Who can claim Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a working age benefit and therefore cannot be claimed by anyone who has reached state pension credit age.
The minimum age for claiming Universal Credit is 16. If you are 16 or 17 you must meet the following criteria:
- you have limited capability for work, or you have medical evidence and are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment
- you’re caring for a severely disabled person
- you’re responsible for a child
- you’re in a couple with responsibility for at least one child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit
- you’re pregnant and it’s 11 weeks or less before your expected week of childbirth
- you’ve had a child in the last 15 weeks
- you do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you’re not under local authority care.
What Universal Credit is replacing
Universal Credit is replacing:
- child tax credit
- housing benefit
- income support
- income-based jobseeker's allowance
- income-related employment and support allowance
- working tax credits
If you are currently claiming any of the above benefits, you don’t need to do anything now. The Department for Work and Pensions will get in touch with you before there are any changes to your benefits or tax credits and before they are transferred to Universal Credit.
If you are currently claiming any of the above benefits and your circumstances change, it may mean that you will no longer be able to claim those benefits and will need to submit an application for Universal Credit.
Universal Credit does not include help to pay your council tax, you will still need to claim council tax support.
How to claim Universal Credit
You will be required to apply for Universal Credit online and then attend an interview in person
Your Universal Credit claim cannot be backdated, so it is important that you make your claim as soon as possible.