Universal-Credit-Guide-for-Private-Landlords - Manual / Resource - Page 3
Universal Credit
Q. What is Universal Credit (UC)?
Q. Which benefits is it replacing?
Universal Credit is a new benefit that merges
six benefits into a single benefit. It is a
benefit for anyone of working age on a low
income; regardless of whether they are in
work, looking for work, too ill to work, or
caring for someone.
UC brings together six benefits and replaces
them with a single monthly payment.
Features of Universal Credit:
It needs to be claimed online;
Payment is normally made monthly;
The payment, which includes housing
costs, is normally paid directly to the
tenant.
The amount a tenant receives is worked out
each month and takes account of their
income, rent, household and personal
circumstances.
It is replacing the following:
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and
Support Allowance
Income Support
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Housing Benefit
All other benefits not included in the above
list will continue to be paid as usual, such as
Child Benefit, Local Council Tax Reduction,
Carers Allowance etc.
Q. When is it being introduced?
The DWP is rolling out UC gradually across
the UK. For a full breakdown of dates it will
be introduced across the sites of the Anglia
Revenues Partnership visit
www.angliarevenues.gov.uk/ and search for
‘Universal Credit’.
Q. Who can claim UC?
UC is for working-age tenants only. Tenants
of Pension Credit age will continue to get
Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.
People can check when they will reach
Pension Credit age by using the DWPs
pension credit calculator www.gov.uk/state-pension-age
3
Universal Credit/Information for Landlords
April 2018
When UC Full Service is introduced, the
gateway criteria that applied to Live Service
will be removed. The gateway criteria under
Live Service meant UC applications were
restricted to those that were single and
Continued …
www.gov.uk/universal-credit
DWP service centre 0800 328 5644