Other forms of help you could receive if you have lost your job or are struggling financially, including Universal Credit and Employment Support Allowance

Universal Credit (UC) and other forms of support for those who have less or no work

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland.

You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work. 

Other forms of support that are available for those who have less or no work because of Coronavirus and cannot benefit from the specific Coronavirus schemes noted above, are the following state benefits:

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if you’re under State Pension age, unemployed or usually work less than 16 hours a week, and have made enough National Insurance contributions, usually over the last 2 to 3 years - your savings and partner’s income will not affect how much you get​

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you’re under State Pension age, have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work, and have made enough National Insurance contributions, usually over the last 2 to 3 years - your savings and partner’s income will not affect how much you get.

Applications for Universal Credit are done online. To begin an application, click here. To make a new claim for ‘New Style’ ESA, you will also need to apply online. Click here for more information.

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-you-were-employed-and-have-lost-your-job

Payment and waiting times

Your Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that apply to you, for example if you:

  • have children
  • have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working
  • need help paying your rent
  • Standard allowance
  • Your circumstances monthly standard allowance if your assessment period ends before 6 October 2021 Monthly standard allowance if your assessment period ends on or after 6 October 2021
  • Single and under 25 £344 £257.33
  • Single and 25 or over £411.51 £324.84
  • In a couple and you’re both under 25 £490.60 (for you both) £403.93 (for you both)
  • In a couple and either of you are 25 or over £596.58 (for you both) £509.91 (for you both)

 

Waiting times 

The standard waiting time for UC is five weeks. Standard waiting time for ‘New Style’ ESA is thirteen weeks. You will normally be paid the ‘assessment rate’ for this period. This is a payment of up to £58.90/week for those under 25 and up to £74.35 for those 25 and over.

Sources:

Assessment appointments and further support

Applications for Universal Credit are done online. To begin an application, click here. To make a new claim for ‘New Style’ ESA, you will also need to apply online. Click here for more information

Further Support

For support making a new claim, you can contact Citizens Advice Help to Claim service. For more information click here if you are in England and Wales or here if you are in Scotland. 

For problems with an existing claim, you can speak with your work coach via your online journal, or you can call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Sources:

Support available for migrants with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

Temporary migrants with NRPF are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Coronavirus Self-employment Income Support Scheme. “New Style” Jobseekers Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, and “New Style” Employment Support Allowance do not count as public funds.

A list of benefits, schemes, discounts and entitlements that are not classed as ‘public funds’ and are available to regular migrants with a ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) condition attached to their leave to remain can be found here on the NRPF Network website.  

If you do not have leave to remain in the UK, please see the section entitled Help you could receive for food and other basic needs for other forms of support open to you.   

Turn2Us: Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. If you are a migrant to the UK, find out what help might be available to you. Turn2us is unable to offer advice on individual situations.

Sources:

 

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