What is Universal Credit? Everything you need to know including how to apply – The Sun | The Sun
PEOPLE on low incomes or who are out of work can make a claim for Universal Credit – a single monthly payment that replaced six other benefits.
Below is everything you need to know about the government's welfare system, including how to find out if you're eligible, how to make a claim and how much money you could get.
What is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is a welfare scheme which is supposed to combine a number of old "legacy benefits" into a single monthly payment.
The old legacy benefits it replaced are:
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Working Tax Credit
What elements does Universal Credit include?
Instead of receiving smaller amounts of different benefits, you will receive one monthly payment under Universal Credit – or twice monthly for some people in Scotland.
Almost all new claims for benefits will automatically be put onto Universal Credit.
Those getting Severe Disability Premium (SDP) under the old system can now be moved on to Universal Credit and may be entitled to the transitional SDP element.
If you already receive any of the six benefits Universal Credit is replacing, you can't claim Universal Credit at the same time.
You will need to move over to the the new system and start making a claim for Universal Credit instead of these older benefits.
Everyone will be moved over by the end of 2024.
You can also be moved over when you have a change of circumstances that ends one of the old benefits.
If your circumstance do change, like if you get a pay rise or move in with a partner, you should tell the DWP.
Who is eligible for Universal Credit?
Whether you are eligible will depend on your specific circumstances.
You may be eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:
- you’re on a low income or out of work
- you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
- you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)
- you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
- you live in the UK
Your partner’s income and savings will be taken into account, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit.
There are other factors that might make you eligible for a claim, for instance if you care for a disabled person, you're in further education or if you've recently had a child.
You can read the full eligibility criteria on the government's website.
How to apply for Universal Credit
Applying for Universal Credit should be relatively easy.
You have to go online and create an account, then there are further steps to take.
Creating an account
Once you've created an account you must make a claim within 28 days otherwise you'll have to start again.
If you live with your partner, you'll both have to create accounts and you'll join them together when you claim.
If you're struggling to claim online you can use the Universal Credit helpline which is 0800 328 5644.
What you'll need
To apply online you'll need your bank, building society or credit union account details.
On top of this, you'll need an email address and access to a phone.
If you don't have these things, you can call the Universal Credit helpline or go to a job centre.
To find you nearest job centre, you can use its website.
After you've offered your bank details, you will have to provide your driving licence, passport, debit or credit card and payslip of P60.
In addition, you'll need to prove how much rent you pay, your earnings, any disability or health condition that affects your work, how much you pay for childcare and your savings and any investments, such as shares or a property you rent out.
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How much is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit payments are made up of a standard allowance and then various additional payments that depend on your circumstances.
This is how much you will get as your standard allowance each month:
- Single, under 25 – £265.31
- Single, 25 or over – £334.91
- Couple, joint claimants both under 25 – £416.45 (for both of you)
- Couple, joint claimants, one or both 25 or over – £525.72 (for both of you)
You may get additional payments, for instance if you:
- have children
- have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working
- need help paying your rent
You could also get money to help pay your housing costs. How much you are entitled to depends on your age and circumstances.
You can use a benefits calculator to see how much you're likely to get in total.
You are assessed every month and if things change, it might affect how much you are paid for the whole assessment period.
If you start earning more from work, you'll get a reduction in payments due to something called the taper rate.
As your income increases, your payment will reduce until you’re earning enough to no longer claim Universal Credit – then your payments will be stopped.
If your earnings change from month to month, you may find you need to keep reapplying for Universal Credit.
You can find out exactly how much you can earn without reducing your payments or losing them altogether with our step-by-step guide.
The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work
UNIVERSAL Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment.
One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2024, nearly 7 million will be on it.
But there are big problems with the flagship new system – it takes five weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year.
And while working families can claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront – we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money.
Working parents across the country told us they were previously unable to take on more hours – or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount they get their benefits cut.
But the taper rate change means that is now less likely, in a win for The Sun's campaign to Make Universal Credit work.
It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the Government to:
- Get paid faster: The Government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt.
- Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears.
Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.
Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email [email protected] to share your story.
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