Young people who are out of work' and living at home could be claiming Universal Credit to give them their own income.

We know that Young people have been some of the hardest hit by Covid-19. A recent Government report confirms that:

Since the start of the pandemic there has been a large increase in unemployment and a large fall in employment for young people aged 16-24.

Despite the fact that under 25s have been disproportionately affected by furlough, many are not claiming Universal Credit when they are entitled to.

Almost two million jobs held by young people, and almost half of eligible jobs, were furloughed at some point between March and the end of July

How does it work?

Most people who claim Universal Credit (UC), apply and manage their claim online. You'll usually get one monthly payment to cover your living costs paid straight into your bank account. The payment is made up of a basic 'standard allowance' and extra payments that might apply to you depending on your circumstances. 

How much will I get?

From Oct 2021, payments will be substantially reduced across the board as the Government takes away the extra amount it put in place to help with the impact of the pandemic. 18-24 year olds will get £257.33 and 25s and over £324.84

If you're self-employed, your payment might also be affected by how much the DWP expect you to earn each month. You can work and still get UC - the amount you get will reduce gradually as you earn more and will go up if your job ends or you earn less.

If you have enough National Insurance contributions, you might also be able to top up your UC with Jobseekers Allowance.

What do I have to do?

UC Claimants are required to do certain activities to receive their payment. These activities are determined by which of the 'work-related activity groups' you are placed in. 

Other things to consider

In most cases, making a claim does not affect anyone else in your household, but if another adult you live with (and who pays the bills) is getting benefits too, it's worth checking with us to make sure there won't be a negative impact before making the claim. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We're here to help

Contact the specialist Advisers in our Help To Claim Universal Credit service by calling 0800 144 8 444 (Advisers are available 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday) or by webchat during office hours.