How to make a new Universal Credit claim

Most people apply for Universal Credit online through GOV.UK. This guide explains the steps in plain English, what you will need, and where to get free help if you are stuck. We are an independent guide — we cannot make a claim for you, but we can point you to the right official service.

Before you apply: check you will be better off

If you already get older benefits (sometimes called "legacy benefits"), applying for Universal Credit can end them, and you may not be able to go back — even if your Universal Credit claim is turned down. So check first. You can use an independent benefits calculator listed on GOV.UK, speak to a local benefits adviser, or call the free Help to Claim service (numbers below).

How to apply, step by step

1. Create an account on the official Universal Credit service on GOV.UK.
2. Fill in your claim. You have 28 days from creating the account to finish it, or you will need to start again.
3. Submit it. Your claim starts on the day you submit, not the day you created the account — so do not delay.
4. Prove your identity online, or at an appointment if you cannot do it online.
5. Agree your claimant commitment at a meeting with your work coach. You need to do this before your first payment.

If you live with a partner, you both need your own account, and you link them as part of the claim — one of you cannot claim alone. If you cannot claim online, you can claim by phone through the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 (Welsh 0800 328 1744), Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, or get help at a jobcentre.

What you will need

To start the claim

• Bank, building society or credit union account details
• An email address
• Access to a phone

No bank account, email or phone? You can still claim — call the helpline, visit a jobcentre or use Help to Claim.

To prove who you are

Identity documents such as a driving licence, passport, debit or credit card, or a payslip or P60.

To complete the claim

• Your housing costs, such as how much rent you pay
• Your earnings — payslips help
• Your National Insurance number, if you have one
• Other benefits you receive
• Any disability or health condition that affects your work
• Childcare costs, if you want help with them
• Your savings and investments, such as shares or a property you rent out

Tip: gather everything in one place before you start. It makes the online form much quicker and avoids your 28-day window running out.

Free help to make your claim: Help to Claim

Help to Claim is a free, confidential service run by Citizens Advice. Trained advisers can help with the online application and get you ready for your first jobcentre appointment. They will not share your information unless you agree.

You can also chat online with Help to Claim (England and Wales) during the same hours (not on public holidays), or use Help to Claim in Scotland. If you need an interpreter, ask when you call.

After you apply

You may be asked to an appointment, in a jobcentre or on the phone, if more information is needed or you could not verify your identity online. Messages will appear in your journal and you will usually get a text or email when something new arrives — keep an eye on it. Your first payment usually takes around five weeks; if you need money before then, you can ask for an advance (see our payments guide).

If you could not claim sooner

If you were delayed through no fault of your own — for example because of a disability or health problems — you may be able to backdate your claim by up to one month in certain circumstances. Ask when you claim.

Last checked against official sources: 23 October 2026. Numbers and opening hours can change — if in doubt, check GOV.UK.