What Universal Credit Am I Entitled To? Benefits

Universal Credit is a monthly payment that can be applied for to help with your living costs. You may be entitled to it if you are on a low income, out of work or not able to work. In a year where many people are finding themselves out of pocket, this can be really helpful. Read ahead to see what Universal Credit you’re eligible for.

Am I Entitled To Universal Credit?

First of all, you won’t be able to claim Universal Credit if you get, or are entitled to the severe disability premium. This also applies if you got or were entitled to the severe disability premium in the last month or if you are still eligible for it.

Before you start your claim, it’s important to acknowledge that if you live with a partner, their income and savings will also be taken into account, even if they aren’t applicable for Universal Credit.

You may qualify for Universal Credit if you fulfill the following categories:

  • You are on a low income or out of work
  • You are 18 or over
  • You are under State Pension Age
  • You and your partner have no more than £16,000 in savings between you
  • You live in the UK

Can I apply for Universal Credit if I’m under 18?

There are some exceptions to the rule about being 18 or over. If you’re 16 or 17, you may still be eligible if you fall into one of the following categories:

  • You have a limited capability for work or medical evidence that you’re waiting for a Work Capability Assessment.
  • You’re caring for a severely disabled person
  • You’re responsible for a child
  • You’re in a couple that’s responsible for at least one child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit
  • You’re pregnant and it’s 11 weeks or less before your expected week of birth
  • You had a child in the last 15 weeks
  • You don’t have parental support. For example, being estranged from your parents and not under local authority care

Can I claim if I’m studying full-time?

You can indeed. If you’re studying full-time and you’re over 18, you can still claim Universal Credit. However, at least one of the following points must apply to you:

  • You live with your partner who is eligible for Universal Credit
  • You or the couple you’re in are responsible for a child
  • You’re disabled, have a limited capability for work and you’re entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • You’re in further education, aged 21 or under and don’t have parental support.

If you’re studying full-time in further education, you may have grounds to claim if any of the following apply to you.

  • You don’t have parental support
  • You have limited capacity for work and you’re entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • You’re responsible for a child
  • You’re in a couple with someone who is eligible for Universal Credit and you’re responsible for a child

What will I get?

Your Universal Credit payment will be made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that you may qualify for. Your standard allowance is decided based on your age and whether you’re living with your partner. The amounts are as follows:

  • Single and under 25 – £342.72
  • Single and 25 or over – £409.89
  • In a couple and you’re both under 25 – £488.59 (for you both)
  • In a couple and either of you are 25 or over £594.04 (for you both)

Working can have an impact on how much Universal Credit you receive. Typically, for every £1 that you earn, your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by 63p. However, if you or your partner are responsible for a child or living with a disability/health condition that affects your ability to work, you are given a work allowance. This is a certain amount that you can earn before the Universal Credit is reduced.

What Extra Payments am I entitled to?

There are a number of circumstances where you may be able to get an extra amount on top of your standard allowance. This could be if you fall into any of the following categories:

  • If you have children
  • If you have a disability or health condition
  • If you care for a severely disabled person
  • Need help with rent

If you have one or two children, you’ll get an extra amount for each child that you have. The rules slightly differ if you have three or more children, as you only get an extra amount for more children if any of the following are true for you:

  • Your children were born before 6 April 2017
  • You were already claiming for three or more children before 6 April 2017
  • If any of your children are disabled or seriously disabled, you will get an extra amount for each of them, despite how many children you have and when they were born.

Once this has been figured out you will receive the following benefits.

  • First child (born before 6 April 2017) £281.25
  • First child (born on or after 6 April 2017) £235.83
  • Second child and any other eligible child – £235.83 per child
  • If you have a disabled or severely disabled child – £128.25 or £400.29
  • If you need help with childcare costs – up to 85% of your costs (up to £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children)

For housing, what you get will depend on your age and circumstances and can cover your rent and some of your service charges.

Finally, if you have a disability or a health condition, you’ll be entitled to the following:

  • If you have limited capability for work and work-related activity – £341.92
  • If you have limited capability for work and started your health-related Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim before 3 April 2017 – £128.25

If you care for a severely disabled person, you will be entitled to an extra monthly amount subject to the following conditions:

  • If you provide care for at least 35 hours a week for a severely disabled person receiving a disability-related benefit – £162.92

We hope that this guide has helped to clear things up for you regarding Universal Credit. If you have any other questions, check out our Guide to Universal Credit or contact us with your queries. If you are still unsure whether you are eligible for Universal Credit, Building Better Opportunities can help.

We are a lottery funded organisation that is dedicated to helping couples, families and individuals across Stafford and South Staffordshire with their finances, employment status and health and wellbeing.