Universal Credit

Universal Credit is claimed and managed on the gov.uk website, so you'll need to tap here to make an online Universal Credit claim on the gov.uk website (link opens in a new tab).

As well as applying online, you'll also need to attend an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus.

You need the following information to make your claim:

• Valid email address.
• Mobile phone number.
• National Insurance number.
• A bank or building society account (in your own name).
• Your Tenancy Agreement.
• Details of your savings or other capital.
• Details of any income that’s not from work (e.g. from an insurance plan).
• Details of any other benefits you’re getting.
• Photo ID, such as your driving licence.

You'll also need these details for people who live in your home, such as your partner.

If you don’t have any of the information listed above, please call the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644 for help and advice on making an online claim.

To receive Universal Credit you'll need your own bank or building society account.

Post Office accounts are not acceptable and you can't use anyone else's account to receive your payments (unless you're making a joint claim). You can tap here for more information about bank accounts.

You'll be paid as follows:

• Monthly in arrears into a bank account of your choice.
• If you get help with your rent (previously Housing Benefit), the housing payment will be included in your monthly Universal Credit payment. This means that you'll need to pay your rent to us directly.
• If you live with your partner and you're both eligible, you'll get one monthly joint payment.
• Other adults living in the same household who are claiming Universal Credit will be paid separately.

If you don't have a bank account, please contact our Money Advice Team on 01204 328000 and we can help set one up for you.

Of course. If you're a Bolton at Home tenant and need help completing your online Universal Credit application/claim, please contact our Money Advice Team on 01204 328000.

Our team can also help with appeals if you don't think your decision is right. You can tap here to learn more about our Money Advice Team and ways they can help.

Universal Credit is replacing a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits for working-age households. These are referred to as ‘legacy benefits’. Universal Credit is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Over time, people getting 'legacy' benefits are having their claims closed and are being invited to make a new claim for Universal Credit. This is called managed migration.

The 'legacy' benefits being replaced by Universal Credit include:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• and Housing Benefit

The DWP began contacting those affected in May 2022 and they expect to have contacted everyone by the end of 2025.

Please phone us on 01204 328000 if you're a Bolton at Home tenant and have any questions, concerns, or would appreciate some money or benefit related advice.

Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) can help if your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit payments aren't enough to cover your rent.

They are short-term payments to help people with their rent if they are experiencing financial hardship. DHPs can be awarded as a one-off payment or as a series of payments.

DHPs are not Housing Benefit, however, to receive a DHP you must be receiving some Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (which includes an amount for housing costs).

DHPs are administered by your local council (you can tap here to find your local council on the gov.uk website, link opens in a new tab). Each council decides how their application process will work.

If you decide to apply, it's important that you:

• Include all your income and expenditure
• Provide details on your circumstances. You should include information such as whether you've registered to move, if you've accessed support to deal with any debt issues, and so on.
• Include as much detail as possible on why you can't meet your rent payments.

To find out more and learn how to make a claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP), please tap here to visit the gov.uk website (link opens in a new tab).

If you don’t agree with the decision on your Discretionary Housing Payment claim, you can ask your local council to review it again (you can tap here to find your local council on the gov.uk website, link opens in a new tab).

They will review it if:

• They have refused your award, or
• They have awarded a reduced amount, or
• They advised they overpaid you

We can also look at your application and advise whether you have grounds for the council to review it. If you do have grounds then we can assist you.

Please call our Money Advice Team on 01204 328000 if you need support. You can tap here to learn more about our Money Advice Team and ways they can help.

What are non-dependants?

A non-dependant is a person who lives with you but is not liable for paying rent under a formal arrangement. If you share your home with someone who is not your partner or a dependent child, this may affect your benefit entitlement. 

A non-dependant is a person who:

• resides with you; and
• is over 18; and
• is not your partner or dependent child; and
• is not liable for paying the rent (or Council Tax for Council Tax support/Reduction)

Non-dependants are often people like grown-up sons and daughters or elderly relatives.

How could non-dependant deductions affect the benefits I receive?

If you live with a non-dependant, your Housing Benefit, Universal Credit housing payments, and Council Tax Reduction could be reduced through rules on non-dependant deductions. In Universal Credit, these are called housing cost contributions.

The amount of the non-dependant deduction or housing costs contribution depends on the benefit being claimed.

Universal Credit

Under Universal Credit rules there is a flat rate contribution (deduction) each month, regardless of the non-dependant's income.

There will be no contribution expected of non-dependants who are under 21.

There will be no contribution expected of non-dependants who are 21 or over and are also:

• Receiving Pension Credit.
• Receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate.
• Receiving the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment.
• Receiving Attendance Allowance.
• Receiving Carer's Allowance.
• The primary carer for a child aged four or under.

The government introduced an Under Occupancy Charge (Bedroom Tax) in April 2013. This means that working age tenants who are in receipt of benefits to help with housing costs will have their benefit reduced if they have a spare bedroom.

Your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will be reduced by:

• 14% of the eligible rent for one spare bedroom
• 25% of the eligible rent for two or more spare bedrooms

You can tap here if you'd like more information about the Under Occupancy Charge (Bedroom Tax) on the Citizens Advice website (link opens in a new tab).

What should I do if I'm affected by the Under Occupancy Charge (Bedroom Tax)?

If you're affected by the Under Occupancy Charge (Bedroom Tax), you have the following options:

• Stay in your current home and pay the difference on your rent.
• Apply for Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from your local council. You can tap here for more information on applying for Discretionary Housing Payment on the gov.uk website (link opens in a new tab).
• Contact our Money Advice Team on 01204 328000.You can also tap here to learn more about our Money Advice Team and ways they can help.