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0300 131 7300

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News

Help moving from Benefits to Universal Credit

Piggy bank

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

If you currently receive benefits, you may be expected to apply for Universal Credit instead as part of government plans.

You may need to move to Universal Credit if:

you get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) telling you to claim Universal Credit by a certain date.
your situation changes in certain ways - for example, you might need to claim Universal Credit if you’ve separated from a partner or moved to a different council area.

What do I do if I’ve received a letter from DWP?

You should claim Universal Credit by the deadline provided in their letter. You can apply for Universal Credit online but if you cannot claim online, you can claim by phone through the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 or text 0800 328 1344.

It will usually take five weeks to get your first Universal Credit payment, but it might be longer, and your old benefits might stop before your Universal Credit starts. When they stop depends on which benefits you get, and when you claim Universal Credit.

How can I prepare for Universal Credit?

You will need to:

You’ll be expected to plan your spending carefully. Your benefit will be paid monthly and you will be responsible for paying your rent.
You’ll be assigned a Work Coach who can speak to you about budgeting support and help you manage this change. You can learn about other ways a Work Coach will help you on the Universal Credit website.
You should contact our Customer Service Team as soon as you have applied for Universal Credit. We will inform you how much rent to pay and agree with you dates to pay your rent.

If you do need help in using a computer, you can ask at your local jobcentre or contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 9344. You can locate your nearest job centre on the government’s job centre page.

For more information about moving to Universal Credit, check out Citizens Advice website or speak to one of their advisors.

You may also wish to consult Money Helper, a government backed financial advice service, or read this breakdown of how Universal Credit could help you.

How can ISHA help me?

We can direct you to relevant third-party advice or information on our Outreach and Support page.

Contact our Outreach and Support team who can help you locate the information you need. Call 0300 131 7300 or email outreachandsupport@isha.co.uk.

If you have any concerns about your rent payments, please contact our customer service team.

Help where you live

Hackney

Hackney Money Hub can check what you’re entitled to and can offer help dealing with the Cost-of-Living crisis.

Islington

The Islington Council Income Maximisation Team can help you get the most out of Universal Credit and assist you to claim tax breaks and grants.

Camden

Camden Council can help you apply for benefits not replaced by Universal Credit such as Council Tax and Free school meals