You will normally receive one monthly payment to cover your living costs. You and your partner will get one payment between the 2 of you if you claim as a couple. The payment is made up of a basic standard allowance and extra payments that might apply to you depending on your circumstances.
You might be able to get extra payments if you:
- look after one or more children
- work and pay for childcare
- need help with housing costs
- are disabled or have a health condition
- are a carer for a disabled person or you have a disabled child
Universal Credit is for working-age claimants and is slowly replacing 6 legacy benefits. e.g. Housing Benefit. Universal Credit is paid monthly, mostly paid directly to the claimant and it is their responsibility to pay their rent to their landlord.
You may be entitled to the housing element of Universal Credit because of your low income. The amount of housing element you are entitled to will depend on your circumstances, such as you or your partner’s salary, the number of bedrooms you have (see bedroom tax), and if you have any non-dependants in your home.
Use here to check if you are entitled to or better off on Universal Credit.
If you get help with your rent
If your UC payment includes help with rent, you will have to pay your landlord each month from your Universal Credit payment. If you are in debt, have rent arrears or you’re struggling to manage your money you can ask the DWP to pay the rent directly to your landlord.
If you are working
You can get Universal Credit if you are working but your Universal Credit will reduce gradually as you earn more, and it will go up if your job ends or you earn less.
There are two aspects to consider:
- The Administrative Earnings Threshold, and
- The Conditionality Earnings Threshold.
The Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) is an amount you can earn that affects what you’re asked to agree to. For individual claimants, the AET is £892 per assessment period. For couples, the combined couple’s AET is £1,437 per assessment period.
If you as an individual earn below the AET in an assessment period, you must:
- show you’re actively looking for more, or better-paid work
- be available for work
unless you’re part of a couple whose combined earnings are at, or above, the couple’s AET.
If you’re part of a couple whose individual earnings are below the individual AET, and whose combined earnings are below the couple’s AET, both of you must:
- show you’re actively looking for more, or better-paid work
- be available for work
You will also get regular support from a ‘work coach’. Your work coach can help you with job search strategies, interview skills and connecting with employers.
If you earn the individual AET or more, you do not need to actively look for more or better paid work.
The Conditionality Earnings Threshold (CET) is an amount that’s based on the number of hours you can reasonably be expected to work or do work-related activities. It is based on your circumstances but the default for most people is 35 hours a week.
If you are working and earning the equivalent of your CET at National Living Wage (or National Minimum Wage if under 23) you are considered to be working enough and will not be asked to take part in work focused interviews, work preparation or work search. For example: if you are earning £1500 per month, this is over your CET and you will not be asked to carry out further tasks.
Get an Advance Payment
It will usually take about 4 weeks after you apply to get your first Universal Credit payment, but you can ask for your first payment sooner if you do not have enough money to live on – this is called an advance payment. The advance payment is a loan which will be deducted in installments from your future Universal Credit payments every month until you have paid it back.
If want to speak to someone about your UC, call the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644.
