Universal Credit if you have a health condition or disability

Universal Credit can support you if you have a health condition, disability or terminal illness which stops you from working or limits the amount of work you can do.

If you have a health condition or disability

You may have to go to a Work Capability Assessment to find out if you:

  • are fit for work
  • have limited capability for work (meaning that you cannot work at the moment, but you can prepare for work sometime in the future), or
  • have limited capability for work and work related activity (meaning that you are unable to work and do not have to look for or prepare for work).

Your Work Capability Assessment will check what you can and can’t do on a day to day basis.  You can also tell Universal Credit if your condition changes over time, and how it changes.  The Work Capability Assessment will help you and your Work Coach to discuss and agree the things you have to do to get Universal Credit.

If you move from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit and have already had a Work Capability Assessment. This will last until a new Work Capability Assessment decision is made following a review.

If you have limited capability for work, you can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit payment is reduced. This is called a Work Allowance. You will keep 37p from every £1 you earn over your Work Allowance until your earnings are too high to get Universal Credit.

If you are already claiming Universal Credit and your health condition changes, you can stay on Universal Credit but you must report your new circumstances.

For further information see Financial support for people with disabilities.

Universal Credit if you get a Severe Disability Premium 

From February 2021 if you are receiving Severe Disability Premium and you have a change in your circumstances, you may move onto Universal Credit.

You will be eligible for transitional payments to make sure you don’t lose money when you move. This is known as Transitional Protection.

Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment

You can claim Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the same time

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