Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

Claiming Universal Credit (UC)

Universal Credit is a means tested benefit for working-age claimants. Which means your child can only get Universal Credit (UC) if they are on a sufficiently low income and their capital is below certain limits. The lower age limit for Universal Credit is usually 18, but there are special rules that can apply if your child is 16/17.  Universal Credit is a ‘digital-by-default’ benefit and claims are usually made and managed online. No letters are sent out, and the claimant is required to check their online account regularly.  They should be sent a text or email to alert them to anything they are required to do.  If your child is not able to manage an online application themselves there are some options you may wish to consider.

Payment of UC is made in return for meeting a claimant commitment.  Universal Credit claimants, who are assessed through a work capability assessment and are found to have limited capability for work, are not expected to look for work, although they can be asked to complete work-related activities in return for their benefit.  If they are found to have limited capability for work-related activity no work-related requirements at all are required of them and the UC award increases.

Being in education, especially  full-time non-advancedFT Non-Advanced EducationUsually at least 12 hours per week on average during term-time of tuition, supervised study, practical work, and examinations  or  full-time advanced educationFT Advanced EducationUsually determined by the educational establishment - if it is stated to be a full-time course it is full-time  can make claiming UC more difficult.

If your child is in education it is important to understand whether the course they are undertaking is advanced or non-advanced and whether it is full or part-time.  The rules for what is a full-time course are different for advanced and non-advanced education, see above.  If the course is not full-time it is part-time.

Please follow the relevant link to your child’s circumstances:

• Aged 16/17
• Non-advanced education
• Advanced education – full-time – part-time
• Working full or part-time
• Not in paid work or education