Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) is a national benefit for people who are on a low income or out of work. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a single monthly payment, directly into your bank account.

UC is replacing the following benefits and tax credits:

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

You can find out more about UC and how it is paid on the GOV.UK website.

For help with UC, please visit the GOV.UK website or contact Universal Credit.

Eligibility criteria

You are eligible to claim UC, if you:

• live in the UK
• are 18 or over (but below State Pension age)
• are on a low income or unemployed
• are not in full-time education or training
• have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments

You are not eligible if you are:

• of State Pension age - check your State Pension age online
   
• resident in specified accommodation (a refuge or Local Authority hostel, or if your landlord is 'not for profit' and/or a registered social landlord, and you are receiving care or support as part of your tenancy in order to address a recognised need)
   
• resident in temporary accommodation, secured by the council in accordance with a statutory homelessness duty 

However, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit.

Claiming UC

You can apply and manage your UC claim online.

If you are entitled to help towards your rent (this used to be your Housing Benefit), this will be included in your single monthly payment and you will need to pay your landlord yourself.

You can find more information and help with applying on the GOV.UK website, or contact the UC helpline.
 

If you already receive Housing Benefit

If you're currently receiving Housing Benefit, you must tell us that you have made a claim for UC so that we can cancel your current Housing Benefit.

If you are of working age and do not live in specified or temporary accommodation, you must make new claims for assistance with housing costs through the UC scheme. By law, we cannot award Housing Benefit under these circumstances. You can however still claim Council Tax Reduction from the council.

In addition, if you are of working age and do not live in specified or temporary accommodation, some changes in circumstances may bring your Housing Benefit to an end. Once we are made aware that this type of change has occurred, we will write to you to advise that any further assistance with housing costs will need to be claimed through UC.
 

Help with claiming

We no longer provide UC claim support or budgeting advice.

If you need help with your online claim, you can contact Universal Credit or use the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service.

You can also find useful information on the Citizens Advice website, or get advice from Citizens Advice West Berkshire.

Other benefits

Any other benefits should be applied for separately. You can find out about other benefits on the GOV.UK website.

Council Tax reduction, discounts and exemptions are not part of UC and you need to claim these directly from West Berkshire Council. You will need to make sure you have a claim in place for Council Tax Reduction, as payments are rarely backdated if you claim at a later date.

Help managing your money

You can find guidance on the Money Helper website. Money Helper also have specific guidance on UC and free online budget planners.