Am I eligible for Universal Credit?

What you need to be able to claim

These are the basic conditions for Universal Credit. You must:

• live in the UK
• be 18 or over (some 16 and 17 year olds can claim, see below)
• be under State Pension age
• have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments

It does not matter whether you work. You can claim if you are out of work, working (including self-employed or part time), or unable to work because of a health condition.

Special cases to check

If you are 16 or 17

You may be able to claim if you:

• have a health condition or disability and have medical evidence
• are caring for someone who gets a health or disability-related benefit
• have been told by a medical professional that you may be nearing the end of life
• are responsible for a child
• do not have support from your parents
• are pregnant and your baby is due in the next 11 weeks
• had a baby in the last 15 weeks

If you live with a partner

You must make one joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible themselves. Your partner's income and savings count too.

If one of you has reached State Pension age and the other has not, you can still claim as a couple. The claim stops when you have both reached State Pension age.

If you have savings

Savings up to £6,000 do not affect your claim. Between £6,000 and £16,000, your payment is lower. Over £16,000, you usually cannot get Universal Credit. Savings and investments include things like shares, or a property you rent out.

If you come from the EU, EEA or Switzerland

You and your family might need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you already get benefits

Tax credits, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support have ended. If you get Housing Benefit or income-related ESA, claiming Universal Credit will usually end those. If you wait until you get a Migration Notice letter, you may get a top up called transitional protection if you would be worse off. If you claim before you get the letter, you will not get it.

How to check, step by step

1. Check the basic conditions above: age, where you live and savings.
2. Gather your details: your income (and your partner's), savings, any benefits or pensions, rent, childcare costs and Council Tax bill.
3. Use a benefits calculator. GOV.UK links to free, independent and anonymous calculators. They estimate what you could get.
4. If you already get benefits, check you will be better off before you claim, as other benefits may stop.
5. Claim online if the calculator shows you could get something.

Time and cost

Checking is free, and so is claiming. Never pay anyone to check or claim for you.

After you check

If you could get Universal Credit, start a claim on GOV.UK and finish it within 28 days. If you are unsure, the free Help to Claim service can help. It is run by Citizens Advice in England and Wales, and Citizens Advice Scotland in Scotland.

In Northern Ireland

Universal Credit is run separately in Northern Ireland, with its own claim service on nidirect.

Related guides

• How do I apply for Universal Credit?
• How much Universal Credit will I get?
• How do savings affect Universal Credit?
• What is Universal Credit?
• Can I get Universal Credit and PIP at the same time?

Where this comes from

• Universal Credit: eligibility, GOV.UK
• Universal Credit: what you'll get, GOV.UK
• Benefits calculators, GOV.UK
• Move to Universal Credit if you get a Migration Notice letter, GOV.UK
• Universal Credit: how to claim, GOV.UK
• Claim Universal Credit online, nidirect