Guidance

Universal Credit and couples: claimant journey

An illustrated guide to the steps that people will take when making a joint Universal Credit claim.

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Documents

Universal Credit and couples: claimant journey

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Welsh: Credyd Cynhwysol: ar gyfer cyplau

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This guide provides a summary of the main steps that people will take when they make a joint Universal Credit claim as a couple.

It includes how DWP defines a couple and gives an explanation of how a joint claim differs from an individual one.

It also includes information about:

  • making an online claim together
  • meeting a work coach
  • having individual Claimant Commitments
  • looking for work
  • the single monthly payment for the whole household
  • reporting changes of circumstances
  • moving into work

Part of the Universal Credit toolkit for partner organisations.

Published 20 June 2014
Last updated 11 April 2016 + show all updates
  1. Leaflets amended to reflect all changes to Universal Credit from April 2016.

  2. PDF's updated to reflect the current Universal Credit new claim process.

  3. First published.