You want to claim Universal Credit again
You can claim Universal Credit again if your job has ended and you are looking for employment.
Universal Credit if your job has ended
If your job has ended you should claim Universal Credit again as soon as possible.
If you claim Universal Credit again within seven calendar days of your job ending you will get a Universal Credit payment for the whole Assessment Period that you claimed in.
If you don't reclaim within seven calendar days of your job ending, and you don't have a good reason for the delay, you will only get a Universal Credit payment from the date you made the claim until the end of that Assessment Period.
Speak to your work coach for more information about how your payment is worked out when you reclaim Universal Credit.
Your payment stops because your wages increase
Your Universal Credit online account will stay open for six months after your last payment.
As you or your partner’s wages increase, your Universal Credit payments will reduce until you’re earning enough to no longer get a payment from Universal Credit.
If your wages decrease you may become eligible for payment from Universal Credit again.
If it’s been more than 6 months since you got a payment from Universal Credit your claim will close and you’ll need to reapply for Universal Credit.
If there is a gap in your Universal Credit payments and you need help to manage your money, speak to your work coach.
Your last claim ended more than six months ago
If you need to claim Universal Credit again and it’s more than six months since your last claim ended, you will need to make a new claim.
Help until you get your Universal Credit payment
You can get help if you do not have enough money to live on. Contact the Universal Credit Service Centre through your Universal Credit online account, or speak to your work coach at your local Jobs & Benefits office.
There are a few ways to get help while you are waiting on your first Universal Credit payment.
Universal Credit New Claims Grant
A Universal Credit New Claims Grant is extra Financial Support which may be available if you do not have enough money to live on until you get full payment of your first Universal Credit award and need additional financial support. You will not have to pay this back.
You can get further information on a Universal Credit New Claims Grant or you can contact your work coach at your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Universal Credit Advance Loan or Budgeting Advance Loan
A Universal Credit advance loan or Budgeting advance loan may be available to help with your living costs or to help pay emergency household costs until you receive your Universal Credit payment. You will have to pay this back from your Universal Credit payments over several months.
Discretionary Support payment
Discretionary Support is short term financial support paid into your bank account as either an interest-free loan or a grant which you do not have to pay back.