Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly – or twice a month for some people in Scotland.
You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income or out of work.
Whether you can claim Universal Credit depends on where you live and your circumstances.
If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland.
If you already get benefits
Universal Credit will replace the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Working Tax Credit
If you currently receive any of these benefits, you can’t claim Universal Credit at the same time.
Universal Credit is being introduced in stages across the UK. You don’t need to do anything until you hear from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about moving to Universal Credit, unless you have a change in circumstances.
Income Support is a means tested benefit paid to certain groups of people who do not have enough money to live on. You will not be eligible to receive it just because you are on a low income – your weekly income must be below a certain level, and you must be one of a group of people who can get benefit without having to look for work.
Income Support is a non-contributory benefit therefore you do not need to have paid national insurance contributions, but you will need to have a national insurance number to make a claim. If you are eligible to receive income support you will automatically receive housing and council tax benefit. To claim Income Support you must be under 60, and you must usually be 18 or over. You must have income and capital below a certain amount and you must be working less than16 hours a week. If you have a partner they must be working less than 24 hours a week. If you live with a partner only one of you can claim for this benefit. Applications for income support In England, Wales and Scotland, are usually made over the phone.
Any new claimants would be assessed now for Universal Credit, dependant on where you live.
Job seekers allowance
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people who are unemployed but capable of work. To get Jobseeker’s Allowance you have to meet several other conditions, which include showing that you are looking for work. There are two types of Jobseeker’s Allowance, contribution-based (non-means-tested) Jobseeker’s Allowance and income-based (means-tested).
To receive contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance you will need to have made enough national insurance contributions within the last couple of years. This benefit is not affected by any savings you may have however, if you have part-time earnings or an occupational or personal pension, this may affect how much you will receive. For example, the amount of contribution-based JSA that you get is cut pound for pound for any occupational pension that is over £50 a week. If you earn too much, you will not get contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance at all.
Where you do not have enough national insurance contributions you may be able to claim income-based Jobseeker’s allowance. You can also get it on top of contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance because you have a partner, or because of other personal circumstances – for example, if you are disabled or caring for a disabled person or have housing costs. Whether you can get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance depends on the amount of your income and capital.
To claim Jobseeker’s Allowance in England, Wales and Scotland, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
In Northern Ireland, you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance at a Jobs and Benefits Office or Social Security Office
Employment support allowance
Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is paid to people who are either too sick or disabled to work and who meet certain conditions. There are two types of ESA. And you may be able to get either or both, depending on your circumstances. The two types of ESA are:
- Contributory ESA, when you have paid enough national insurance contributions. However, if you become unfit for work before you are 20 (25 in some cases), you do not need to meet the national insurance contributions
- Income-related ESA, which is paid if your income and capital are low enough
Employment Support Allowance offers you personalised support and financial help, so that you can engage in appropriate work, if you are able.
It offers access to specially trained personal advisers and a wider range of services including employment, training and condition management support, to help you manage your illness or disability in a work context. You may be called to a Work Capability Assessment which assesses what you can do and identifies the health-related support you might need.
Most individuals claiming ESA will be expected to take appropriate steps in preparation for work, including attending a series of work-focused interviews with their personal adviser.
You can claim ESA by telephoning Jobcentre Plus.
The benefits listed are not exhaustive but a sample of the support you may be able to obtain should you find yourself out of work. For more information about these and other benefits, including the criteria to receive them, check out the web links below.
workplacewellbeing.com assumes no responsibility for the content of linked websites.
