From three months
You can claim personal independence payment (PIP) if you need help getting around or with daily living activities because of a disability. You are eligible for this after three months if your disability is likely to last at least another nine months.
You can claim UC if you get PIP or disability living allowance (DLA) and have ‘limited capability for work’. Your claim for UC is likely to be refused outright if you do not already have limited capability for work. You can claim contributory ESA in order to establish that you have limited capability for work (although you do not have to get any ESA to qualify in this way). Once you are found to have limited capability for work for ESA (and you also get PIP or DLA), you are then eligible for UC.