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Benefits & Universal Credit

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with your living costs.
You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits:

  • Child Tax Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Working Tax Credit

If you currently get any of these benefits, you do not need to do anything unless:

  • you have a change of circumstances you need to report
  • the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contacts you about moving to Universal Credit

If you get tax credits, they will stop when you or your partner applies for Universal Credit.
Check how tax credits and Universal Credit affect each other.

Universal Credit combines payments into one amount which is paid into your bank account on the same date each month.

How do you apply?

You will need an e-mail address and internet access to manage your claim, a mobile telephone number and a bank account, building society account or credit union account.

Because Universal Credit is paid monthly you may need to make changes to the way you budget and ensure your rent account is in credit.

Find out more:  www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

Benefits

Housing & council tax benefit

You may be able to claim for Housing Benefit if you are on a low income. You need to apply to your local council as they administer the scheme. The amount of benefit you get depends on your circumstances and the rules set by government, and includes your income and savings, who lives with you, and your personal circumstances.  Housing Benefit is not normally backdated so you need to make an application as soon as possible.

You may also be able to claim help with your council tax. To apply you need to contact your local council:

You will need to complete an application form and provide proof of the information you supply through original documents. The following list indicates the sort of information you will have to provide:

  • National Insurance Number
  • Identification
  • Evidence of your income such as state benefits, earned income, self-employed income, pensions etc
  • Proof that you are paying rent
  • Evidence of your savings (if you have more than £16,000 you may not be eligible)

If you qualify for Housing Benefit the council will write and tell you how much you will receive.  You can arrange to have this paid directly to your rent account with us as long as you agree to this.  You are responsible for ensuring that you pay any shortfall in your rent to us.

You must immediately tell the council if any of your circumstances change as this may affect the amount of Housing Benefit that you are entitled to. Some examples are:

  • people joining or leaving your household
  • increase or decrease in savings
  • new income or a new job
  • changes in your rent

If you do not tell the council about the changes you may find that you are not getting your full entitlement, or you could be overpaid. If you are overpaid you may have to repay any amounts that you are not entitled to.