Universal Credit

What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit (or UC) is a benefit awarded by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP). It is awarded to people on a low income who are in work or out of work, to help with your living costs such as housing and childcare costs.

 UC is slowly replacing older benefits called legacy benefits. These are:
- Income Support
- Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Tax Credits (Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit)

If you already get any of these benefits you can stay on it until:

• you are contacted by the DWP – this is called managed migration, or
• you have a certain change in your circumstances (for example you move to a different borough) and you have to claim UC
• You start a claim for Universal Credit. You will stay on legacy benefits if they include the severe disability premium (unless you get the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) within certain legacy benefits)

Some people are better off on the older benefits like Income Support and Housing Benefit and should stay on them as long as possible, while others should switch to Universal Credit as soon as they can – contact us at deafPLUS for advice on the best way forward.