With Universal credit Claim Before you apply, check if you’re eligible and what you can get if you live: … You cannot claim Universal Credit and .

Apply for Universal Credit

You can apply for Universal Credit online.

Before you apply, check if you’re eligible and what you can get if you live:

You cannot claim Universal Credit and tax credits at the same time. 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.

You might also need to book and attend an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus. You’ll be told if you need to after you apply.

You’ll get your first payment around 5 weeks after applying online if your application is successful. When you apply, you can ask for an advance if you need help sooner.

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Start nowon the Universal Credit service

What you need to know

Call the helpline to get help making your claim online.

Universal Credit helpline
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users – check you can use this service
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

Universal Credit

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How to claim

You can apply for Universal Credit online.

You need to create an account. You use it to make a claim. You must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again.

If you live with your partner, you will both need to create accounts. You’ll link them together when you claim. You cannot claim by yourself.

If you cannot claim online, you can claim by phone through the Universal Credit helpline.

If you get other benefits that are replaced by Universal Credit, they will stop when you or your partner applies for Universal Credit. You cannot make a new claim for the benefits that have stopped.

What you need to apply

To apply online you’ll need:

your bank, building society or credit union account details
an email address
access to a phone

If you do not have these, you can call the Universal Credit helpline or go to a jobcentre. You can also get support from the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service.

You’ll also have to prove your identity. You’ll need some identity documents for this, for example your:

driving licence
passport
debit or credit card
payslip or P60

To complete your claim you will need to provide information about:

your housing, for example how much rent you pay
your earnings, for example payslips
any disability or health condition that affects your work
how much you pay for childcare if you want help with childcare costs
your savings and any investments, like shares or a property that you rent out

You might need an appointment with the Universal Credit team if:

they need more information
you cannot verify your identity online

You’ll be told if this appointment will be in a jobcentre or on the phone.

Apply for Universal Credit online

Apply now

Help with your claim

There are 2 ways to get help with your Universal Credit claim. You can either call the Universal Credit helpline or use the Help to claim service.

Calls to the Universal Credit helpline are free.

Universal Credit helpline

Universal Credit helpline
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

You can use the BSL video relay service to make a claim.

Find out what you need to do to use the video relay service.

The service is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Help to Claim

You can get free support from trained advisers to make a Universal Credit claim. They can help you with things like online applications or preparing for your first jobcentre appointment.

The Help to Claim service is provided by Citizens Advice and is confidential. They will not share your personal information unless you agree.

If you’ve claimed Universal Credit before

You can sign in to your account to start a new claim if you’ve received a payment during the last 6 months.

If your payments stopped more than 6 months ago, you’ll need to make a new claim.

Universal credit Claim