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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…

Update your details, find out how much you’ll get paid and tell HMRC about a change in your circumstances

How to start a tax credits claim, when to claim, joint claims, backdate a claim

• How to claim

  Tax credits have been replaced by Universal Credit. You can only make a…

• When to claim

  Apply as soon as you know you’re eligible so you get all the money you’re…

• Joint claims

  You can apply for tax credits as a single person, or as a couple (known as…

• Backdate a claim

  When you make a claim, your tax credits are usually backdated…

• What counts as income

  Usually, what you’re entitled to is based on your income for the last tax…

• Work out your hours

  Put the number of hours you work in a normal week on your claim form. Add…

Check what help you might be able to get with childcare schemes like tax credits, Tax-Free Childcare, childcare vouchers and free childcare or education for 2 to 4-year-olds.

Working Tax Credit - how much money you get, hours you need to work, eligibility, claim, tax credits when you stop work or go on leave

Child Tax Credits if you're responsible for one child or more - how much you get, eligibility, claim tax credits

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

Challenge a benefit decision - how to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, evidence you'll need, deadlines and what happens next.

Why tax credits go up, down or stop - changes to your family or work life you need to report such as a change of address.

Tax credit overpayments - repaying tax credits, repayment methods, what to do if you cannot repay

How tax credits affect your benefits including Child Benefit and Housing Benefit

Your tax credit payments - find out when they're due and early payment dates for bank holidays

Tax credits when you have a baby - what money you can get, how and when to apply for tax credits

Tax credits for children aged 16 or over - approved education, approved training and when Child Tax Credit stops or continues.

How to renew your tax credits claim, including the application deadline, renewal pack and how long it takes

Use the online form if HMRC has paid you too much tax credits and you think you should not have to pay it back.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs

Checks into your tax credits - information you need to send, what happens to your claim, deadline for responding to the Tax Credit Office

Work out your eligible weekly childcare costs, when to report a change in costs

Tax credits - appeals, appeal form, how to make a complaint.

Use the online form service to ask for a Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit decision to be looked at again.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs