL.
