Universal Credit is a benefit you can claim if you are on a low income or unemployed.
There’s no set level of income where you stop being eligible for Universal Credit – it depends on your situation.
Check if you can get Universal Credit (EWS)
To get Universal Credit you must:
- be 18 years old or over – or in some cases 16 or 17
- be under State Pension age - check your State Pension age if you’re over 60 years old on GOV.UK
- live in the UK – there are extra rules if you’re not a British citizen
- have less than £16,000 in savings
If you live with a partner, their income and savings will be taken into account.
You should consider how you match with these eligibility criteria, to decide whether to move forwards with applying for Universal Credit. If you are currently in receipt of any benefit support it is important that you understand whether you will be better off than you would be if making a new claim for universal credit. Once a new claim is made your current benefits will cease and cannot be reinstated.
You could contact our Help to Claim advisers, they can help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can talk to them on the phone or online over chat. Our advisers can help you:
- work out if you can get Universal Credit
- fill in the Universal Credit application
- prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment
- check your first payment is correct
You can find information about how to contact them through the following link:
Contact us about applying for Universal Credit (EWS)
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/