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 (21 March 2025) Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2025 (S.I.No.227/2025) - Makes amendments to social security legislation to reflect the introduction of Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance >> More universal credit legislation
New High Court decision (16 January 2025) Roberts v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | [2025] EWHC 51 (Admin) - High Court holds that the DWP's policy for implementing rent deductions is unlawful due to procedural unfairness >> More universal credit case law
New regulations (14 February 2025) Universal Credit (Work-Related Requirements) In Work Pilot Scheme (Extension) Order 2025 (SI.No.168/2025) - Provides for the testing of universal credit in-work conditionality in pilot areas to be extended for a further 12 months. >> More universal credit legislation
New Upper Tribunal decision (14 February 2025) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v MJ [2025] UKUT 035 (AAC) | UA-2023-000561-USTA - Where LCWRA element replaces carer element in a universal credit award, the transitional SDP element should only be eroded by the difference between the two >> More universal credit case law
New Upper Tribunal decision (14 January 2025) KS v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (UC) [2025] UKUT 015 (AAC) | UA-2024-000320-ULCW - ‘Relevant period’ started running on date of self-certification in universal credit journal, and continued running despite 10-month delay in submitting first fit note >> More universal credit case law
New regulations (13 January 2025) Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) (Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (SR.No.1/2025) - Include modifications to SR.No.222/2016 to update how the local housing allowance (LHA) is determined in universal credit so that LHA rates are frozen at the same levels for 2025/2026 as the rates for 2024/2025 >> More universal credit legislation
New regulations (9 January 2025) Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2025 (SI.No.5/2025) - Set LHA rates at the same levels for 2025/2026 as the rates for 2024/2025 >> More universal credit legislation
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