Check if you're eligible for Universal Credit

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland, See advice for Wales

Help us improve our website

Take 5 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. Your feedback will help us give millions of people the information they need.

Universal Credit is a benefit you can get to help with living costs if you’re on a low income or unemployed. It’s worth checking if you might be able to get it, whatever your situation.

You have to meet several rules to be able to claim Universal Credit.

Use our tool to find out if you might be able to claim.

The tool will ask you simple questions about your situation.

It should usually only take a few minutes to get your result. Your result will help you understand if you might be eligible for Universal Credit.

You don't have to use this tool. You can read the rules to check who can claim Universal Credit.

If you already get benefits

Universal Credit is gradually replacing:

  • Housing Benefit

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

  • Income Support

If you’re getting one of these, check if you should move to Universal Credit from other benefits.

Help us improve our website

Take 5 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. Your feedback will help us give millions of people the information they need.

Page last reviewed on 13 March 2026