Can I get Universal Credit (UC)?
Whether you can claim Universal Credit depends on your personal circumstances. If you are receiving any legacy benefits, you will lose these if you claim Universal Credit, and will not be able to go back on them.
To claim Universal Credit you must:
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be 18 or over (in most cases)
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be under Pension Credit age
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be in Great Britain
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not be in education
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have accepted a claimant commitment
If you have a partner you will make a joint claim as a couple. If one of you does not meet any of the above conditions, that person will be ignored for the purposes of calculating the Universal Credit maximum amount - although their savings/capital, income and earnings will still be taken into account.
What if I am disabled?
Most people with illnesses or disabilities can claim Universal Credit. Some people with disabilities or illnesses who get or are entitled to get a Severe Disability Premium cannot claim Universal Credit and are still allowed to make new claims for the benefits Universal Credit replaces.
What if I am aged 16 or 17 years?
You should look at our page on claiming benefits as a young person.
If you are under 18 and want to know more about your benefit entitlement please seek further advice from a professional advice service. You can use our Find an Adviser tool to find a local adviser.
What if I am over Pension Credit age?
Universal Credit is paid to people of working age and is not a benefit for people who have reached Pension Credit age. You would claim Pension Credit instead of Universal Credit.
If one member of a couple is Pension Age and the other one is working age, you will usually need to claim Universal Credit. If one member of a couple was pension age on 14/05/19 and the other was still working age, you can still make a backdated claim for Pension Credit, but you will need to do this before 13/08/19.
Updated: June 2019