Universal Credit eligibility: DWP launches new online tool to check if you can claim

Coffey questioned on Universal Credit uplift and legacy benefits

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Universal Credit is replacing six benefits known as legacy benefits. These are Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Working Tax Credit.

If a person currently gets any of these benefits, then they won’t need to do anything unless they have a change of circumstances they need to report, or the DWP contacts them about moving to Universal Credit.

Some people may wonder whether they are eligible for Universal Credit.

There are online benefits calculators online, such as free and independent tools hosted by Turn2us, Policy in Practice and entitledto.

A new eligibility tool has today been launched, the DWP has announced.

The DWP says its new benefit checker is intended to help millions of people “more easily” see some of the financial support they may be able to claim.

As well as offering the ability to check eligibility for benefits such as Universal Credit, the checker also highlights forms of financial support related to the coronavirus pandemic, including the furlough scheme.

This tool should take a couple of minutes to use to indicate the benefits a person may be eligible to claim.

It will then point the user to check the detailed eligibility criteria, and tell them how to apply.

The Government is using people to head to the Benefits Checker tool on the Government website and answer some questions about their current situation.

The DWP assures users that the checker doesn’t process or retain any personal data.

Minister for Welfare Delivery Will Quince said: “Checking eligibility for Universal Credit is now easier than ever thanks to the launch of our benefits eligibility tool.

“In a matter of moments, you can find out if you may be eligible for Universal Credit.

“If you are, you could also receive additional benefits, such as half-price travel and childcare payments.”

The DWP has warned the process provides a “quick indication” of what benefits the user may be able to claim.

This indication doesn’t guarantee eligibility, and further eligibility criteria may apply, the Department adds.

To use the tool, certain details will be required.

Information on the user’s savings as well as their – and their partner’s – income.

Details of any outgoings, any existing benefits or pensions for the household is needed, and a recent Council Tax bill too.

It’s important to be aware if a person receives a benefits which Universal Credit replaces, then their entitlement will end when a claim for Universal Credit is submitted.

Claimants won’t be able to return to the legacy benefits they were receiving in the future.

Next month, a change relating to the Universal Credit advance repayment period will come into effect.

Currently the repayment period for advance payments is a maximum of 12 months.

From April 2021, this will rise to a maximum limit of 24 months.

The change was due to take place in October this year, but it has been brought forward as per the 2021 Spring Budget.

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