Here’s step-by-step help for applying for Universal Credit, including the paperwork you need and free helplines you can call.

Step one: check your eligibility and how much you could get

Use our free Benefits calculator to see if you qualify for Universal Credit and find out how much you could get. It will also show you if you can claim other help and grants, like Child Benefit and money towards your heating bills.

To be eligible for Universal Credit, you usually need to:

• be 18 or over
• be under State Pension age
• live in the UK
• have under £16,000 in savings and investments
• earn less than a certain amount each month.

There are exceptions, like being able to claim from age 16 if you have a disability, are leaving care or are responsible for a child.

If you live with your partner, you’ll both need to apply

If you live with your partner as a couple, both of you must apply separately, even if only one of you qualifies for Universal Credit.

This is because the amount you get is based on your household income and savings, so your partner needs to provide their details too.

Step two: gather important information to support your claim

To apply for Universal Credit, you’ll need:

• bank account details
• an email address
• proof of identity – like a passport, driving licence, debit or credit card.

Plus, you’ll need details of your:

• income
• housing costs – like rent, mortgage and service charges
• childcare costs
• savings and investments
• P45 form – if you’ve lost your job.

If you’re worried about proving your identity, or you don’t have the right documents, speak to a free Universal Credit adviser for help.

Step three: check you won’t miss any claim deadlines

If you’re making a new claim for benefits, it’s usually best to apply as soon as you can. This is because Universal Credit payments can only be backdated by one month.

But, if you’re claiming because you’ve lost your job or you’re moving from other benefits, timing your application can affect how much you get. Here’s how.

If you’ve lost your job

Universal Credit is based on your earnings from the previous month. This means it might be worth waiting until you’ve received your final pay cheque before applying, especially if it includes extra money such as:

• redundancy pay
• pay for holiday you hadn’t taken.

If you get your wages after applying, it may look like you’ve earned too much to claim Universal Credit, requiring you to wait another month until your earnings drop. If you used to get other benefits you will now need to claim Universal Credit.

Universal Credit has replaced these ‘legacy’ benefits and no more payments will be made after 5 April 2025:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

These legacy benefits have also been replaced by Universal Credit but payments will continue for a small number of people:

• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment Support Allowance, payments will continue in 2025, you will get a letter telling you when you need to claim Universal Credit.

For more information and help:

• see our page section Speak to a Citizens Advice Help to Claim adviser for free advice
• see our guide Moving to Universal Credit from other benefits

If you’re about to leave prison

Universal Credit is available to prison leavers. If you’re about to leave prison there are a few things you can do before your release to make sure your claim goes smoothly and your first payment is as quick as possible.

Before your release you will meet with staff from your resettlement team (if you’re in England or Wales) to discuss housing, finance, benefits and education. The week before release. The prison work coach will help you prepare your claim and will book your interview at the Jobcentre.

You can visit GOV.UK for an in-depth guide that will take you through the basics of how to make and manage a new Universal Credit claim - including how to find out if an advance payment is right for you. You’ll need a bank account to get your payments. Our guide covering how to open a bank account for your benefits payments will help you set one up.

Your prison work coach or resettlement team can help if you have further questions.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland you will not have access to a resettlement team. You should make your claim as soon as possible after your release. See our guides on How to apply for Universal Credit if you are in Scotland and How to apply for Universal Credit if you are in Northern Ireland for more details.

Step four: apply for Universal Credit online or by phone

Create an account and apply for Universal Credit online on GOV.UK.

You can start your application and return to it later, but it must be completed within 28 days or it resets.

If you can’t apply online, call the Universal Credit Helpline or Universal Credit Service Centre in Northern Ireland. They might arrange for someone to call you back or visit your home.

For help with your application, speak to a free Citizens Advice Help to Claim adviser

Step five: wait five weeks for your first payment

After you’ve applied, there’s usually a five-week wait for your first Universal Credit payment. This includes:

• a four-week assessment period to work out how much you’ll get
• up to seven days for you to get the money.

If the payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you’ll usually get the money the working day before.

See our guide Help managing your money while waiting for your first Universal Credit payment for what to do while you wait, including how to apply for advance payments if you’ll struggle.

Speak to a Citizens Advice Help to Claim adviser for free advice

For more help and support with your claim for Universal Credit, you can speak to an independent adviser in confidence online or over the phone.

The types of things they can help you with include:

• advising how to set up:
  • an email address
  • Universal Credit account
  • bank account.
• working through the to-do list for making a successful claim

• explaining the online journal and how it is used

• accessing the Universal Credit phone claim service

• accessing DWP home visit support.

You can also:  

• Call the free Universal Credit helpline in England, Scotland and Wales or Universal Credit Service Centre in Northern Ireland for help with your claim .
• Find a specialist adviser near you on Advicelocal for free help and support with benefits, including confidential advice on whether you should claim Universal Credit. 

• Use the British Sign Language (BSL) Video Relay Service to help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim.