Learn more about universal credit, navigating your account, understanding your payments and how to deal with issues that may arise.
It is a means tested benefit that is paid to you on a monthly basis to provide support with living costs.
You may be able to get it if you are:
There are additional elements you can receive:
Click here for more information about addtional elements.
Find out more information regarding joint claims here.
Click here to see our guidance on creating passwords.
Watch this video to get a step by step guide to confirming your details
It is your responsibility to declare any change of circumstances as soon as possible.
Watch this video to get a step by step guide on how to confirm your identity
Watch this video to get a step by step guide on accepting your claimant commitment
If you do not accept your claimant commitment your claim may be closed or your payments may be stopped. Also note, claimant commitments are reviewed on regular basis.
This is what your homepage will look like once you’ve logged in.
Watch this video to get a step by step guide on how to view your journal
You can use your journal to report a change, message your work coach, record job searches/applications and communicate any needs.
Ensure you have the right phone number on your account to ensure you receive all notifications and the right account details to ensure you receive your payments.
Watch this video to get a step by step guide on understanding your homepage
It is important that you report any change of circumstances as soon as possible to ensure you receive the right payments.
It takes around 5 weeks to receive your first payment.
The calculation is based on your circumstances which is assessed on a monthly basis which is called your "assessment period".
You will usually receive the following payments 7 days after the end of each assessment period.
You will get paid on the same date each month.
You may be able to arrange Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) such as you rent being paid to your landlord depending on your circumstances.
There are several reasons you may have payment issues; it is important you address them as soon as possible.
This may be due to:
Your payments may be temporarily reduced or paused if you do not complete your agreed work-related activities without good reason.
Sanctions can last between 7 to 182 days depending on the level of the sanction and how many you have had in a 12 month period.
You can challenge the decision through a mandatory reconsideration and if that does not work you can appeal.
Click here for more information about sanction levels, reasons and challenging them.
You must report a change of circumstance as soon as you can. Not reporting it in time could lead to you missing out on payments or being overpaid.
Click here for more information on reporting a change of circumstance.
You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration if any of the following apply:
Find out more information about mandatory reconsiderations here:
Citizen’s Advice – Challenging a Universal Credit decision – mandatory reconsideration
You can apply via your journal, letter, filling in a CRMR1 form or by phoning universal credit.
you need to provide a good reason/s and evidence. Some examples of a ‘good reason’ include:
You have 1 month to submit the request. If you miss the 1-month deadline, you can still ask for a mandatory reconsideration. You should do this within 13 months of the original decision.
You’ll need to give a good reason for why you couldn’t ask within the 1 month deadline – for example because you were seriously ill or you split up with your partner.
You need to explain to the DWP:
If the decision remains the same following a mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent tribunal.
Click here to find out more information.
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