Living Abroad

Universal Credit in the UK: Who Can Claim and What to Know as a Newcomer

3 min read

In this guide
  1. What is Universal Credit?
  2. Who can claim?
  3. What about immigration status?
  4. Couples
  5. How does it interact with other benefits?
  6. Common mistakes
  7. FAQ
    1. Can I use a benefits calculator first?
  8. Key takeaways
  9. Related guides
  10. Sources

Quick answer: Universal Credit is a monthly UK payment to help with living costs if you are on a low income, out of work or cannot work. To claim you must live in the UK, be 18 or over (with some exceptions for 16 to 17-year-olds), be under State Pension age and have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments. Newcomers should also check how their immigration status affects eligibility before relying on it.

What is Universal Credit?

A payment to help with living costs, paid monthly (or twice a month for some people in Scotland). You may be working, self-employed, part-time, out of work or unable to work, for example because of a health condition. Universal Credit is replacing Housing Benefit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Who can claim?

  • You live in the UK.
  • You’re 18 or over (some exceptions if 16 to 17).
  • You’re under State Pension age.
  • You have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.

Your bank can share information about you with the Department for Work and Pensions to help identify whether your eligibility has changed, including accounts and transactions made abroad.

What about immigration status?

GOV.UK says that if you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family might need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. For other newcomers, your visa conditions can matter a great deal, so check the conditions on your permission to stay and our eVisa and share code guide before you apply, and take advice if unsure.

Couples

If you live with your partner, you both need to claim, as a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible. The amount depends on both your incomes and savings. If only one of you has reached State Pension age, you can still claim as a couple until you both reach it.

How does it interact with other benefits?

  • If you get Housing Benefit or income-related ESA, you don’t need to do anything unless circumstances change or you get a “Migration Notice” telling you to claim Universal Credit by a deadline.
  • Claiming stops Pension Credit if you or your partner get it.
  • You keep benefits such as Personal Independence Payment or Carer’s Allowance, though some other benefits can reduce the amount.

If you claim Universal Credit you can’t get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time. Check Child Benefit rules in our Child Benefit guide.

Common mistakes

  • Not checking visa conditions first.
  • Forgetting that couples must claim together.
  • Ignoring a Migration Notice deadline.
  • Assuming savings abroad don’t count.

FAQ

Can I use a benefits calculator first?

Yes, GOV.UK points to a benefits calculator.

Key takeaways

  • £16,000 savings limit; under State Pension age; live in the UK.
  • Joint claims for couples.
  • Newcomers should confirm status rules before claiming.

Last updated: October 2026. General information, not benefits advice. Check GOV.UK for current rules.

Sources

  • GOV.UK: Universal Credit

Keep reading