DO I need to claim universal credit?
Eventually, by the end of 2023, no one will be on 'legacy benefits'. Everyone will have been told that those benefits are ending and that to replace them, they would need to claim Universal Credit.
In the meantime though, people with a 'change in circumstances' are being told they need to claim Universal Credit but there is a lot of confusion over what that actually means - even DWP, HMRC and local authority staff are getting it wrong as well as some well known advice and welfare rights organisations.
We have tried our best here to explain what this actually means in a way that is easy to understand.
In the meantime though, people with a 'change in circumstances' are being told they need to claim Universal Credit but there is a lot of confusion over what that actually means - even DWP, HMRC and local authority staff are getting it wrong as well as some well known advice and welfare rights organisations.
We have tried our best here to explain what this actually means in a way that is easy to understand.
Universal Credit is available in every area of the UK as of 12th December 2018.
It replaces 'legacy benefits' - ESA (IR), JSA (IB),
Income Support, Housing Benefit and Tax Credits.
It replaces 'legacy benefits' - ESA (IR), JSA (IB),
Income Support, Housing Benefit and Tax Credits.
Sso you need to make a new claim for benefit?
Unfortunately, it isn't possible to claim income support, JSA(IB), ESA(IR), tax credits or housing benefit.
The only exception to this is people in temporary housing or supported housing can claim housing benefit. Universal Credit will not help with housing costs for there situations.
You can claim carers allowance, child DLA, PIP, maternity allowance, New Style ESA, New Style JSA and a few other benefits as these are not being replaced by UC.
You can amend any existing claims you have - as long as you it doesn't require you making a new claim you just update your circumstances and carry on.
For everyone else, a new claim for legacy benefit cannot be made and you may be told to claim Universal Credit but please think carefully and learn what you can because UC is calculated entirely differently and you may not always be better off than what you currently get.
The only thing that triggers a claim for Universal Credit right now, is filling in the claim form. You need to decide for yourself if what you have on legacy benefits is better or whether Universal Credit can offer you more. You can use our online step by step guide to work out your entitlement.
Many people are lots better off on Universal Credit. Unfortunately they are not the ones featured in the media or posting in lots of support groups but as admin, we see a lot of peoples personal finance information and it would surprise you how beneficial Universal Credit can be for some people. Not all sadly!
The only exception to this is people in temporary housing or supported housing can claim housing benefit. Universal Credit will not help with housing costs for there situations.
You can claim carers allowance, child DLA, PIP, maternity allowance, New Style ESA, New Style JSA and a few other benefits as these are not being replaced by UC.
You can amend any existing claims you have - as long as you it doesn't require you making a new claim you just update your circumstances and carry on.
For everyone else, a new claim for legacy benefit cannot be made and you may be told to claim Universal Credit but please think carefully and learn what you can because UC is calculated entirely differently and you may not always be better off than what you currently get.
The only thing that triggers a claim for Universal Credit right now, is filling in the claim form. You need to decide for yourself if what you have on legacy benefits is better or whether Universal Credit can offer you more. You can use our online step by step guide to work out your entitlement.
Many people are lots better off on Universal Credit. Unfortunately they are not the ones featured in the media or posting in lots of support groups but as admin, we see a lot of peoples personal finance information and it would surprise you how beneficial Universal Credit can be for some people. Not all sadly!
You have been told to claim Universal Credit?
The Jobcentre often tell people that they need to claim Universal Credit, even when they don't need to.
I would like to hope this is just due to staff training and the complexities of the benefit system. It is very important to remember that the Jobcentre is part of Department of Work and Pensions and any tax credits claim is ran by HMRC and any housing benefit claim is operated by your local authority and each and everyone if them has stacks and stacks of different legislation and staff guidance. It would be impossible for any Jobcentre staff member to understand every single different benefit system, including the ones operated by HMRC and your local authority.
Are you starting work?
Starting work is absolutely not a reason to claim Universal Credit, unless you choose to. Anyone can choose to claim but the most common thing we see is someone in receipt of tax credits and possibly housing benefit and an out of work benefit and they start work. The Jobcentre often tells them they have had a change and they need to claim UC.
What you can actually do is update your out of work (which will end if working above the threshold), update housing benefit who will amend your claim and update tax credits. If you are now eligible for working tax credits, then this can be put into payment if you have an existing claim for child tax credits.
ESA claimants - if you claim UC and will be starting work more than 16 hours as a single claimant or if you are part of a couple and your partner will be starting work, then you should really consider claiming Universal Credit prior to this. Universal Credit is much fairer, most of the time, for people who have limited capability to work and earnings on their claim.
Moving house?
If you are moving house and you do not need help with housing costs then you can just amend any existing claims for benefits with your new address details.
If you already have a housing benefit claim and you are moving within the same local authority then you can amend your existing housing benefit claim - providing there are no gaps between tenancies.
If you are moving into your a rented property and you do not have a housing benefit claim then you will need to consider claiming Universal Credit - unless it's temporary or supported accommodation.
If you are moving to a new local authority and need help with housing costs then you will need to consider claiming Universal Credit as you will be unable to claim housing benefit - unless it's temporary or supported accommodation.
Temporary or Supported Accommodation - this is handled by housing benefit so if you move into one of these you can submit a claim for housing benefit. This applies whether you are on legacy benefits or Universal Credit.
Becoming a student
Becoming a student isn't a reason to claim Universal Credit. You may lose entitlement to your income support or JSA or possibly ESA but it is very doubtful that Universal Credit would pay you more. You can of course use the step by step calculator to compare your options.
The Jobcentre often tell people that they need to claim Universal Credit, even when they don't need to.
I would like to hope this is just due to staff training and the complexities of the benefit system. It is very important to remember that the Jobcentre is part of Department of Work and Pensions and any tax credits claim is ran by HMRC and any housing benefit claim is operated by your local authority and each and everyone if them has stacks and stacks of different legislation and staff guidance. It would be impossible for any Jobcentre staff member to understand every single different benefit system, including the ones operated by HMRC and your local authority.
Are you starting work?
Starting work is absolutely not a reason to claim Universal Credit, unless you choose to. Anyone can choose to claim but the most common thing we see is someone in receipt of tax credits and possibly housing benefit and an out of work benefit and they start work. The Jobcentre often tells them they have had a change and they need to claim UC.
What you can actually do is update your out of work (which will end if working above the threshold), update housing benefit who will amend your claim and update tax credits. If you are now eligible for working tax credits, then this can be put into payment if you have an existing claim for child tax credits.
ESA claimants - if you claim UC and will be starting work more than 16 hours as a single claimant or if you are part of a couple and your partner will be starting work, then you should really consider claiming Universal Credit prior to this. Universal Credit is much fairer, most of the time, for people who have limited capability to work and earnings on their claim.
Moving house?
If you are moving house and you do not need help with housing costs then you can just amend any existing claims for benefits with your new address details.
If you already have a housing benefit claim and you are moving within the same local authority then you can amend your existing housing benefit claim - providing there are no gaps between tenancies.
If you are moving into your a rented property and you do not have a housing benefit claim then you will need to consider claiming Universal Credit - unless it's temporary or supported accommodation.
If you are moving to a new local authority and need help with housing costs then you will need to consider claiming Universal Credit as you will be unable to claim housing benefit - unless it's temporary or supported accommodation.
Temporary or Supported Accommodation - this is handled by housing benefit so if you move into one of these you can submit a claim for housing benefit. This applies whether you are on legacy benefits or Universal Credit.
Becoming a student
Becoming a student isn't a reason to claim Universal Credit. You may lose entitlement to your income support or JSA or possibly ESA but it is very doubtful that Universal Credit would pay you more. You can of course use the step by step calculator to compare your options.