21. Universal credit
Universal credit (UC) is a means-tested benefit which is being introduced across the UK.
UC replaces the following benefits and tax credits (often called ‘legacy benefits’):
•income support (IS); and
•income-based jobseekers’ allowance (JSA); and
•income-related employment and support allowance (ESA); and
•child tax credit; and
•working tax credit; and
•housing benefit (HB), for most claimants.
For most people, if you have to make a new benefit claim and you would previously have claimed one of the legacy benefits, you will have to claim UC instead. If you are already on a legacy benefit and you have a change of circumstances which means you have to make a new claim, you will probably have to claim UC. Eventually, people who are on legacy benefits will be transfered to UC.
The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the administration of UC.