How do I qualify for universal credit?

Universal credit

You must:

• be aged 18 or over (or aged 16 or 17 in certain cases)

• be under the qualifying age for pension credit - Find out if this applies to you

• be in Great Britain

• not be subject to immigration control

• usually not be in full-time education - but there are exceptions
  

• have accepted a claimant commitment

If you have a partner (including a same-sex partner), you must normally make a ‘joint claim’ for universal credit.

You (and your partner, if you are making a ‘joint claim’) must not have capital/savings of more than £16,000.

Any earnings or income you (and your partner, if you are making a ‘joint claim’) have must not be too high for pension credit to be paid.

If you are claiming as a couple and one of you is over pension credit qualifying age, you can choose to claim either pension credit or universal credit.

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