Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a financial help for people of working age who have a low income or are unemployed. It combines different benefits into one monthly payment to make it easier.

Who can get Universal Credit?

You can apply for Universal Credit if you are between 16 and the state pension age.

If you are 16 or 17, you need to meet one of these conditions:

• you have a health condition that limits your ability to work.
• you care for a severely disabled person.
• you are responsible for a child.
• you are in a couple responsible for a child, and your partner can get Universal Credit.
• you are pregnant and due in 11 weeks or less.
• you have had a child in the last 15 weeks.
• you don’t have parental support (like if you live away from your parents).

What benefits does Universal Credit replace?

Universal Credit is replacing these benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credits

If you are getting these benefits now, you don’t need to do anything until the Department for Work and Pensions contacts you. But if your situation changes, you might need to apply for Universal Credit.

Universal Credit doesn’t cover council tax payments, so you’ll still need to apply for Council Tax Support from Newcastle City Council.

How to apply for Universal Credit

To apply for Universal Credit, you must fill out an application online and attend an interview in person. If you can’t claim online you will need to contact the Universal Credit helpline and claim by telephone.

You can find out where you can get help to claim Universal Credit on InformationNow by searching 'Universal Credit'.