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Benefits, money and essentials

Claiming Universal Credit for the first time

What the claim involves, what to gather, and how your health is taken into account.

What this means

Universal Credit is a monthly payment that can include help with rent, children and childcare, and extra amounts if a health condition limits what you can do.

You claim online and there is usually an identity check and a first appointment. The first payment normally takes about five weeks, which is why advances exist.

BesideYou cannot tell you what you will be awarded. Use an independent calculator for an estimate and an adviser for anything complicated.

Your options

  • Make the claim online

    You will set up an account and answer questions about your home, money, health and any children. You can save and come back.

  • Ask for help to claim

    Citizens Advice Help to Claim supports new claims by webchat and phone. If reading and forms are hard, or you have no internet, say so — they can help differently.

  • Report a health condition

    If a health condition affects what you can do, say so at the start and provide a fit note. This affects what you are asked to do while claiming.

  • Ask about your commitments

    What you agree to look for or do is negotiable and should reflect your health, treatment appointments and caring responsibilities. Ask for them to be adjusted rather than agreeing to something you cannot manage.

Things you could do today

Small steps only. Add any of them to your plan — or none of them. Nothing is expected of you.

  1. Run a benefits calculator so you know roughly what to expect before you start.
  2. Gather your National Insurance number, bank details, rent details and any fit note.
  3. Start the online claim, or contact Help to Claim if you would rather have support.
  4. Write down anything that affects what you can realistically do, ready for your first appointment.

Information it helps to have ready

  • National Insurance number
  • Bank, building society or credit union account details
  • Your rent amount and your landlord's details
  • Details of any savings or other income
  • Childcare costs, if you pay them
  • Any fit note or details of your health condition and treatment

If you do not have some of these, ask anyway — not having everything is not a reason to be turned away.

Words you could borrow

Edit, copy and send these yourself. Nothing is sent from BesideYou.

Journal message asking for adjusted commitments

Edit anything in [square brackets]. Only include what is true and what you want to share — nothing is sent from here.

What happens next

You will be asked to confirm your identity and usually attend a first appointment, which can often be by phone.

Your first payment is normally about five weeks after claiming; ask for an advance if you cannot manage.

If a decision seems wrong you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration, and get advice while you do.

More help

Where this information comes from