Universal Credit if you're claiming other benefits
If you get an existing benefit, you should not do anything until you get a letter telling you it is time to make a claim to Universal Credit.
When you claim Universal Credit, any benefits it replaces will stop. If you are considering a move to Universal Credit from another benefit, check your eligibility and seek independent advice before making your claim. You can also use a benefit calculator to check how much you may get.
Benefits Universal Credit is replacing
Universal Credit is replacing:
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit – excluding payments for rates
Universal Credit has already replaced Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
If you currently get one of these benefits and your circumstances change, you must report the change as soon as possible.
If your circumstances change you may need to move to Universal Credit and your existing benefits will stop.
If you move directly to Universal Credit from one of the benefits listed above, you’ll be entitled to an extra two-week payment of the benefit you move from.
The extra two-week payment is known as a run-on. You will not need to pay these back and they will not affect how much Universal Credit you get.
If your circumstances do not change, you do not need to do anything. You will be told what to do when it is time for you to move to Universal Credit.
Financial support until you get your Universal Credit payments
There are a few ways to get financial help while you are waiting on your first Universal Credit payment.
For more details go to: Help while waiting for a Universal Credit payment
How Universal Credit affects your Jobseeker’s Allowance
If a change in your circumstances means you are no longer entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance you may claim for Universal Credit. You will keep getting Jobseeker's Allowance for two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit. Your Jobseeker's Allowance will then stop.
New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (previously known as contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance) can be paid on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit.
Your Jobseeker’s Allowance may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you may be able to get Financial Support until you get your Universal Credit payments.
How Universal Credit affects Employment and Support Allowance
If a change in your circumstances means you are no longer entitled to Employment and Support Allowance you may claim for Universal Credit. You will keep getting Employment and Support Allowance for two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance (previously known as contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance) can be paid on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit.
Your Employment and Support Allowance may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you may be able to get Financial Support until you get your Universal Credit payments.
How Universal Credit affects your Income Support
If a change in your circumstances means you are no longer entitled to Income Support you may claim for Universal Credit. You will keep getting Income Support for two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit.
Your Income Support may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you may be able to get Financial Support until you get your Universal Credit payments.
How Universal Credit affects your Housing Benefit
If you are getting Housing Benefit when you claim Universal Credit, you will keep getting Housing Benefit for two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit. Your Housing Benefit will normally then stop.
If your Housing Benefit includes money for your rates, this will stop when you claim Universal Credit. Find out more including how to claim a Rate Rebate at Universal Credit payments for housing.
Housing Benefit may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you may be able to get Financial Support until you get your Universal Credit payments.
Welfare Supplementary Payments if you're on Universal Credit
Welfare Supplementary Payments are payments to help you cope with welfare changes, including if you move to Universal Credit.
Contact the Welfare Supplementary Payments Team to check if you are eligible.
If you already get a Welfare Supplementary Payment and one of the following still affects you after you move to Universal Credit, you can still get this payment:
- bedroom tax - social sector size criteria
- benefit cap
- other Welfare Supplementary Payments
You will not usually need to do anything.
If you have queries on the payment contact Universal Credit Service Centre or via your journal.
Find out more on support if you are affected by Welfare Changes
Help and support
If you would like independent help and advice on Universal Credit, or any of the other welfare changes, you can visit any independent advice office or contact: