The Universal Credit Jobcentre meeting

The front cover of a Universal Credit leaflet

Universal Credit (UC), is the name of a benefit that some people who do not work, do not work many hours, or who do not earn much money can get.

A man pointing to himself next to a pile of money. Behind that is a picture of a couple outside their home kissing

The money is to help to pay for your living costs. Living costs include things like rent , food and energy bills.

A man sitting talking to someone behind a desk at a jobcentre

After you have applied for Universal Credit, you will need to go to a meeting at your local jobcentre.

A woman pointing to a picture of a house rather than a picture of an block of flats or offices

If you find it difficult to go to a meeting at the jobcentre because of your health condition or disability, you can change where you have the meeting.

A woman is phoning someone who is sitting at a desk

You might be able to have the meeting:

at a place that is easier for you to get to
on the phone

A man being interviewed, with somebody sat next to him to support him.

You can also say if you need to take someone with you to the meeting.

A man is asking questions to someone which start with Why?, What?, When? and How?

At the meeting, the staff from the jobcentre will ask you some questions to check if you can get Universal Credit.

A passport, ID badge and a driving licence

You might need to take some ID with you to the meeting.

An A4 notebook with 'Plan' written on the cover.

At the meeting, you will have to agree a plan before you get paid your Universal Credit money.

The plan is called your Claimant Commitment.

A man in a suit is pointing to a checklist which has green ticks on it

In the plan, you might have to agree what you will do to:

get ready for work
try to find a job
try to earn more money

You should only agree to do things that you can do.

Let the staff at the jobcentre know if there is anything in the plan which is too difficult for you to do and ask them to take it out.

A man showing crosses on a checklist next to an envelope with universal credit money in it. The money has a red cross over it

If you do not do everything you promise to do in your plan, you might not get your Universal Credit money, or you might get less Universal Credit money.