Universal Credit - Who must claim?
NO
(see over)
NOTE: If they been on Universal Credit in the past 6
months and either:
YES
Have they had a change in their
circumstances where they are needing
to make a new claim for any of the
following?:
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They live in a ‘Non-Digital’ ie Live/Gateway Area.
Housing Benefit
Job Seekers Allowance
Employment & Support Allowance
Income Support
NO
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
YES
They will need to make a new claim
for Universal Credit* under the
‘Digital’ ie full service system.
* or a claim for CB-JSA / C-ESA via the
Universal Credit system
They must claim on-line and set up a
‘Digital’ account.
Make sure they book their new
claim interview on-line and attend.
They must report all changes on-line
as soon as possible.
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their previous award ended because their
earnings were too high, or
They were they part of a couple and the claim
ended when they separated
Then they are still classed as a UC claimant and need to
contact the DWP to go back onto UC on same system and
same Monthly Assessment Period as before.
Do not need to make a new claim for
Universal Credit at the moment - will stay
on the ‘legacy benefit’ system.
But is worth finding out if they could be
better off on Universal Credit and consider
making a claim if they would be.
Are they a job seeker who would
normally be making a new claim
NO
for Jobseekers Allowance?
YES
Do they meet all the ‘Gateway
Conditions’ for their area?
(Please see over)
YES
NO
Are not able to make a new
claim for Universal Credit
at the moment – claim
‘legacy benefits’ as normal
They will need to make a new
claim for Universal Credit under
the ‘non-Digital’ ie Live service
system
YES
They should make their claim on-line if they can –
telephone help is available (watch cost – ask to be called
back if appropriate).
They will be invited into their new claim interview which
they must attend.
NOTES:
Waiting days – not everyone affected, mistakes are made which could mean a loss of £150 or more, so worth checking.
Advance Payments – where claimant cannot wait until first UC payment can request an Advance Payment – two types: ‘new
claim’ and ‘benefit transfer’ – latter is better option if applicable but not always offered, so worth checking.
Earnings received during the 7 waiting days are ignored, but any paid during Monthly Assessment Period will be taken into
account and will reduce UC award – even where the claimant/partner has finished working.
‘Overlapping’ HB – If HB paid for period while a UC claimant this should be treated as income for the UC award and will either
reduce first payment £1 for £1 or create an overpayment that will be recovered from on-going UC payments.
They will not receive any written
notifications unless specifically requested and
Council Tax Support – if not already entitled must make a claim for it. If entitled – notify that now on UC.
agreed by the DWP.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please see website – www.housingsystems.co.uk
www.housingsystems.co.
uk
Do they live in a ‘Digital’
ie Full Service Area?
Digital ie Full Service Areas:
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Bath JCP
Bridgwater JCP
Croydon
Frome JCP
Hammersmith JCP
Harrogate JCP
Hounslow
Inverness JCP
Lancaster JCP
Morecombe JCP
Musselburgh
Newcastle Cathedral
Square JCP
Northallerton JCP
Richmond JCP
Rugby JCP
Runcorn JCP
Ryedale JCP
Skipton JCP
Southwark
Sutton
Widnes JCP
Wells JCP
October 2016
 Kennington Park JCP
 Minehead JCP
 Peckham JCP
 Taunton JCP
November 2016
 Daventry JCP
 Dingwall JCP
 Fort William JCP
 Invergordon JCP
 Market Harborough
JCP
 Melton Mowbray JCP
 Portree JCP
 Wick JCP
 Melton Mowbray JCP
 Workington JCP
 Whitehaven JCP
December 2016
 Fulham JCP
 Hartlepool JCP
 Hastings JCP
 Shepherds Bush JCP
 Stratford-upon-Avon
JCP
 Swindon JCP
February 2017
 Corby JCP
 Southampton JCP
 Newcastle East JCP
 Warrington JCP
 Poplar JCP
March 2017
 Hinckley JCP
 Dalkeith JCP
 Penicuik JCP
 Newcastle West JCP
 City Tower JCP
Non-Digital ie Live Service Areas: Couples & Families Gateway – ie North West, Pathfinder areas
Rules as below - except couples and families can claim (unless child: on DLA or PIP; or is blind or sight
impaired; or under local authority care) and expected earnings to be below £541 for couples.
Non-Digital ie Live Service Areas: Singles Gateway – ie not North West, Pathfinder areas
MUST:
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Be Single,
Be age 18 to under 60 and 6 months,
Have no dependent children who live with them all or some of the time,
Not be liable to pay Child Support Maintenance,
Not a foster carer,
Not a carer,
Not already getting: IS, IB-JSA, IR-ESA, ‘old-style’ CB-JSA^, or ‘old-style’ C-ESA^,
Not awaiting a decision on a claim for: IS, IB-JSA, IR-ESA, ‘old-style’ CB-JSA^,
‘old-style’ C-ESA, HB, WTC, or CTC,
Not awaiting the outcome of an application to revise a decision of non-entitlement to:
IS, IB-JSA, IR-ESA, ‘old-style’ CB-JSA, ‘old-style’ C-ESA, or HB,
Not be appealing against a decision of non-entitlement to: IS, IB-JSA, IR-ESA,
‘old-style’ CB-JSA^, or ‘old-style’ C-ESA,
Be fit for work,
Not getting DLA / PIP,
Not be pregnant / pregnant within previous 15 weeks,
Not homeless,
Not in supported housing,
Not owner-occupier / nor shared-owner,
No savings over £6,000,
Not in education/training or expecting to be in education/training in following month,
Not have an appointee or similar,
No-one in household member of Armed Forces who is away on operations,
Not be self-employed or expecting to be self-employed in following month,
Have no / low earnings: expected to be under £338 for singles in month following claim,
Have a NI number,
Have a bank account, building society account, a Post Office card account or Credit Union account,
Be a British Citizen, who has lived in the UK for 2 years and not abroad for a period of 4 weeks or
more during those 2 years.