When should I start my Universal Credit (UC) claim?
Read our guide to when to start your Universal Credit claim.
There are different situations that might lead you to apply for Universal Credit (UC).
If you are in work
It's usually best to apply for Universal Credit as soon as possible because of the five-week wait for your first payment. You can read more about this in our Waiting for your first Universal Credit payment guide.
It's also a good idea to avoid starting a claim too close to your usual pay day or towards the end of the month. This helps prevent the UC system from counting you as being paid twice in one month, which could reduce your UC payment.
Recently out of work
If you’ve just finished work, it’s usually best to wait until the day after you get your final wages or any holiday pay before you claim Universal Credit.
If you apply before this money is paid, it’ll count as income in your first assessment period. This can reduce the amount you get in your first payment.
Redundancy pay
If you are getting redundancy pay, you should apply for UC as soon as you can.
Redundancy pay does not count as income for UC.
It only affects your UC if it takes your total capital (savings and investments) over £6,000.
Read more about how your earnings and savings can affect your claim in our Universal Credit Income and Capital guide.
Childcare costs
If you pay for childcare, you may prefer to start your UC claim on the 1st of the month.
This means your UC payment is more likely to arrive before your next childcare bill is due, helping with budgeting.
For more information, visit our Help with Childcare Costs guide.
Advice and support
The best time to claim Universal Credit depends on your personal situation.
We recommend that you check your entitlement first using the Turn2us Benefits Calculator or speak to a trained adviser. This can help you make sure you’re getting all the financial support you’re entitled to and that you claim at the right time.