Step 1: Make Your Claim

You can apply for Universal Credit online at GOV.UK. You'll need:

• An email address
• A phone number
• Bank account details
• Your National Insurance number
• Details of your savings and income
• Your housing costs (rent or mortgage)
• Details of any childcare costs

If you cannot apply online due to a disability or health condition, you may be able to apply by phone on 0800 328 5644.

Step 2: Tell Them About Your Health Condition

It's crucial to inform Universal Credit about your health condition or disability as soon as you make your claim, or when the condition arises. This ensures you're considered for additional support and payments.

In your application, mention:

• Your disability, illness or health condition
• How it affects your ability to work
• Any treatments you're receiving
• Medical professionals involved in your care

Step 3: Provide Medical Evidence

You'll need to send fit notes (formerly called sick notes) from your doctor to show that your condition limits your ability to work. You should send these as soon as possible after claiming.

The first 7 days you can self-certify, but after that you'll need fit notes from your GP or other healthcare professional.

What is the Work Capability Assessment?

The WCA determines how much your health condition affects your ability to work. You'll need to:

1. Complete a form called the UC50 (Capability for Work Questionnaire)
2. You may be invited to a face-to-face, telephone, or video assessment with a healthcare professional
3. The assessor will consider how your condition affects your daily activities

The assessment uses a points-based system to evaluate your capabilities across different activities.

When Will I Have My Assessment?

The assessment usually takes place a few months after you start submitting medical evidence. During this time, continue to send fit notes to show your condition is ongoing.

What If I'm Terminally Ill?

If you have a terminal illness and a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live, you:

• Won't need a Work Capability Assessment
• Will automatically receive LCWRA
• Will get the extra payment immediately (no 3-month wait)
• Won't have to look for work or attend work-related appointments

This is sometimes called "special rules for end of life". Tell your work coach or contact Universal Credit as soon as possible.

Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA)

This is the higher level of support. You'll receive LCWRA if your health condition severely limits your ability to work or prepare for work.

What you get:

• £423.27 extra per month (current rate until 5 April 2026)
• No requirement to look for work
• No requirement to attend work-related appointments or training
• No risk of sanctions

When it starts: Usually 3 months (3 assessment periods) after you first submit medical evidence, but can be immediate for terminal illness or if transferring from ESA support group.

Limited Capability for Work (LCW)

This means your health condition affects your ability to work, but you may be able to prepare for work in the future.

What you get:

• No extra money in most cases
• No requirement to look for work
• May need to do work preparation activities (like training, writing a CV, attending appointments)
• Can be sanctioned if you don't attend required appointments

Note: You'll only get extra money for LCW if you were receiving Universal Credit before 3 April 2017, or in some cases if you're moving from ESA.

No Limited Capability

If the assessment finds you don't have limited capability for work, you'll need to:

• Look for work
• Attend regular appointments with your work coach
• Complete agreed work-related activities

You can challenge this decision if you disagree. Ask for a mandatory reconsideration and, if needed, appeal to a tribunal.

What is a Claimant Commitment?

This is an agreement between you and your work coach that outlines what you need to do to receive Universal Credit. It's personalised to your circumstances.

Your work coach will consider your health condition or disability when agreeing your claimant commitment. Make sure you're honest about what you can and cannot do.

What if I Can't Meet My Commitments?

If your health changes or you're finding it difficult to meet your commitments, contact your work coach immediately. They can adjust your commitments to reflect your current situation.

Always attend appointments or let them know in advance if you cannot attend due to your health condition. You can do this through your online journal.

Housing Element

Help with rent or some mortgage interest payments. The amount depends on your housing costs and circumstances.

Child Element

Extra money for each child you're responsible for. Additional amounts are available if your child is disabled:

• Disabled child addition: £158.76 per month per child
• Severely disabled child addition: £495.87 per month if your child receives the highest rate care component of DLA or enhanced rate PIP daily living

Childcare Element

Up to 85% of eligible childcare costs, with monthly caps depending on the number of children.

Carer Element

£198.31 per month if you're caring for someone at least 35 hours per week. You cannot receive both the carer element and LCWRA element – you'll get whichever is higher.

What Help Can I Get?

Trained advisers can help you with:

• Answering questions as you make your claim
• Setting up email and bank accounts if needed
• Completing your application
• Preparing for your first work coach appointment
• Understanding your claimant commitment
• Making sure you receive your first full and correct payment

How to Contact Help to Claim

England: 0800 144 8444
Wales: 0800 024 1220

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Calls are free.

You can also get help online via webchat at citizensadvice.org.uk

The service is confidential and they will not share your personal information unless you agree.

What is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a grant that can pay for practical support to help you:

• Start working
• Stay in work
• Move into self-employment or start a business

The grant does not need to be paid back and will not affect your Universal Credit or other benefits.

What Can Access to Work Pay For?

Access to Work can help with:

• Special equipment, software, or adaptations to equipment you use at work
• Adaptations to your workplace
• Support workers or job coaches
• Communicator support at job interviews or in the workplace (such as British Sign Language interpreters)
• Help with travel to and from work if you cannot use public transport
• Mental health support service

How Much Can I Get?

There is no set amount – it depends on your specific needs. Access to Work grants are currently capped at £69,260 per year.

Access to Work may pay 100% of costs for certain things like travel to work or support workers. For other items, there may be cost-sharing with your employer depending on the size of the business.

Who is Eligible?

You may be eligible if you:

• Have a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work
• Are aged 16 or over
• Are in paid employment, self-employed (earning above £542 per month), or about to start a job
• Work or are about to work in England, Scotland, or Wales

You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply.

How to Apply

You (not your employer) must apply for Access to Work. The quickest way is online at GOV.UK.

You can also apply by phone: 0800 121 7479 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Talk to your employer before applying to see what reasonable adjustments they can make first. Access to Work covers additional support beyond what your employer is legally required to provide.

What is the Severe Disability Premium?

The SDP was an extra amount paid with Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. It's not part of Universal Credit, but transitional protection helps bridge the gap.

Who Qualifies for Transitional Protection?

You may get transitional protection if:

• You (or your partner) were receiving or entitled to Income Support, income-based JSA, or income-related ESA
• You were receiving or entitled to the Severe Disability Premium within the month before claiming Universal Credit
• You're still eligible for the conditions of SDP at the start of your Universal Credit claim
• You haven't joined an existing Universal Credit claim

How Much is Transitional Protection?

The amount depends on your circumstances and whether you received other disability premiums. Monthly amounts include:

• SDP transitional element for single claimants: £120 to £285 per month
• Additional amounts if you also received Enhanced Disability Premium or Disability Premium

Important: The transitional protection amount decreases over time as your Universal Credit increases (for example, due to benefit uprating or increased rent). Eventually, it may be eroded completely.

How to Claim Transitional Protection

Most people will get this automatically if they're eligible. However, you may need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions if:

• You were part of a couple and benefit payments were only in your partner's name
• You separated from your partner – you must claim Universal Credit within one month of separation

Tell the DWP as soon as possible after claiming Universal Credit and within 13 months if you think you're eligible but haven't received it.

For New Claimants

If you're not currently receiving other benefits and you're unable to work due to illness or disability, you should apply for Universal Credit as soon as possible because:

• It takes at least 5 weeks before your first payment
• There's usually a 3-month wait for LCWRA payments to start
• Applying before April 2026 means you'll receive the higher LCWRA rate (£423.27 instead of £217.26 per month)

If You're Moving from Other Benefits

Your situation may be more complex if you're currently receiving:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

If you have not received a migration notice: It's usually better to wait until you get a letter from the DWP telling you to move to Universal Credit, especially if you receive the Severe Disability Premium. Seek advice before making a voluntary claim.

If you have received a migration notice: You must claim Universal Credit by the deadline on the letter to receive transitional protection that ensures you won't be worse off financially.

Get Independent Advice

Before moving to Universal Credit from legacy benefits, it's recommended to:

• Use an independent benefits calculator to compare what you'd get on Universal Credit
• Get advice from Citizens Advice or another welfare rights organisation
• Consider your individual circumstances carefully

Once you claim Universal Credit, your legacy benefits will end and you cannot go back to them.

Can I Get Both Universal Credit and PIP?

Yes! Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit serve different purposes:

• Universal Credit: Helps with day-to-day living costs (means-tested)
• PIP: Helps with extra costs of disability (not means-tested)

You can claim both at the same time. PIP will not reduce your Universal Credit payment – in fact, if you qualify for LCWRA through your WCA, you'll get both.

When Will I Get Paid?

Universal Credit is paid monthly, usually on the same date each month. Your first payment will be about 5 weeks after you claim.

If you need money urgently, you can request an advance payment. This is a loan that will be deducted from your future Universal Credit payments.

When Will My LCWRA Payment Start?

If you're found to have LCWRA, you'll usually start receiving the extra payment 3 months (3 assessment periods) after you first submit medical evidence.

Immediate payment in these cases:

• You're terminally ill (under special rules for end of life)
• You're moving from ESA support group to Universal Credit
• Certain other exceptional circumstances

What if I Disagree with My WCA Decision?

If you believe your Work Capability Assessment decision is wrong, you can:

1. Request a Mandatory Reconsideration: Ask the DWP to look at their decision again. You must do this within one month of the decision. Continue to submit fit notes during this time.
2. Appeal to a Tribunal: If the mandatory reconsideration doesn't change the decision, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. Get advice from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights adviser to help with your appeal.

Many appeals are successful, so it's worth challenging if you think the decision is wrong.