-
More on this topic
![10-minute benefits check]()
10-minute benefits check
With the cost of living in the UK rising massively, lots of people are struggling. Luckily…
![31 MoneySaving tips for disabled people]()
31 MoneySaving tips for disabled people
On average, life can cost a whopping £583 more each month if you're disabled, according to…
Child benefit
Child benefit is a monthly payment for anyone with parental responsibilities for children under…
MSE weekly email
FREE weekly MoneySaving email
For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!
Universal credit
Who can get it, how much you can get and how to apply
Updated 21 November 2022
Universal credit is a monthly benefit to support those on low incomes (or no income) with living and housing costs. With the cost of living rising, millions of people are struggling financially, yet it's believed that around a million people aren't claiming universal credit when they could. Have a read of this guide and use our Benefits Calculator to check how much you could get.
This guide covers England, Wales and Scotland. Universal credit follows the same guidelines in England and Wales and there are some small differences for claimants in Scotland, which we outline. However, the system works differently in Northern Ireland.
Over eight million households on benefits will get a one-off cash boost as part of the Government's new cost of living support package. We cover who's eligible and how much you'll get in our Help if you're struggling guide.
MSE weekly email
FREE weekly MoneySaving email
For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!
What is universal credit?
Universal credit is a monthly payment – paid in arrears – for people who are unemployed, off work due to sickness, or on a low income. It's designed to help you meet your basic living costs.
Claiming universal credit also opens up access to other forms of support, including increased free childcare hours, and reduced tariffs for certain utilities. We cover some of these below.
In this guide we'll explain exactly how universal credit works, and how to apply. But if you simply want to do a quick check of what you might be entitled to, see our 10-minute Benefits Calculator.
Can I get universal credit?
If you're unemployed, have been made redundant, are off work due to sickness, or are in work on a low income (including if you're self-employed), you could be entitled to universal credit to help you meet your basic living costs.
You might be able to claim universal credit if:
- You're out of work, or have a low income.
- You're aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you're 16 or 17).
- You or your partner are under state pension age.
- You have less than £16,000 in savings – if you have a partner, their savings count too. (If you're self-employed, some savings may not count if they're for business purposes. For full info on what counts, see below).
- You live in the UK.
If you already claim benefits...
Universal credit is replacing six legacy benefits. If you're currently claiming one of these benefits, you'll eventually be moved over on to universal credit:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit
You'll be moved on to universal credit if you have a change in circumstances (such as moving in with a new partner, or changing job), or as part of a process called 'managed migration', where the Government moves you over automatically. This process is expected to be completed for most by the end of 2024, and for all by 2028.
You can also choose to move on to universal credit at any point – and some people will find they are better off on universal credit than on their old benefits – but there's no guarantee. Our Should I switch to universal credit? guide includes a calculator to help you check whether you'll get more or less on universal credit, and looks in detail at the pros & cons of switching.
I'm on working tax credit – would I be better off switching to universal credit?
Before you think of switching, it's important to do your research to see if you'll actually be better off. If you switch from a legacy benefit to universal credit, you CAN'T switch back.
Your personal mix of legacy benefits may very well be worth less than the amount available via universal credit. However, there are different rules around savings, earnings, eligibility and capital that makes generalisations about who will be better off difficult.
As rough guidelines, those who are better off are typically those who are in work, and pay private rents in expensive cities. Those who might be worse off are those with disabilities.
It's quick and free to get an idea of if you'll be better off. Our Benefits Calculator has an inbuilt comparison tool that shows what you're currently getting versus what you might get if you made the switch. We also cover the pros & cons of switching in our Should I switch to universal credit? guide.
Does universal credit operate the same way in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland?
England, Wales and Scotland follow the same guidelines. Scotland has some extra flexibility when it comes to receiving the payments, known as 'Scottish choices'. You can choose to be paid monthly or twice monthly, and if you get an extra housing payment you can choose to get it in your bank account or paid directly to your landlord.
In Northern Ireland, there's a slightly different system and universal credit is normally paid twice a month – though you can choose to be paid monthly. Find out more on the NIdirect website.
One million+ missing out – check NOW to make sure you're getting what you're entitled to
About 500,000 people who were eligible for universal credit at the start of the pandemic were not claiming it, according to a recent report – and recent changes to universal credit rules mean an extra 600,000 people could be eligible for help.
Make sure you don't miss out – it takes just 10 mins to check if you're eligible. Our 10-min Benefits Calculator helps you work out how much you could get.
Quick questions
How much could I get?
One of the underlying principles of universal credit is that it's a payment based on need. It helps if you think about universal credit like a set of scales: on one side, you get your standard payment along with extra payments based on what you need to meet your basic costs; and on the other side, these payments are reduced if you have savings, have income from work, or get other benefits (more on reductions in the chapter below).
As a result, two people the same age and earning similar amounts could easily be entitled to vastly different amounts based on extra help the Government thinks each needs.
But as a starting point there's a standard allowance, based on age and whether you're single or in a couple.
Here's a table showing the universal credit standard allowance for 2022/23:
Universal credit standard allowance
| Your circumstances | Monthly allowance |
| Single and under 25 | £265.31 |
| Single and 25 or over | £334.91 |
| In a couple and both under 25 | £416.45 |
| In a couple and either of you is 25 or over | £525.72 |
What extra payments could I get?
In addition, universal credit offers some people extra help for:
- Housing costs – for rent, but mortgage-holders can apply for a 'support for mortgage interest' loan.
- If you care for children.
- If you have a sickness or disability that prevents you from working.
- If you have other caring responsibilities.
There is not a standard amount for housing. Instead, the amount you get is set by your age, circumstances and the 'local housing allowance' rate in your area. For the full ins and outs of the local housing allowance, see What is the local housing allowance?
For example, the amount for two-bedroom accommodation in the London borough of Ealing is £365.92/week. The amount for a two-bedroom accommodation in the Isle of Scilly is £143.84/week. Want to see what you could get? Check your area's rates here.
If you're looking after a child under the age of 16, you can apply for an extra amount to help with the costs. If you have two children, you'll get extra for your second child. If you have three children you might get an extra payment, but it depends when they were born.
For your first child:
- £290/month (born before 6 April 2017)
- £244.58/month (born on or after 6 April 2017)
For your second child (and any other eligible children):
- £244.58/month per child
If you have three or more children, you only get an extra amount for your third or subsequent children if any of the following are true:
- Your children were born before 6 April 2017, and
- You were already claiming for three or more children before 6 April 2017
If you have a disabled or severely disabled child:
£132.89/month or £414.88/month (for severely disabled child)
In Scotland? If you claim universal credit (among other means-tested benefits) you could get an extra £25/week for every child you care for under the age of 16. See more in our 10-min benefit checker.
If you can't work because of sickness or disability, you may be able to claim the 'limited capability for work and work-related activity' element of universal credit.
If you have limited capability for work and work-related activity:
£354.28/month
If you have limited capability for work and you started your health-related universal credit claim before 3 April 2017:
£132.89/month
Did you know? If you have paid enough national insurance contributions, you may also be able to claim new-style employment and support allowance of up to about £77/week. See our Universal Credit and Benefits Calculator to see how much you could get.
If you're a carer for someone in your household who is severely disabled, for at least 35 hours a week, you may be able to get the 'carer's element' as part of your monthly universal credit payment.
The carer's element is:
- £168.81/month
Important: If you and someone else in your household care for the same person, you can't both get the carer's element. You'll have to decide which of you will claim it. If you're getting the separate carer's allowance benefit you can continue to get it, if you continue to be eligible.
Not sure what you could get? Use our 10-minute Benefits Calculator as a ready reckoner
Our 10-minute Benefits Calculator will give you a good idea of what you're entitled to depending on your circumstances.
Quick questions
It's like a set of scales: on one side, you get awarded an amount based on what you need, while on the other, this amount can go down depending on what you have.
Here's what can reduce your payments:
Income can affect the amount you'll get
One of the principles of universal credit is the more you have, the less you're likely to get. So earnings from a job can affect the amount you can get. This may be from a job or self-employed work.
Currently, for every £1 you earn (after tax and pension contributions), your universal credit payment will be reduced by 55p.
If you have children or are disabled, you can earn up to a particular amount before your payment starts to be reduced. This is called a 'work allowance'. This work allowance is currently £344 a month if you get help towards paying your housing costs, or £573 a month if you don't.
More than £6,000 in savings, you'll get less, more than £16,000 you'll get nowt
- Less than £6,000 and it's disregarded. If you have less than £6,000 in savings you'll have to declare it, but it won't affect how much universal credit you'll get.
- Having between £6,001 and £16,000 will affect your universal credit amount. Savings above £6,000 are treated as if they give you a monthly income of £4.35 for each £250, or part of £250, regardless of whether it does or not. So if you have £6,300 in a savings account, £6,000 of it will be ignored and the other £300 will be treated as if it would give you a monthly income of £8.70.
- More than £16,000 and you will not be eligible. If you have more than £16,000 saved, you'll stop getting universal credit.
Redundancy payouts are treated as savings. So if you have a lump sum, and it takes you over the £6,000 mark it can impact how much your monthly payment is. And if it's over £16,000 you will be ineligible.
- Been rejected because your savings (or you and your partner's combined savings) were above £16,000? Reapply as soon as your savings dip below that amount. Anyone with savings of less than £16,000 will start being eligible for universal credit (as long as you fit the other eligibility criteria). But the closer to £16,000 you are, the less universal credit you'll get.
You will have to make a fresh application – any previous claims are not kept open on the system.
It's also worth noting that the person assessing your claim may look into why and how quickly your savings have fallen. They may ask for evidence that you've spent them legitimately and you haven't knowingly reduced your savings just to get, or increase, your universal credit payment. You may even be asked for receipts as evidence (to show you've not hidden or temporarily shifted money to another person's account to try to get more universal credit), particularly if it was a big, sudden drop.
- Were you getting a reduced universal credit payment due to having £6,000 to £16,000 in savings? If your savings balance has since dropped, you can now claim more. This is because if you have more than £6,000 and up to £16,000 in savings you'll still get some universal credit – with the amount reducing the closer you get to the £16,000 threshold.
If your savings have dropped it's up to you to make sure you disclose this to get more: simply update your savings amount via your online journal. But do it as soon as possible to make sure you'll get the full amount you're entitled to – once you've done so you should see the amount you get change when you're next due a payment. If you can't access this online, call the universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Don't delay: It's vital to make your fresh claim (if you're newly eligible) or to update your online journal as soon as your savings dip as the sooner you act, the sooner you'll be paid – or see your award increase.
Generally speaking, you won't be able to backdate a fresh claim without a good reason (such as an illness), and even then, it'll only be up to one month.
For every £1 you get from other benefits (or a pension) your universal credit will reduce
For every £1 of income you receive from other benefits or a private pension, your universal credit payment will reduce by £1. Some benefits aren't taken into account when your income is worked out, including child benefit, disability living allowance, personal independence payment and war pensions.
If you get more than £20,000 a year in total from benefits
If your household gets more than £20,000 (£13,400 for single people without children) in benefits and you live outside of London, you might be subject to the benefits cap. This is the total amount of benefits (some are excluded) your household can receive in a year.
In London, the benefits cap is currently up to £23,000 for couples and families (or £15,410 for single people without children).
Of course, the easiest way to work out how much you'll get is to use our Universal Credit and Benefits Calculator, which will also inform you what other benefits you may be eligible for too.
Sanctions
Universal credit payments can also be reduced if you haven't done something you've agreed to as part of your 'claimant commitment', (the document you'll write with your job centre coach setting out your responsibilities whilst claiming universal credit).
You can be sanctioned for things, like:
- Missing an interview.
- Rejecting a job offer.
- Not spending enough time each week searching for a job.
If you are single and over 25, sanctions can reduce your universal credit payment by £11 a day, for as long as your sanction lasts. If you're under 25, sanctions are £8.70 per day.
If you claim Universal Credit as a couple, and just one of you doesn't do something set out in their claimant commitment, your joint payment can be reduced. If you're in a couple and one or both of you are over 25, the sanction is £8.60 per day if only one of you has been sanctioned. If you're both under 25, the sanction for one person not sticking to their claimant commitment is be £6.80 a day.
Work requirements have recently got stricter for some...
New rules mean that you could be sanctioned if you don't start searching for work outside your preferred sector after four weeks. Previously, if you were required to look for a job, you had three months to find something in your preferred sector, before you had to expand your search.
Quick questions on circumstances that can reduce your payment
Self-employed and have savings put aside to pay tax? It needn't decrease the universal credit you get
Saving around a third of your profits to pay tax is normally sensible. But if you're now looking at claiming universal credit, you might think that any business savings in your personal account will affect your eligibility for this support. We've checked with the Department for Work and Pensions, which confirmed that while it'd expect business savings to be in a business account, nevertheless "if someone has money in their personal account to be used for business purposes, it won't be counted towards their capital".
However, it did warn that you may need to prove the cash is for business purposes. So if this applies to you, make it clear in your application that the savings are business savings, and put a note of it in your online universal credit journal, where you record any changes to your circumstances. It should then be discounted from the calculations.
How do I apply?
There is a two-step process to getting your payments:
1. First you need to claim
The quickest way to claim universal credit is online.
To start a claim online, you'll need to set up an account. Once this account has been created, you'll be given a 'to do list' to complete in order to submit your claim – this will include things like providing information about where you live, if you're working, and whether you have any caring responsibilities.
If you are part of a couple and living in the same household, you'll make a joint claim for universal credit, but you'll both need to set up online accounts first. When one of you has set up an account, you'll be given a code – called a 'linking code' – that can be used by the second person to connect your accounts together.
If you have no access to digital services or have accessibility issues, you can call the free universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644. You can also call the helpline if you run into difficulties, or if you need to make a claim in an alternative format such as Braille, large print or audio CD. For Welsh language applications, call 0800 328 1744.
Need help? Citizens Advice also assists universal credit applicants. You can call its 'help to claim service' on 0800 144 8 444.
What information will I need?
You'll need to provide a range of personal information as part of your claim, so it's helpful to have these things to hand before you start. At the very least, you'll need your:
- Contact details
- Bank account details
- National insurance number
Depending on what's relevant to you, you may also need details of your:
- Current employment
- Monthly earnings (have a copy of your payslip to hand)
- Housing costs
- Tenancy agreement
- Other income, savings and any other benefits you or your partner receive
Although it goes without saying, make sure you only give correct information as you'll have to provide proof of anything you say in your application. Once you've entered all the information, you'll be shown an estimate of the amount of universal credit you'll get each month. You'll also have to complete a declaration confirming that all the information you've provided is correct.
2. Then you need to attend an interview
After a successful online claim, you'll have to visit the Jobcentre and have an interview with your work coach if you want to claim universal credit.
You'll be told what information you need to take to the interview, but it'll definitely include physical evidence of details you provided in your claim (for example, your address, how much rent you pay, and how much you earn at work).
Citizens Advice has a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for your interview and examples of documents you may need to take with you.
At this interview you'll have to sign a 'claimant commitment'. This lays out the things you're required to do – such as looking for work, trying to increase your hours – in order to get your universal credit payment. If you don't do something set out in your claimaint commitment, your universal credit payment can be reduced.
When will I be paid?
Your payment date is based on the date you applied, usually five weeks after. For example: Sarah applies for universal credit on 1 September. Her first assessment period will last until 30 September. She's paid on 7 October and will be paid on the 7th of every month after that.
- England and Wales: You'll be paid once a month.
- Scotland: Here there's some extra flexibility when it comes to receiving the payments, known as 'Scottish choices': you can choose to be paid monthly or fortnightly, and if you get an extra housing payment you can choose to get it in your bank account or paid directly to your landlord.
- Northern Ireland: It's a slightly different system and it's normally paid twice a month, though you can choose to be paid monthly. Find out more on the NIdirect website.
Struggling to wait five weeks until your first payment?
You won't get your first payment until about five weeks after making your claim. If you don't have enough money to live on while you wait for your first payment, you can request an advance payment.
Here's how it works:
- You need to make the request via your online universal credit account, or through your work coach.
- You can ask to receive all or part of your first payment.
- It's interest-free but works like a loan, and you'll repay it through your regular universal credit payments, which will be lower until you pay it back.
- You can choose over how many months you want to pay it back, but it must be fully repaid within 24 months.
- You'll usually be told the same day if you'll get an advance, and you'll typically have the money within three working days.
Quick questions on how to apply
What to do if you think your payment is wrong?
Whether you think your initial entitlement is wrong, or if your entitlement is changed after you start claiming, the first thing you should do is contact the universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644. If a mistake has been made, it should be rectified while you're on the phone.
If this isn't the case, you can appeal against the decision by asking for a 'mandatory reconsideration'. You must do this within one month of the date of your initial entitlement decision. Read more on making a mandatory reconsideration. If you do decide to appeal, make sure you gather supporting evidence before you do so.
I am still struggling – is there any extra help I can get?
1. Budgeting advance
You can get a budgeting advance if you need help with emergency household costs, for example if you need to replace a cooker. You'll pay it back through your universal credit payments, which will be lower until it's paid off – much like the advance payment that's also available. If you're struggling to buy food, you might also be able to get a budgeting advance to pay for this – speak to your work coach or call the universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
There are certain criteria you need to meet to qualify for a budgeting advance.
- You must have been receiving universal credit for six months or more – unless you need the money to get a job or stay in work.
- You must have earned less than £2,600 in the past six months (or £3,600 if you're part of a couple), and have paid off any previous budgeting advances that you've had.
The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. The maximum amount depends on your circumstances:
- Up to £348 if you're single
- Up to £464 if you're a couple
- Up to £812 if you've children
If you think you qualify for a budgeting advance, talk to your work coach or call the universal credit helpline.
2. Hardship payments
If you're in financial hardship because you've been sanctioned, you can request a hardship payment. This is usually a loan that you can only get if you're struggling to meet your basic needs or those of your children (such as accommodation, heating, food and hygiene costs).
You must be 18 or over to apply, and you need to prove that you've tried to get the money from somewhere else, and that you only spend your money on essentials.
To apply for this, contact the universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
3. Support if you have children
We go into the full detail of how free school meals work – and the help you can get over the holidays – in our Free school meals guide.
Note: This isn't to be confused with 'universal infant free school meals', available to all schoolchildren (in state-funded schools) from reception to year two. In Scotland, all children in primary one to five are entitled to universal infant free school meals. In Wales, all children in reception are entitled to free school meals, with a further roll-out to all children of primary school age by 2024.
If your child is eligible for free school meals, they may also be eligible for free transport to school. Eligibility varies by council, but generally your child will have to be attending the nearest suitable school, and travel over two miles to get there. Many councils will provide a travel pass that allows free travel, while some will provide cycle vouchers that can be put towards the cost of a bike. Check whether your child is eligible here.
There's a similar scheme in Scotland called Best Start Foods for those who are pregnant or have a child under three. You'll receive £18 every four weeks during your pregnancy, and while your child is between the ages of one and four. You'll get £36 every four weeks for your child's first year. You can access this scheme if you're claiming universal credit, and your household income is less than £625 a month. See more info on Best Start Foods.
School uniforms
If you qualify for free school meals, you may be able to get up to £200 a year towards school uniform. For more information including the full criteria, check out Can I get help towards my child's school uniform costs?
Childcare
There are a range of schemes available to support with the cost of having a child, and childcare. The main ones are:
- The Sure Start Maternity Grant (England and Wales): A £500 one-off payment for those on low incomes, to help towards the costs of having a child. You have to claim the grant within 11 weeks of your baby's due date, or within six months of your baby's birth. For more information, see our Maternity grants guide.
- Best Start Grant (Scotland): A similar scheme for low-income parents in Scotland. The Best Start Grant is three one-off payments that you'll receive over the course of your child's first years.
- Free childcare for children aged three and four: All families in the UK (regardless of income) are entitled to a certain number of hours of free childcare for children between the ages of three and four. If you're on a low income, you also get free childcare when your toddler is two. There are different rules for each part of the UK – we go into detail in our Childcare costs guide.
In Scotland, there are some additional schemes specifically to support parents with a new-born:
- Baby Box: Every new parent in Scotland receives a 'Baby Box' containing clothes, bedding, nappy vouchers, and lots of other things to help with your newborn. Your midwife should fill in a Baby Box registration card with you between your 18 to 20 and 28-week appointment.
- Bookbug: Every child in Scotland gets four free Bookbug Bags at regular intervals between their birth and age five. Each bag contains picture books and activities suited to your child's age. You don't need to sign up to get the Bookbug Bags – you should receive them through your health visitor or from your child's nursery or school.
4. Help with energy bills
Rising energy bills are causing substantial stress for many in the UK, and particularly those on low incomes. We cover the support available in the form of grants and local authority discretionary funds in our Housing and energy grants guide.
5. Help with food costs
You may be able to get free or reduced food using apps or coupons such as:
- Olio: An app where individuals and some shops give away food for free that would otherwise be thrown out.
- Too Good To Go: An app where restaurants and shops sell leftover food at reduced prices.
- Approved Foods: A website that sells groceries and household items that are approaching or have passed their best-before date for a reduced price (but there is a minimum spend).
- Supermarket coupons: It used to be that you could only get coupons from supermarkets or the backs of newspapers. While these are still great places to find coupons, you can also now find lots online too. For a list of some of the best coupons currently out there – and where to find them – head over to our Supermarket coupons guide.
For more tips on getting food cheaply (or for free), read our How to get cheap food guide.
If you continue to struggle with food costs, foodbanks give out free parcels of food designed to last three days. In many cases you need to be referred to a foodbank by a doctor, social worker or school, but some independent banks don't require a referral.
For advice on how to get help from foodbanks, talk to Citizens Advice.
6. Help with the costs of finding work with the Flexible Support Fund
The 'Flexible Support Fund' was created to help people claiming unemployment benefits to find a job. It's designed to help with the extra costs associated with finding a job such as travelling to interviews, or the upfront cost of purchasing tools and clothing you need to start work.
You may also be able to get help from the Flexible Support Fund for the first month of childcare you need once you find a job.
The Flexible Support Fund is a discretionary payment, and you have no automatic right to it even if you qualify. If you think you might be eligible, talk to your local Jobcentre Plus or your work coach about how you should apply. You should tell them what you need the money for, and give evidence (such as a bank statement or a monthly budget plan), which shows that you can't afford to pay for the items yourself.
In Northern Ireland, the Flexible Support Fund is called the 'Adviser Discretionary Fund'. Talk to your work coach to see if you're eligible.
If you're a young person in Scotland, you may also be eligible for additional support from the 'Job Start Payment'. This is a one-off payment of £267.65 (or £428.25 if you are the main carer of a child), designed to help with the costs of getting into work. You may be eligible if you're aged 16 to 24, and have been out of work for at least six months. You can apply for the payment online.
7. Free prescriptions, dental treatments and eye tests
If you're on universal credit and your earnings were under £435 in the last assessment period, you're eligible for free NHS prescriptions, free dental care and free eye tests. This earnings threshold rises to £935 for certain claimants, so check the NHS website for the full eligibility criteria. Recipients of certain other benefits will qualify too.
If you meet any of these criteria and you've spent money on any of these things in the last three months, you can claim it back providing you have the necessary receipts.
8. Cheap broadband and mobile data
There are some cheap broadband and Sim plans that are tailored to those receiving universal credit, such as BT Home Essentials and Virgin Media Essentials. While some of these may come with limitations, it's always worth seeing what's out there to see if you can save money on your current bills. Check out our Broadband for low income families guide for the latest deals.
9. London travel discount
If you're on universal credit and you've been unemployed for at least 13 weeks, you may be entitled to a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card, which gets you 50% off London pay-as-you-go fares on buses, trains, the Tube and more. See the TFL website for the full breakdown of the discount and the eligibility criteria.
10. Grant searching
Hundreds of charities have funds available to give grants to individuals, from one-off sums to help with things like furniture, clothing or improving your quality of life, to regular amounts that can help cover bills and other household expenses.
A good place to start looking for these is our Grant grabbing guide, and Turn2us which has a tool that allows you to search for available grants, based on your individual circumstances.
You could also ask your local library whether it has a copy of the 'Directory of Grant Making Trusts', which lists charities offering grants, along with the criteria to apply, and their contact information.
Need more in-depth advice or practical support?
If you need extra advice or support or have a specific question that isn't answered in this guide, many other organisations and charities offer detailed guidance and advice. Here are just a few that you may find useful, and please let us know in our forum discussion thread if you find any others that help you.
- Turn2us: Help with benefits, searching for grants and accessing support services.
- Entitledto: As well as providing free benefits calculators, it has tons of guidance on benefits.
- Citizens Advice: Guidance for all aspects of universal credit.
- Gingerbread: Primarily aimed at single-parent families.
- Christians Against Poverty: Help with debt, finding work and free courses to get control of your finances.
This is the latest incarnation of this guide. Please give us feedback, suggest improvements and share your tips in the universal credit forum thread.
Thanks to Wendy Alcock of Entitledto for fact-checking the guide.
MSE Forum
Have your say in our forum!
Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
-
Worried about passport delays due to strikes? Here's what you need to know
22 March 2023![]()
More than one thousand Passport Office workers across the UK will walk out between 3 April and 5 May as part of strike action over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security. Below we explain your travel and compensation rights if your passport is delayed. -
Budget 2023: Childcare support to be boosted for children from nine months and for parents on universal credit – here's what you need to know
22 March 2023![]()
The announcements form a package of new measures designed to help parents, revealed by the Chancellor in today's Budget. -
Martin Lewis: Two week ISA 'use it or lose it' warning
21 March 2023![]()
Interest rates are up, so ISAs are back for many - yet you need to sort them by 5 April (or likely sooner). -
Budget 2023: Tax-free pension limits raised - here's what it means for your savings
21 March 2023![]()
The annual amount you can save into a pension once you've taken money out of it will rise from £4,000 to £10,000 this April. -
Stamp prices to rise by up to 16% – but there's a way to beat the hike
21 March 2023![]()
From Monday 3 April, the cost of first-class stamps will be hiked to £1.10, while second-class stamps will increase to 75p.
-
Martin Lewis: Is it time to ban unnecessary Christmas presents?
5 December 2022![]()
Update September 2017: It’s eight years since I first braved this subject, expecting a snowstorm of protest. Instead, year after year more join in, like Julia who recently tweeted me, “@MartinSLewis, finally took your advice and told my family I can’t afford Christmas presents. What a weight off my mind. Thank you.” One year even the Archbishop of... -
Martin Lewis: The one thing everyone aged over 66 needs to know
29 November 2022![]()
It is a national tragedy that getting on for a million pensioners, many of whom have been paying into the system for years, are missing out on a critical boost to their income. It's called pension credit, and this year it also means you get an extra £650 to help with energy bills.
.png.rendition.320.320.png)
MSE tools & calculators
Clever ways to calculate your finances
