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Are you eligible for Universal Credit?

Posted on by
12
Nov

What to do if you are placed in a financial position where you do not have sufficient income to meet your monthly outgoings and you are unable to find work to plug the gap.

The main government assistance for those who find themselves in this position is to register for Universal Credits.

The following notes from the GOV.UK website may help you decide if you are eligible to make a claim.

You may be able to get Universal Credit if:

  • You are on a low income or out of work
  • You are 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
  • You are 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

 

The number of children you have does not affect your eligibility for Universal Credit, but it may affect how much you get.

You should use the benefits calculator on the GOV.UK website to check what other benefits you could get if you are not eligible for Universal Credit.

If you live with your partner

Your partner’s income and savings will be considered, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit.

If you are 18 or over and in training or studying full-time

You can make a new Universal Credit claim if any of the following apply:

  • you live with your partner and they are eligible for Universal Credit
  • you are responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple
  • you are disabled and entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and have limited capability for work
  • you are in further education, are 21 or under and do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you’re not under local authority care

If you are 16 or 17

You can make a new Universal Credit claim if any of the following apply:

  • you have limited capability for work, or you have medical evidence and are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment
  • you are caring for a severely disabled person
  • you are responsible for a child
  • you are in a couple with responsibility for at least one child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit
  • you are pregnant and it’s 11 weeks or less before your expected week of childbirth
  • you have had a child in the last 15 weeks
  • you do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you are not under local authority care

 

You can also make a claim if you’re in full-time further education and any of the following apply:

  • you do not have parental support
  • you have limited capacity for work and you’re entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • you are responsible for a child
  • you are in a couple with responsibility for a child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit

If you’re in a couple and one of you is State Pension age

You and your partner can claim Universal Credit as a couple if one of you is under State Pension age and eligible for Universal Credit.

When you both reach State Pension age your Universal Credit claim will stop.

You may be able to apply for Pension Credit or other benefits as a couple when your Universal Credit stops. Ask your Jobcentre Plus work coach what else you could be eligible for.