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data-track-label="/universal-credit/other-financial-support" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Other financial support"}" href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support">Other financial support</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 11" data-track-label="/universal-credit/contact-universal-credit" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Contact Universal Credit"}" href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/contact-universal-credit">Contact Universal Credit</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </aside> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="guide-contents"> <h1 class="part-title"> Eligibility </h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>You may be able to get Universal Credit if you鈥檙e on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be:</p> <ul> <li>out of work</li> <li>working (including self-employed or part time)</li> <li>unable to work, for example because of a health condition</li> </ul> <p>To claim you must:</p> <ul> <li>live in the UK</li> <li>be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you鈥檙e 16 to 17)</li> <li>be under <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age">State Pension age</a> </li> <li>have 拢16,000 or less in money, savings and investments</li> </ul> <p>You can <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators">use a benefits calculator</a> to check what benefits you could get.</p> <h2 id="if-youre-an-eu-eea-or-swiss-citizen">If you鈥檙e an EU, <abbr title="European Economic Area">EEA</abbr> or Swiss citizen</h2> <p>You and your family might also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get Universal Credit. <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/eligibility">Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme</a>.</p> <h2 id="if-you-live-with-your-partner">If you live with your partner</h2> <p>You will both need to claim for Universal Credit. You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible. How much you can get will depend on your partner鈥檚 income and savings, as well as your own.</p> <h3 id="if-one-of-you-has-reached-state-pension-age">If one of you has reached State Pension age</h3> <p>If only one of you has reached <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension">State Pension age</a>, you and your partner can still claim Universal Credit as a couple. Your Universal Credit claim will stop when you both reach State Pension age.</p> <p>If you鈥檙e getting Pension Credit, it will stop if you or your partner make a claim for Universal Credit. You鈥檒l usually be better off staying on Pension Credit. You can check using a <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators">benefits calculator</a>.</p> <h2 id="if-youre-studying-or-in-training">If you鈥檙e studying or in training</h2> <p>You can make a claim for Universal Credit if you鈥檙e in full-time education and any of the following apply:</p> <ul> <li>you live with your partner and they鈥檙e eligible for Universal Credit</li> <li>you鈥檙e responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple</li> <li>you鈥檝e reached <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age">State Pension age</a> and live with a partner who is below State Pension age</li> </ul> <p>You can also claim Universal Credit if you鈥檙e 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A level or equivalent and do not have parental support.</p> <p>You may be able to claim if you are studying part-time or doing a course for which no student loan or finance is available.</p> <p>Check the <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students#studying-full-time">guidance about claiming Universal Credit as a student</a>.</p> <h3 id="students-with-disabilities-or-health-conditions">Students with disabilities or health conditions</h3> <p>You can claim Universal Credit if you鈥檙e in full-time education, and have been assessed as having limited capability for work by a Work Capability Assessment before starting your course. You must also be entitled to any of the following:</p> <ul> <li>Personal Independence Payment (<abbr title="Personal Independence Payment">PIP</abbr>)</li> <li>Disability Living Allowance (<abbr title="Disability Living Allowance">DLA</abbr>)</li> <li>Child Disability Payment (CDP) in Scotland</li> <li>Attendance Allowance</li> <li>Armed Forces Independence Payment</li> <li>Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland</li> </ul> <h2 id="claiming-if-youre-16-or-17">Claiming if you鈥檙e 16 or 17</h2> <p>You can make a claim for Universal Credit if any of the following apply:</p> <ul> <li>you have a health condition or disability and have medical evidence for it, such as a fit note</li> <li>you鈥檙e caring for someone who gets a health or disability-related benefit</li> <li>you鈥檙e responsible for a child</li> <li>you live with your partner, have responsibility for a child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit</li> <li>you鈥檙e pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks</li> <li>you鈥檝e had a baby in the last 15 weeks</li> <li>you do not have parental support, for example you do not live with your parents and are not under local authority care</li> </ul> <h2 id="if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition">If you have a disability or health condition</h2> <p>If you have <a href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit">a health condition that affects your ability to work</a> you might get extra money for Universal Credit.</p> </div> <nav class="govuk-pagination govuk-pagination--block" role="navigation" aria-label="Pagination"> <div class="govuk-pagination__prev"> <a class="govuk-link govuk-pagination__link" href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit" rel="prev" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="previous" data-track-label="/universal-credit" data-track-dimension="previous" data-track-dimension-index="29"> <svg class="govuk-pagination__icon govuk-pagination__icon--prev" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="13" width="15" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 15 13"> <path d="m6.5938-0.0078125-6.7266 6.7266 6.7441 6.4062 1.377-1.449-4.1856-3.9768h12.896v-2h-12.984l4.2931-4.293-1.414-1.414z"></path> </svg> <span class="govuk-pagination__link-title">Previous</span> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">:</span> <span class="govuk-pagination__link-label">What Universal Credit is</span> </a> </div> <div class="govuk-pagination__next"> <a class="govuk-link govuk-pagination__link" href="/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get" rel="next" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="next" data-track-label="/universal-credit/what-youll-get" data-track-dimension="next" data-track-dimension-index="29"> <svg class="govuk-pagination__icon govuk-pagination__icon--next" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="13" width="15" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 15 13"> <path 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"name": "Universal Credit", "datePublished": "2012-10-12T14:02:17.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2014-11-26T00:01:00.000+00:00", "text": "Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", 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"http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/tax-credits" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/universal-credit" } ], "headLine": "Universal Credit", "description": "Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eYou may be able to get Universal Credit if you鈥檙e on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eout of work\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eworking (including self-employed or part time)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eunable to work, for example because of a health condition\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo claim you must:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003elive in the UK\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ebe aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you鈥檙e 16 to 17)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ebe under \u003ca href=\"/state-pension-age\"\u003eState Pension age\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehave 拢16,000 or less in money, savings and investments\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can \u003ca href=\"/benefits-calculators\"\u003euse a benefits calculator\u003c/a\u003e to check what benefits you could get.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"if-youre-an-eu-eea-or-swiss-citizen\"\u003eIf you鈥檙e an EU, \u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e or Swiss citizen\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou and your family might also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get Universal Credit. \u003ca href=\"/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/eligibility\"\u003eCheck if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"if-you-live-with-your-partner\"\u003eIf you live with your partner\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou will both need to claim for Universal Credit. You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible. How much you can get will depend on your partner鈥檚 income and savings, as well as your own.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"if-one-of-you-has-reached-state-pension-age\"\u003eIf one of you has reached State Pension age\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf only one of you has reached \u003ca href=\"/calculate-state-pension\"\u003eState Pension age\u003c/a\u003e, you and your partner can still claim Universal Credit as a couple. Your Universal Credit claim will stop when you both reach State Pension age.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you鈥檙e getting Pension Credit, it will stop if you or your partner make a claim for Universal Credit. You鈥檒l usually be better off staying on Pension Credit. You can check using a \u003ca href=\"/benefits-calculators\"\u003ebenefits calculator\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"if-youre-studying-or-in-training\"\u003eIf you鈥檙e studying or in training\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can make a claim for Universal Credit if you鈥檙e in full-time education and any of the following apply:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou live with your partner and they鈥檙e eligible for Universal Credit\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檙e responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檝e reached \u003ca href=\"/state-pension-age\"\u003eState Pension age\u003c/a\u003e and live with a partner who is below State Pension age\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also claim Universal Credit if you鈥檙e 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A level or equivalent and do not have parental support.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may be able to claim if you are studying part-time or doing a course for which no student loan or finance is available.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheck the \u003ca href=\"/guidance/universal-credit-and-students#studying-full-time\"\u003eguidance about claiming Universal Credit as a student\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"students-with-disabilities-or-health-conditions\"\u003eStudents with disabilities or health conditions\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can claim Universal Credit if you鈥檙e in full-time education, and have been assessed as having limited capability for work by a Work Capability Assessment before starting your course. You must also be entitled to any of the following:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePersonal Independence Payment (\u003cabbr title=\"Personal Independence Payment\"\u003ePIP\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDisability Living Allowance (\u003cabbr title=\"Disability Living Allowance\"\u003eDLA\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eChild Disability Payment (CDP) in Scotland\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAttendance Allowance\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eArmed Forces Independence Payment\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAdult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"claiming-if-youre-16-or-17\"\u003eClaiming if you鈥檙e 16 or 17\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can make a claim for Universal Credit if any of the following apply:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou have a health condition or disability and have medical evidence for it, such as a fit note\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檙e caring for someone who gets a health or disability-related benefit\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檙e responsible for a child\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou live with your partner, have responsibility for a child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檙e pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檝e had a baby in the last 15 weeks\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou do not have parental support, for example you do not live with your parents and are not under local authority care\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition\"\u003eIf you have a disability or health condition\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have \u003ca href=\"/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit\"\u003ea health condition that affects your ability to work\u003c/a\u003e you might get extra money for Universal Credit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Benefits", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Benefits and financial support if you're on a low income", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213711/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/low-income" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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