Universal Credit UK - How to Claim, Payments & Support

The Universal Credit benefit system is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly or twice a month for some people in Scotland. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income or out of work.

Universal Credit is a welfare scheme in the UK that aims to provide financial support to those who are out of work or on a low income. For single individuals, the benefits rates are crucial in understanding the level of assistance they can receive.

If you're on Universal Credit and facing unexpected expenses, a Budgeting Advance could help. It’s a government loan to help you cover emergency costs, which you pay back gradually through your future Universal Credit payments.

If you're raising a family and need financial support, Universal Credit can help with the cost of living, childcare, and housing. This guide explains how Universal Credit works for families, including how much you can get and how to claim additional support for children and carers.

Universal Credit and prison leavers

Information for prison leavers, work coaches, and probation officers about Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is available to self-employed people as well as employees, but the rules work differently for people who work for themselves. This guide explains how Universal Credit works if you are self-employed, including the Minimum Income Floor, how to report your earnings, what expenses you can deduct, and what happens if your income varies from month to month.

To log in to your Universal Credit account, visit the official government website and sign in using the email address and password you set up when you first made your claim. This guide covers the login process, what to do if you've forgotten your details, and fixes for common sign-in problems.

Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears, with your payment date determined by the date you first made your claim. Payments always arrive on the same date each month, adjusted forward to the previous working day when that date falls on a weekend or bank holiday. This guide explains how Universal Credit payment dates work in 2026, lists all bank holidays that may affect payment dates, and provides sample payment calendars for the most common payment dates.

Universal Credit is normally paid to a household twice a month and you will need to budget for this. A household can be a single person, a couple or a family. You will get your first payment five weeks after you put in your claim.

Universal Credit is a vital benefit that provides financial support to individuals and families in need. It is designed to help cover living expenses, housing costs, and other essential needs. In order to ensure that the value of Universal Credit keeps up with inflation and the rising cost of living, the government regularly reviews and adjusts the payment rates.