Universal Credit: Help to Claim

Universal Credit works differently from other benefits – so if you’re moving from another benefit, it is important to know the differences. 

The biggest differences are:

  • you can get Universal Credit if you are unemployed, but also if you are working
  • you’ll get a single payment each month, rather than weekly or fortnightly
  • instead of getting a seperate housing benefit payment, your housing costs will be paid directly to you as part of your monthly Universal Credit payment
  • the benefit is claimed and managed online. You will need an email account and access to the internet to make and maintain your claim. 

Whether you should apply for Universal Credit, will depend on your circumstances – check if you can apply by calling our Help to Claim service. 

Help to Claim is a dedicated service from Citizens Advice. It is free, independent, confidential and impartial. Our trained advisers can help with things like how to gather evidence for your application or how to prepare for your work coach appointment. 

You can contact an adviser through our free national Help to Claim phone service on 0800 144 8444 (Help to Claim enquiries only. Callers enquiring about any other issue, will be advised to call us on Adviceline on 0808 278 7804

Online, self-help advice:

For online advice about Universal Credit, click here to visit the Citizens Advice website.

Speak to an adviser via Webchat:

Click here to access support via the webchat service. 

Please note our services will be reduced across Bury & Bolton from 1pm Monday 23rd December 2024 and will resume as normal on Thursday 2nd January 2025. See below ways we can support you during this period:

We will be actioning online referrals on 24th, 27th, 30th and 31st December

This service will be available 6pm to 9pm on: 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th December 2024

Emergency contact details for local authorities are:

Bury – https://www.bury.gov.uk/emergencies/emergency-contact-numbers

Bolton – https://www.bolton.gov.uk/council/emergency-contacts

Call our Help Through Hardship line on 0808 208 2138, this line is open 9am-5pm on 24th, 27th, 30th, 31st December

Additional resources for 24/7 self-help advice are also available on

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

The National Domestic Abuse helpline is open 24 hours a day and can be contacted on 0808 2000 247. If you’re in an emergency situation you should call 999

National Debt Line Debt helpline: 0800 240 4420

Relay UK – if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 240 4420

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

This time of year can be hard. But there’s support available if you need it.

The Samaritans is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be contacted on 116 123 or by email.

Switchboard is a helpline for LGBT+ people and is open 10am until 10pm everyday. You can call them on 0800 0119 100 or use their online chat.

Shout 85258 is a 24 hours a day text service which offers mental health support. You can contact them by texting SHOUT to 85258.

The Silver Line — a helpline for older people ran by Age UK. Call 0800 4 70 80 90 24hrs a day

NSPCC Helpline — if you’re worried about a child. Call 0808 800 5000 (Mon-Fri 10am-8pm)

Power cut 105 — if you have a power cut Call 105 24hrs a day

National Gambling Helpline Call 0808 8020 133 24 hours a day

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