Universal Credit
Universal credit (UC) is now available across the UK. As a result, HMRC state that most people can no longer make brand new claims for tax credits and other benefits that UC replaces, however, there are some exceptions to this.
Existing tax credit claimants are currently unaffected by the roll-out of UC unless they choose to make a UC claim, have a change of circumstances that ends their tax credit claim but they need to continue claiming similar support, or they need to make a new claim for another benefit that UC has replaced (such as housing benefit).
This section of the website explains who can claim UC including how it affects existing tax credit claimants, gives an overview of the entitlement rules of UC and links to helpful UC guidance and leaflets.
Latest updates
New regulations (6 January 2025) Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (SI.No.3/2025) Make amendments and modifications to various social security regulations relating to universal credit, pension credit, housing benefit and tax credits >> More universal credit legislation
New Upper Tribunal decision (2 December 2024) KL by MR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (UC) [2024] UKUT 392 (AAC) | UA-2023-000701-USTA - Student’s universal credit claim, which would have been successful under regulation 14 exception but for the DWP’s delay in completing a work capability assessment, was correctly refused by tribunal >> More universal credit case law
New Upper Tribunal decision (10 December 2024) GA v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions (UC) [2024] UKUT 380 (AAC) | UA-2024-000557-USTA - Refusal of universal credit unlawfully discriminated against claimant with pre-settled status who was unable to claim a 'Destitution Domestic Violence Concession' in 2022 >> More universal credit case law
New Court of Appeal decision (2 December 2024) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Versnick and Another | [2024] EWCA Civ 1454 - Court of Appeal holds that claimant could rely on social assistance benefits paid to his partner in order to demonstrate self-sufficiency where his presence did not increase entitlement >> More universal credit case law
New Upper Tribunal decision (7 November 2024) CK v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions | [2024] UKUT 331 (AAC) | UA-2024-000269-USTA - Need for there to be a causal relationship between the circumstances on which a request for universal credit backdating is based and subsequent delay in making the claim, and for the delay to have been reasonable >> More universal credit case law
New Upper Tribunal decision (28 October 2024) PHC v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions | [2024] UKUT 340 (AAC) | UA-2023-000802-USTA - Claim may be disallowed if identification is not authenticated according sections 1(1A) and 1(1B) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 >> More universal credit case law
New Upper Tribunal decision (10 October 2024) SO v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions | [2024] UKUT 305 (AAC) | UA-2022-001601-USTA - Student’s unearned income for purposes of universal credit assessed as if maximum available student loan had not been reduced on account of Welsh Government maintenance grant >> More universal credit case law