If you can’t work because of sickness or disability you might have to claim Universal Credit. It’s important to know how to claim it, understand the work capability assessment and how Universal Credit affects other sickness and disability benefits.
What’s in this guide
- Can I claim Universal Credit if I’m sick or disabled?
- Claiming Universal Credit when you’re sick or disabled
- Work capability assessments
- Getting a decision from the DWP
- Can I claim Universal Credit if I’m working?
- How does Universal Credit affect PIP, ADP and DLA?
- Moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit
- Universal Credit if you have a sick or disabled child
Can I claim Universal Credit if I’m sick or disabled?
If you’re in Northern Ireland, find out more on nidirect about Work Capability AssessmentOpens in a new window
In Scotland, find out more in our guide Universal Credit if you live in Scotland.
If you can’t work – or you can only work limited hours – because of sickness or disability and need to claim benefits, you might be able to claim Universal Credit if you haven't made enough National Insurance Contributions to claim Employment and Support Allowance or it’s not enough to live on by itself.
You’ll be assessed to see how your disability or illness affects your ability to work.
You might also be able to claim additional elements of Universal Credit to help with other costs, such as housing costs, caring or bringing up children.
If you’re married, in a civil partnership or living with your partner, you’ll have to make a joint claim for Universal Credit.
Your Universal Credit claim will depend on your household income and savings. You won’t qualify if you have savings over £16,000.
Find out more in our guides:
Claiming Universal Credit when you’re sick or disabled
If you’re making a new claim for Universal Credit, use the online application to explain how your condition makes it hard for you to work or find work.
If you’re already getting Universal Credit, tell your work coach or add it to your online journal.
Get a fit note from your GP and add it to your claim/online account.
Find out more at Citizens Advice about getting a fit note for your Universal Credit claimOpens in a new window
In some cases, you won’t need to prove that you have limited capability for work. For example, if you have:
- any terminal illness
- some pregnancy-related conditions
- some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Otherwise, if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you’ll need to complete form WCA50.
Form WCA50
Citizens Advice Help to Claim service
If you’re claiming Universal Credit for the first time, Citizens Advice Help to Claim service is free and confidential. They can help you:
- check if you’re entitled to Universal Credit
- get your important paperwork and documents together to speed up your application
- fill out your application online.
England and Wales
At Citizens Advice get more advice about a Universal Credit applicationOpens in a new window
Or, in England, call 0800 144 8444Opens in a new window. In Wales, call 0800 024 1220Opens in a new window.
Scotland
Visit Citizens Advice Scotland or call 0800 023 2581Opens in a new window
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland Universal Credit works differently, visitOpens in a new window nidirect
If you need another copy of the form, you can download the UC50 work questionnaireOpens in a new window from GOV.UK
Work capability assessments
After you return your form, you might be asked to attend a work capability assessment.
The assessment will decide which of the following categories you’re in:
- you’re fit for work
- you have limited capability for work – which means that although you might be unable to look for work now, you might have to do some regular tasks to prepare for work
- you have limited capability for work and work-related activity – which means you won’t be asked to look for, or prepare for, work.
Find out more at Citzens Advice about the assessment and getting UC adviceOpens in a new window
Getting a decision from the DWP
Save the DWP number in your phone
The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) used to call from a withheld number, but now it will show on your incoming calls as 0800 023 2635Opens in a new window. It’s worth saving this number in your phone’s address book so you remember to answer the call.
After your assessment, the DWP will write to you with their decision. You won’t get any extra money while you’re waiting for the decision.
In the meantime, your work coach should take your condition into account when they tell you what you need to do to look for or prepare for work.
If you’re found fit for work
If you’re found fit for work, you’ll be expected to look for work or increase your earnings. You won’t get any extra money with your claim, unless you have children, rent your home or are a carer.
You can ask the DWP to reconsider their decision if you don’t agree.
Find out what to do if you think your benefits decision is wrong in our guide How to appeal a benefits decision
If you have limited capability for work
This means you won’t have to work. But you might need to do some work-related activities, such as writing a CV or going on training courses.
You won’t get any extra money with your claim (unless your claim is from before April 2017).
This means you won’t have to work or do anything to prepare for work. Unless your ESA or Universal Credit included the LCWRA or Support group element by 6 April 2026, or you claimed before that date and are waiting for a positive decision, you will get an extra £217.26 per month in 2026/27 and not the higher amount shown below.
If you have an existing LCWRA/Support Group award (pre 6 April 2026), or you are awarded LCWRA on UC for the period just before and since 6 April, you’ll get an extra £429.80 a month instead, as part of your Universal Credit payment. This will be known as the Health Element.
Can I claim Universal Credit if I’m working?
You can claim Universal Credit if you’re working.
When you’ve been assessed as having limited capability for work (explained above), you qualify for what’s known as the ‘work allowance’.
This means you can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit payments are affected.
Monthly work allowances for 2026/27 are:
- £427 if your Universal Credit includes housing support
- £710 if you don’t get housing support.
If you earn more than the work allowance, your Universal Credit payments will gradually reduce as your pay increases.
Your Universal Credit payment will go down by 55p for every £1 you earn above your work allowance.
How does Universal Credit affect PIP, ADP and DLA?
If you’re getting Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disabilty Payment (ADP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), it will continue to be paid along with your Universal Credit payment.
PIP has almost completely replaced the Disability Living Allowance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for working-age adults, and the Scottish Adult Disability Allowance has replaced the DLA in Scotland.
You get these benefits if your condition is severe enough for you to meet the criteria. They won’t affect the amount you get in Universal Credit.
Find out more about making a claim for PIP in our guide Personal Independence Payment – an introduction
Moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance has been replaced by Universal Credit. If you claimed income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you will have been moved to Universal Credit. If you get less money in total from Universal Credit than you got from ESA and Housing Benefit, you should ask through your journal whether you should be getting a transitional payment to bring you back up to the same level as before.
Use our Benefits calculator
If you’re living on a low income or have had an income shock, use our Benefits calculator to quickly find out what you could be entitled to.
If you were getting the Severe Disability Premium as part of your ESA
The Severe Disability Premium isn’t available under Universal Credit.
Instead, you'll get a transitional payment as part of your Universal Credit payment.
Universal Credit if you have a sick or disabled child
If your child is disabled or has a long-term health condition, you might be able to claim the disabled child element as part of your Universal Credit payment.
The rate of disabled child element you get will depend on the rate of DLA or the Scottish Child Disability Payment you receive for them.
If your child is 16 or over, their DLA or CDP will have become PIP or Adult Disability Payment. You would still get the disabled child element if the young person is still in non-advanced education and part of your claim.
You’ll get the higher rate (£514.71 a month in 2026/27) if your child:
- gets the DLA/CDP higher rate care component
- gets the PIP/ADP enhanced daily living component, or
- is registered blind.
You’ll get the lower rate (£164.79 a month in 2026/27) if your child is getting all other rates of DLA, CDP, PIP or ADP.
If you are caring for a disabled child, you may be due extra benefit for being a carer – see mygov.scot for Carer Support PaymentOpens in a new window and GOV.UK for Carer’s AllowanceOpens in a new window
