Universal Credit is a single monthly payment which is gradually replacing six income related benefits and tax credits for new claimants.

Universal credit will eventually replace the following benefits:

• Housing benefit
• Income Support
• Income based job seekers allowance
• Income related employment and support allowance
• Working tax credit
• Child tax credit

What’s different about Universal Credit?

• You need to be online – you must make your claim online and check payments and updates online
• You will get one single monthly payment
• You need to have a bank, building society, post office or credit union account to receive your money.
• You will be responsible for paying your rent to North Star directly. Your universal credit payment will include help towards housing costs.

If you want to talk to us about universal credit or have any concerns please contact our customer services team on 03000 11 00 11.

Click the video below for guidance on how to update your Universal Credit claim following a rent review. 

Making a new claim for Universal Credit

 Check you have everything you need to apply

Before you apply for Universal Credit, you’ll need to gather some information together. This will help make sure you only have to do the application once, and help you to get Universal Credit as quickly as possible if you’re eligible.

Don’t start your application until you have all of the following details for you and your partner with you:

• Your email address – you cannot make a claim without an email address

• Your postcode

• Your NI number – you can find this on a payslip or letter from HMRC – call the helpline on 0300 200 3500 (textphone 0300 200 3519) if you can’t find it

• Details of your bank, building society or credit union account (if you don’t have a bank account, you’ll need to open one or use the Payment Exemption Service

• How much rent you pay – this can be found on your rent agreement, ask North Star for a copy if you don’t have one

• Your landlord’s address – this can be found on your rent agreement, ask North Star for a copy if you don’t have one

• Your landlord’s phone number

• Details of any savings you have and any other ‘capital’ investments, e.g. shares or property that you don’t live in

• Details of any income that’s not from work, e.g. from a pension or insurance plan

• Details of how much you earn from work, e.g. recent payslips

• How much you pay for childcare (if you want to claim for childcare costs)

• Details of any other benefits you’re getting, i.e. what benefit and how much you get

• Child benefit reference numbers for any children you have if you get child benefit – this can be found on letters to you about child benefit. It will start with ‘CHB’ and is made up of 8 numbers and 2 letters, e.g. CHB12345678 AB. If you need assistance, call the Child Benefit Office on 0300 200 3100 (textphone 0300 200 3103) if you need help

You’ll need to provide evidence for all of the above when you go to your interview.