Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a single payment for people looking for work, or on a low income. It replaces:
- income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- income-related employment and support allowance
- income support
- working tax credit
- child tax credit
- housing benefit
Universal Credit is paid differently to other benefits.
Someone who would have had several separate payments will get a single payment for their household. It is paid monthly in arrears into a bank, building society, post office or credit union account.
The part of your Universal Credit payment which is for rent is called the housing element. You will need to pay the housing element to your landlord yourself.
If you're already claiming one or more of the benefits being phased out, you should carry on claiming as normal.
However, if you report a relevant change of circumstance about an old benefit, you may switch onto Universal Credit.
Some examples of changes which can trigger the move are:
- being a lone parent in receipt of income support, and your youngest child turns five or permanently leaves the household
- becoming responsible for a child for the first time
- stopping work due to sickness
- moving address into a full service area, which Bridgend County Borough is
- claiming tax credits, and that you separate from your partner
Guidance for landlords on Universal Credit and rented housing can be viewed on gov.uk
Most people of working age can claim universal credit for help with housing costs, if eligible. However, Universal Credit will not cover housing costs for someone if they are a:
- person in supported or temporary housing
- person with three or more children
- pensioner, who also does not live with a working age adult
Should you be in one of these groups, continue to claim housing benefit via My Account.
- If you are a pensioner living with someone of working age and they want to claim universal credit, you could be covered by their claim. Their Universal Credit payment would be for the household as a whole, which would include you. Alternatively, you can continue to claim for housing benefit separately to them.
- Someone in supported or temporary housing may claim Universal Credit. However that claim will not include housing costs, and so they should also claim separately for housing benefit through My Account.
- Universal Credit does not cover housing costs for 18 to 21 year olds. However, exceptions to this rule include people:
- responsible for a child
- in receipt of a disability benefit
- who are care leavers
- who live in temporary accommodation
Claim Universal Credit
Steps to claim Universal Credit:
- Apply for Universal Credit online on the gov.uk website.
- Attend the meeting with your job centre work coach to complete your claim, and provide any evidence.
Council Tax Reduction
If you claim Universal Credit, you can still claim a council tax reduction.
This is not done through Universal Credit, but instead, you must apply through My Account using the ‘Housing benefit and council tax reduction form’.
Please note: You will still need to claim housing benefit separately through the DWP’s universal credit system.
Free school meals
You may also be entitled to free school meals if you claim Universal Credit. Please contact us for more information.
Need help applying?
You can access the internet for free on the computers at:
- your local jobcentre plus office
- your local library
- your local work club
These places can also assist with job searches and CV writing.
Our Housing Benefit Team can help with digital support too, contact us for an appointment.
In exceptional circumstances, you may be able to claim by phone or with a home visit.
Contact the Universal Credit helpline to see if they can help.
If you are vulnerable and need advice to manage your monthly finances and pay bills on time, you will be offered personal budgeting support.
Also we can assist you to open a bank account to receive Universal Credit payments.
You can receive support at any time once your claim for Universal Credit has been made. Contact us for an appointment.