It can take up to 6 weeks to receive a payment from your initial Universal Credit claim. Get prepared and make sure your claim goes smoothly!

To make a claim you will need

• Access to a computer and internet
  Claims for UC can only be made online
• An email address
  to register and receive updates about your claim
• Verification
  of who you are and where you live
• Bank Account
  for you to receive your monthly payments
• Details of your household members
  you need to know their dates of birth

Making a claim, step by step

If you are unable to make a claim online due to illness, disability, or issues with reading and writing or using a computer, you may be eligible to claim by telephone or face to face. For more information contact the Universal Credit Helpline on:

Telephone: 0345 600 0723
Textphone: 0345 600 0743

Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm

These calls may cost up to 9p a minute from a landline, or between 8p and 40p a minute from a mobile, however you can request that they call you back. The calls usually takes around 40 minutes.

We’re here to help

If you need further support or would like to talk to someone direct, please get in touch.
We can help you with:

• Help with ID and verification
• Paying your rent
• Benefit advice and entitlement
• Free debt advice appointment
• Free employment advice appointment

Before you start

Ready? Register here