Universal Credit if you have a disability or health condition
The support that is available for Universal Credit claimants who have a disability or health condition.
Documents
Details
This guide provides information on the support and financial help that is available for Universal Credit claimants who have a disability or health condition.
It explains how Universal Credit simplifies the claim process and gives an overview of the changes that Universal Credit brings.
It also covers Work Capability Assessments and how these relate to the Universal Credit Claimant Commitment, as well as how what is expected of a claimant will depend on their personal situation.
There’s also information on how Universal Credit supports claimants who are able to work or prepare for work, or may be able to in the future.
Read more about Universal Credit.
Last updated
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Updated the special rules for end of life content to reflect the change in legislation from 6 months to 12 months for Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
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Updated guidance on help you can get to make a claim for Universal Credit. Updated guidance on when you are treated as terminally ill and what you need to do. This has changed to when a medical professional has said you might have less than 12 months to live. It used to be less than 6 months.
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Added call outs to explain a change to the rules for claiming Universal Credit that mean if a medical professional has said you have less than 6 months to live, you will not need a Claimant Commitment or face sanctions.
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From 27 January 2022 you will need to provide medical evidence about your health condition from the eighth day of your claim.
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Added a message about not having to provide fit notes (sick notes) until 27 January 2022 to give GPs more time to work on the coronavirus vaccination boosters.
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Updated the Universal Credit taper rate to 55%.
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Removed the wording 'You will not get a sanction if you cannot keep to your Claimant Commitment because of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.
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Added information about the help to claim service.
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Removed Universal Credit live service telephone details as no longer relevant.
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Updated to show that Universal Credit is now available everywhere in Great Britain.
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Universal Credit live service telephone helpline opening hours changed to 9am to 4pm.
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Content revised to clarify entitlement and conditions for getting Universal Credit.
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Updated guide with new 0800 freephone numbers for Universal Credit.
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Work Capability Assessments and additional payments content revised. Welsh version removed until updated version is available.
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Published revised version (May 2016) - updated to provide the latest information about Universal Credit.
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Updated to reflect changes to Universal Credit from April 2016.
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Revised version with new information about the roll-out of Universal Credit.
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Updated to include the latest information about the expansion of Universal Credit
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Detail updated to include more information about the content of the document.
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First published.
Update history
2025-01-28 13:02
Updating to match recent changes to English guide
2025-01-27 13:46
Added link to new page on ‘Claiming Universal Credit if you’re nearing the end of life’.
2024-09-20 07:49
Removed contact details for the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments as the provider of your health assessment is now based on your postcode. Included a link to find your health assessment provider.
2024-08-30 13:36
Added confirmation that you do not need to submit a fit note if you’re moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit without a break, if you meet the listed criteria.
2024-03-18 15:06
Removed “If you’re entitled to free prescriptions through Universal Credit, you must tick the income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance box on the back of your prescription”. This is because there is now a Universal Credit checkbox on the back of prescriptions.
2024-03-14 15:39
Added that if you are entitled to either the limited capability for work (LCW) payment or the limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) payment, and the carer’s amount, you will not receive both amounts. Instead you will receive the larger of those 2 amounts.
2024-03-11 12:12
Removed information that was duplicated, and instead linked to:www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-creditAdded that you usually need to wait 3 assessment periods before getting the limited capability for work and related activity (LCWRA) amount.
2023-04-03 00:15
Updated the special rules for end of life content to reflect the change in legislation from 6 months to 12 months for Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
2022-04-04 00:15
Updated guidance on help you can get to make a claim for Universal Credit. Updated guidance on when you are treated as terminally ill and what you need to do. This has changed to when a medical professional has said you might have less than 12 months to live. It used to be less than 6 months.