Universal Credit (UC) is a benefit to help with living costs.  It is paid monthly by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Visit the Gov.uk website for more information about Universal Credit. 

Download an Easy Read leaflet on Managed Migration and Universal Credit.

1. Who is eligible to receive Universal Credit

Adults aged 18 or over and below State Pension age that are on a low income or who need help with housing and living costs may be able to get Universal Credit. 

They may be:

• unable to work, for example, because of a health condition or have caring responsibilities
• working (including self-employed or part time)
• out of work

To claim, they must live in the UK and have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.

2. How Universal Credit works

Universal Credit replaces six old-style benefits (also known as legacy benefits):

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (IR-ESA)
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit

Universal Credit works differently from the old-style benefits in the following ways:

• Payment is monthly, rather than weekly or fortnightly
• Rent will usually be paid directly to the claimant as part of their monthly Universal Credit payment, and not as a separate Housing Benefit payment. This means the claimant is responsible for paying rent to their landlord and any bills
• Universal Credit is available if you are unemployed or working.

As the first payment of Universal Credit is made around five weeks after applying, claimants must plan in advance any bills etc, they need to pay for.  See the below section 4 on Budgeting for further information. 

If an incomplete application form is submitted, the first payment made take longer to arrive.

Claimants must keep the DWP updated about their circumstances to ensure their future payments are not affected. 

Find out how much you can get on Universal Credit, as well as more information about Universal Credit. 

3. Receiving a DWP Migration Notice letter

The government is gradually moving six old-style working age means-tested benefits to Universal Credit. It will be done in phases (in other words, managed migration).

When it is a person's turn to move to Universal Credit, they will receive a DWP Migration Notice letter, The letter will inform the person that their current benefits are ending and they must apply for Universal Credit. 

A person must not ignore their Migration Notice letter. They must apply for Universal Credit before the date stated on the letter to ensure that their financial support is continued.

Guidance is available for people who have received a Migration Notice letter. 

4. Budgeting

Before applying for Universal Credit, it is recommended to work out a budget to check that:

• there is enough money to last the five-week wait (or longer) between applying for Universal Credit and receiving first payment
• rent, Council Tax and other living costs can be paid every month
• the claimant can cope financially if the Universal Credit monthly payment is less in comparison to the legacy benefits. Some people's benefits will go up when they move to Universal Credit and some will go down. 

If a person applies after they have received a Migration Notice letter, they may be entitled to Transitional Protection (also known as the transitional element).  This is an additional amount to help with moving to Universal Credit and makes up the difference if the Universal Credit entitlement is less than the previous benefits.

Also, it is possible to apply for an advance payment, repayable over 12 months, but it means the Universal Credit monthly payments will be lower.

5. Help with paying Council Tax

If a person claims Universal Credit and they need help with paying Council Tax, they need to make a separate claim for Council Tax Support. 

The Camden Council Council Tax Support webpage provides details on who can apply, how to apply and how support is calculated. 

Details about Council Tax discounts and exemptions,  including information about applying for Single Person Council Tax discounts, Discretionary Council Tax discounts, are available on the Council website.

6. How to apply for Universal Credit

Applications may be made online or by phone. 

APPLY ONLINE

If a claim is made online, the DWP will use an online journal to communicate with the claimant about their application.

To apply online, visit https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim.

Public computers in Camden libraries are available to apply online, if needed.

APPLY BY PHONE

If a claim is made by mobile phone, the DWP will communicate with the claimant by mobile phone.

To apply by phone, contact:

• Citizens Advice Help to Claim Freephone: 0800 144 8 444 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm) 
• Citizens Advice Help to Claim Text relay service to type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 144 8 444
• Universal Credit Helpline: 0800 328 5644 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)
• Universal Credit Helpline relay service to type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 328 5644

DETAILS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

1. The following is required:

• a bank account - find out more about free basic bank accounts
• an email address
• form of ID

Citizens Advice can help with setting up an email or bank account.   Call them on Freephone 0800 144 8 444 or speak to one of their local advisers in Citizens Advice Camden on Freephone 0800 028 3146.

2. Applicants are required to prove their identity. Forms of ID include:

• a credit card or debit card
• driving licence or passport
• payslip or P60

Verifying ID needs to be done online.  If the applicant is unable to do this, they may need an appointment with the Universal Credit team.

3. Additional information is required to complete the application:

• income - including other benefits, savings and investments, earnings
• outgoings - for example, rent and childcare costs
• details about anything that affects their ability to work

9. People who are reaching pension age

People reaching State Pension age are not eligible for Universal Credit. They will need to make a claim to Camden Council for Housing Benefit as soon as possible.   

It may also be possible to claim Pension Credit from the government's Pension Service to help with living costs.  Pension Credit is paid separately from your State Pension.

10. Couples of both pension and working age

Couples who already received Pension Credit or Housing Benefit on and before 14 May 2019 will continue to receive those benefits and do not need to apply for Universal Credit.

From 15 May 2019, couples of both pension and working age will usually need to claim Universal Credit.

11. Financial help and support

There is financial help and support available for Camden residents including support with living costs and money advice:

• For help and support with paying rent and living costs, visit Camden Council’s Cost of living support webpages
• Residents may refer themselves to Camden Council for money advice and support.

Also, a benefits calculator is available to check entitlement to different benefits.