Universal Credit is the payment replacing other benefits you will have heard of, including Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Working Tax Credit. So who is eligible for Universal Credit, and how much is Universal Credit per week?

Who is eligible for Universal Credit?

You may be able to claim Universal Credit if:
• you’re on a low income or out of work
• you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
• you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)
• you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
• you live in the UK

READ MORE- Universal Credit: Is Universal Credit backdated?

Can I apply for Universal credit if I am 18 or under?

Yes, you can apply for universal credit if you are 18 or under under certain conditions.

If you’re 18 or over and in training or studying full-time you can make a new Universal Credit claim if any of the following apply:
• you live with your partner and they’re eligible for Universal Credit
• you’re responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple
• you’re disabled and entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and have limited capability for work
• you’re in further education, are 21 or under and do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you’re not under local authority care

If you’re 16 or 17

You can make a new Universal Credit claim if any of the following apply:
• you have limited capability for work or you have medical evidence and are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment
• you’re caring for a severely disabled person
• you’re responsible for a child
• you’re in a couple with responsibility for at least one child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit
• you’re pregnant and it’s 11 weeks or less before your expected week of childbirth
• you’ve had a child in the last 15 weeks
• you do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you’re not under local authority care

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How much is Universal Credit per month?

Universal Credit combines a standard allowance and extra amounts if applicable.

You may be paid extra if you have children, a disability or health condition that prevents you from working, or you need help paying your rent.

Find out how much extra you can get here.

The amount you are paid will also depend on your earnings, and your circumstances will be assessed every month.

The benefit cap- a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get- may also affect how much you receive.

The standard allowance per month depends on your age and relationship status.

This doesn’t take into consideration the extra amounts you may get on top.

Those who are single and under 25 will receive a monthly standard allowance of £342.72.

If you are single but over 25, you get a little more with the standard allowance per month sitting at £408.89.

Couples where both individuals are under 25 will receive a total of £488.59, and couples where either individual is 25 or over will receive £594.04 in total.

How much extra Universal Credit do I get if I have children?

You may get extra money as well as your standard allowance if you have children.

If you have one or two children, you get an extra amount for each child.

If you have 3 or more children, you’ll get an extra amount for at least 2 children.

However, there are conditions. You can only get the extra money for more children if any of the following are true:
• your children were born before April 6, 2017
• you were already claiming for three or more children before April 6, 2017
• other exceptions apply

Find out more here.

For your first child you will get £281.25 if they were born before April 6, 2017), and £235.83 if they were born on or after April 6, 2017.

For your second child, you are entitled to £235.83 per child a year.

If your child is disabled or severely disabled, you could get £128.25 or £400.29.

If you need extra help with childcare costs, you may get up to 85 percent of your costs (up to £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for 2 or more children)

How much extra universal credit do I get for disability?

If you personally have a disability or health condition, you may be entitled to extra money.

If you have limited capability for work and work-related activity, you will get an extra £341.92 per month.

f you have limited capability for work and you started your health-related Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim before April 3, 2017, you will get £128.25 more a month.

If you care for a severely disabled person, you are also entitled to extra.

Those who provide care for at least 35 hours a week for a severely disabled person who receives a disability-related benefit should get an extra £162.92 a month.

This is on top of any extra amount you get if you have a disabled child.

How much extra Universal Credit can I get to help pay housing costs?

How much you get to cover your housing costs depends on your age and circumstances.

The payment can cover rent and some service charges.

If you’re a homeowner, you might be able to get a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage or other loans you’ve taken out for your home.