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Find out what benefits you could get, how much you could get and how to claim

Find out what benefits and financial support you may be able to get.

Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.

• What Universal Credit is

  Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid…

• Eligibility

  You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need…

• What you'll get

  Universal Credit is paid monthly. How much you get depends on: your…

• How your wages affect your payments

  If you or your partner are working, how much Universal Credit you get will…

• How you're paid

  Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building…

• How to claim

  You can apply for Universal Credit online. You need to create an account…

• Get an advance on your first payment

  If you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs while you wait for…

• Your claimant commitment

  To get Universal Credit payments, you’ll need to accept an agreement…

• Report a change of circumstances

  You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the…

• Financial help and support

  If you need financial support, you can get help and advice from the…

• Contact Universal Credit

  You can contact Universal Credit: through your online account by calling…

Help if you're looking for a new job, are out of work or affected by redundancy. Includes Universal Credit and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).

• Updated: 21 December 2022

Help with heating, housing and other living costs. Includes Universal Credit.

• Updated: 21 December 2022

Reasons why your benefit payments could change, report changes in your circumstances while claiming benefits

Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance (LHA) - rates, eligibility, claim form, calculator, appeals, 'Discretionary Housing Payment'.

Child Benefit - child benefit rates, eligibility, how to claim, child benefit claim form CH2.

Help if you’re unable to work because you’re ill or self-isolating. Includes Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

• Updated: 24 January 2023

Help if you're living with a health condition or disability. Includes Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

• Updated: 21 December 2022

Guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits.

• Updated: 23 February 2024

As an employer, you might need to report any expenses or benefits you provide to employees - tax and National Insurance (NI) payments

Includes Disability Living Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Attendance Allowance

• Updated: 24 June 2015

If you're an employer and provide expenses or benefits to employees or directors, you might need to tell HMRC and pay tax and National Insurance on them

Benefit payments - payment dates, bank holidays, if you do not have a bank account, Post Office card accounts.

Find out about the legal background to expenses payments and benefits received by directors and employees.

• Updated: 30 December 2019

Find out about help you can get moving from benefits to work - work trials, programmes and clubs, New Enterprise Allowance, help with drug or alcohol problems, carer support

Debts you owe (for example court fines, rent or Council Tax) can be deducted from your benefits – sometimes called third party deductions or Fuel Direct

Find out about non-cash benefits in connection with termination of employment or from employer-financed retirement benefits scheme

• Updated: 30 December 2019

What happens to benefits if you or someone in your family goes to prison or is on remand.