Generally, you will be expected to do certain things in order to receive Universal Credit. This is called your ‘claimant commitment’.
What you are expected to do will depend on your circumstances, such as your health, your caring responsibilities and whether or not you are working at the moment.
You will be put into one of four conditionality groups:
- No work related requirements
- Work focused interviews only
- Able to undertake some work related activity and attend Work Focused Interviews
- All work related requirements group
Even if you are working, you are still put into one of these conditionality groups.
If you are earning ‘enough’ ie. you are earning above a certain amount – referred to as your Conditionality Earnings Threshold, then you will be in the ‘no work related requirements’ group and you will not be expected to look for other work or undertake any work related activities.
Your Conditionality Earnings Threshold will be the monthly equivalent of the number of hours you are expected to work each week multiplied by the minimum wage
If you are earning less than this then you will be in one of the other groups and either expected to attend regular Work Focused Interview, and/or undertake work related activities and/or look for another job / more hours.
If you fail to do what is asked of you, then you can be sanctioned.
If you think you are in the wrong group or you would like more information about what you can be asked to do, then speak to a Benefits Adviser.