Guidance

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.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
28 March 2013
Last updated
311 AprilMarch 20232024 — See all updates

Documents

Universal Credit: Health conditions and disability guide

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Details

This guide provides information on the support and financial help thatthat’s is available for Universalpeople Credit claimants who have a disability or health condition.

Itcondition explains how Universal Credit simplifies the claim process and giveswho anare overviewclaiming of the changes that Universal Credit brings.Credit.

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.commitment.

There’s also information on how Universal Credit supports claimantsyou whoif areyou’re able to work or work, prepare for work, or may be able to in the future.

Read more about Universal Credit.

Published 28 March 2013
Last updated 311 AprilMarch 20232024 + show all updates

  1. Removed information that was duplicated, and instead linked to: www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit Added that you usually need to wait 3 assessment periods before getting the limited capability for work and related activity (LCWRA) amount.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. From 27 January 2022 you will need to provide medical evidence about your health condition from the eighth day of your claim.

  6. 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.

  7. Updated the Universal Credit taper rate to 55%.

  8. Removed the wording 'You will not get a sanction if you cannot keep to your Claimant Commitment because of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.

  9. Added information about the help to claim service.

  10. Removed Universal Credit live service telephone details as no longer relevant.

  11. Updated to show that Universal Credit is now available everywhere in Great Britain.

  12. Universal Credit live service telephone helpline opening hours changed to 9am to 4pm.

  13. Content revised to clarify entitlement and conditions for getting Universal Credit.

  14. Updated guide with new 0800 freephone numbers for Universal Credit.

  15. Work Capability Assessments and additional payments content revised. Welsh version removed until updated version is available.

  16. Published revised version (May 2016) - updated to provide the latest information about Universal Credit.

  17. Updated to reflect changes to Universal Credit from April 2016.

  18. Revised version with new information about the roll-out of Universal Credit.

  19. Updated to include the latest information about the expansion of Universal Credit

  20. Detail updated to include more information about the content of the document.

  21. First published.