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 last claim ended less than six months ago
Your Universal Credit online account will stay open for six months after your claim ends.
If you need to claim Universal Credit again within six months of your previous claim ending, you can use your Universal Credit online account to claim.
Your online account will show your circumstances on the date you last got Universal Credit. You will need to confirm that the details in your account are correct to claim again.
If your circumstances have changed since your last claim, you will need to report this through your online account and give evidence of the changes.
Messages to your online account will be answered as soon as possible during business hours.
If you can get Universal Credit again, you will have the same monthly Assessment Period as you had in your previous claim.
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 Contingency Fund short term living expenses grant
A Universal Credit Contingency Fund 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 Contingency Fund 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.