The Universal Credit Jobcentre meeting
The Universal Credit Jobcentre meeting

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.

The money is to help to pay for your living costs. Living costs include things like
rent
Rent is the money that you pay to live in your home when you have a
tenancy agreement
A Tenancy agreement is where the person renting a house, and the person who owns the house, agree on things like how much rent to pay, who will mend things like the cooker if they go wrong, and whether you are allowed pets.
. Your home belongs to a
landlord
A landlord is the owner of a property which they rent out to tenants. They can be a
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
, a housing association, or an individual person.
, but you have a right to live there as long as you follow the rules that are in your tenancy agreement.
, food and energy bills.

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

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.

You might be able to have the meeting:
- at a place that is easier for you to get to
- on the phone

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.