Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It's paid monthly.
If you already get benefits Universal Credit will replace the following benefits:
• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Working Tax Credit
If you currently receive any of these benefits, you cannot claim Universal Credit at the same time.
If you require any more information, click this link.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Jobseeker's Allowance is an allowance to support you when you are looking for work. To find out more information, please see click this link.
Income Support
All of the following must also apply to you (and your partner if you have one):
• You have no income or a low income, and no more than £16,000 in savings;
• You're not in full-time paid work (you can work less than 16 hours a week, and your partner can work less than 24 hours a week);
• You're not eligible for Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance;
• You live in England, Scotland or Wales.
You must also be at least one of the following:
• Pregnant;
• A lone parent (including a lone adoptive parent) with a child under 5;
• A lone foster parent with a child under 16;
• A single person looking after a child under 16 before they're adopted;
• A carer;
• On maternity, paternity or parental leave;
• Unable to work and you receive Statutory Sick Pay, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance;
• In full-time education (not university), aged between 16 and 20, and a parent;
• In full-time education (not university), aged between 16 and 20, and not living with a parent or someone acting as a parent;
• A refugee learning English - your course needs to be at least 15 hours a week, and you must have started it within 12 months of entering the UK;
• In custody or due to attend court or a tribunal.
You do not need a permanent address - for example, you can still claim if you:
• Sleep rough;
• Live in a hostel or care home.If you need more information, click this link.
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