Are You Eligible for Universal Credit

To be eligible for universal credit, you must live in the UK and not be subject to immigration conditions also:

• Be 18 years old or over (Unless special circumstances apply)
• Be under the state pension age (Currently 66)
• Have less than £16,000 in savings or investments
• Foster or adopt a child
• Have children
• Care for someone for at least 35 hours per week.
• Study full or part time.
• Living as a couple and one or both are under state pension age
• Be in or out of work and have a low income

If you live with a partner

You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is ineligible. The amount you receive will depend on your partner’s income, savings, and your own.

When you reach the state pension age

Single claims: When you reach the state pension age, your universal credit claim will stop. 

You will need to start your state pension claim. If you had an active claim for disability as part of your universal credit claim, you will now need to claim attendance allowance. 

Living with a partner: If one of you has reached the State Pension age, you can still claim Universal Credit as a couple, and your claim will stop when both of you reach the State Pension age. 

New claims for universal credit will stop your pension credit.

If you or your partner claim Universal Credit, you will stop receiving Pension Credit, and it is usually financially more beneficial to remain on Pension Credit.

If you’re in full-time education

Students can claim universal credit if they’re in full or part-time education, and any of the following apply.

• You live with a partner, and they are eligible for universal credit.
• You’re responsible for one or more children.
• You do not have parental support (21 or younger)
• You won’t receive student loans or bursaries 
• You have a health condition or disability 

If you’re studying part-time

• You live with a partner, and they are eligible for universal credit.
• You’re responsible for one or more children.
• You do not have parental support (21 or younger)
• You won’t receive student loans or bursaries 
• You have a health condition or disability

Students With a Health Condition or Disability

You can still claim universal credit if you have had a work capability assessment and been approved for the following:

• limited capability for work (LCW) 
• limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA)

Your assessment must have been before starting your course.
You must also have one of the following:

• Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independent Payment
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Child Disability Payment
• Adult Disability Payment

You may need to provide evidence to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of your disability or health condition.

You will need to provide evidence of your course. For part-time courses, you will need to attend study for at least 12 hours per week. Some further education is not covered by universal credit.

Courses you can do while claiming universal credit:

• Advanced Diploma
• AS Level
• National qualification framework level 3
• Scottish qualification framework level 6
• A Level – General certificate of education
• National diploma, certificate, or award
• Level 3 NVQ

Full-time courses of advanced education include those leading to:

• A postgraduate degree or comparable qualification
• A first-degree or similar qualification
• A diploma in higher education
• A higher national diploma
• Any other course of study of a standard above:
• Advanced GNVQ or equivalent
• A Scottish higher or advanced higher national qualification

If you are 16 or 17 years old

You can claim Universal Credit if you meet specific criteria. This includes having a health condition or disability and having medical evidence, such as a fit note, to support your claim.

• Responsible for a child
• Live with a partner who is eligible for Universal Credit
• If you are caring for someone who receives a health or disability-related benefit
• Are pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 12 weeks
• Had a baby in the last 15 weeks
• You have no parental support

Support for care leavers

Suppose you’re a care leaver or still under your local authority. In that case, you may be entitled to financial support from your local authority, and you can get financial assistance with education, training, and employment.