Agree your Universal Credit Commitment
Depending on your circumstances there are some things you will need to do to keep getting Universal Credit
Agree your Commitment
To get Universal Credit you need to agree your commitment through your online account. Your commitment sets out the things you need to do to prepare for work, look for work or increase your earnings (where appropriate).
You will regularly discuss and update your commitment with your work coach, and you will need to agree to the commitment each time to keep getting Universal Credit.
The actions set out in your commitment will depend on things like:
- your health
- your responsibilities at home
- how much help you need to start working or to increase your income
- any extra help you need to make or maintain your claim
Your work coach will contact you to discuss what activities you can do to help you move into employment and to offer support.
You will be given notice of your appointment on your journal. It is important that Universal Credit have this conversation with you as part of your application process.
If you claim Universal Credit as a couple, you will each have your own commitment. Your commitment may be affected if your partner starts work or their circumstances change.
Your Universal Credit payment may be reduced if you do not do the things you agreed in your commitment and you cannot give a good reason to explain why. This is known as a ‘Sanction’.
If you are sanctioned, you will be told how much of your Universal Credit payment you will lose and for how long.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to have an appointment at your local Jobs & Benefits office to discuss your commitment and make sure it meets your needs. You will need to accept your commitment through your online account every time it changes.
Your commitment will:
- take account of your circumstances including if you have a disability or medical condition or caring responsibilities
- set out what you need to do to prepare for work, look for work or increase your earnings
- be reviewed regularly with your work coach and updated if necessary
The things you need to do could include:
- going to interviews in your local Jobs & Benefits office
- preparing a CV
- going on a training course or employment programme
- applying for jobs
- registering with a recruitment agency
You must agree your commitment online every time it is changed. Messages to your online account will be answered as soon as possible during business hours. If you think that you will not be able to do any of the things set out in your commitment, speak to your work coach straight away.
If you claim Universal Credit as part of a couple, you will each have your own commitment. Your commitment may be affected if your partner starts work or their circumstances change. You will need to agree your commitment on your Universal Credit online account every time it is changed
You can see your latest commitment and update the details of things you have done using your online account.
You must tell your work coach about any changes in your circumstances to make sure you keep getting the right amount of Universal Credit.
Changes in your circumstances may also affect the things you need to do to keep getting Universal Credit. In some circumstances it may be possible to temporarily reduce or stop the activities you need to do.
If you have a health condition or disability
If you have a health condition or disability you may need to have a work capability assessment to check what you can and can’t do. This assessment will work out whether you:
- have a limited capability for work (currently too sick to work)
- have a limited capability for work and work-related activity (have a long-term health condition or disability)
- or are fit for work
Your work coach will talk to you about the actions you need to take to keep getting Universal Credit, based on your work capability assessment and your other circumstances.
If you move from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit and have already had a work capability assessment, the findings of that assessment will apply until a new work capability assessment is made.
If you are currently unable to work, your work coach will support you until your circumstances improve. During that time you may be expected to take actions to prepare for work.
If you become ill or disabled, let Universal Credit know through your Universal Credit online account.
| Your Circumstances | Actions |
|---|---|
|
You have limited capability for work (you are currently too sick to work) |
You will be expected to:
|
|
You have limited capability for work and work-related activity (you have a long-term health condition or disability) |
You will be expected to tell Universal Credit if your circumstances change |
If you are fit for work
You may be expected to spend up to 35 hours a week looking for, or preparing for, work (depending on your circumstances).
| Your Circumstances | Actions |
|---|---|
| You are fit for work |
You will be expected to:
|
You can find more information on applying for jobs, advice on careers and looking for work.
If you have children
Children affect the commitment and actions expected of the main carer. If you are claiming Universal Credit as a couple, you will be asked to choose which one of you is the main carer.
| Your Circumstances | Actions |
|---|---|
| You are fit for work and your youngest child is under one year |
You will be expected to:
|
| You are fit for work and your youngest child is one |
You will be expected to:
|
| You are fit for work and your youngest child is aged two |
You will be expected to:
|
| You are fit for work and your youngest child is aged three or four |
Depending on your circumstances you may be expected to:
If you are not able to spend up to 30 hours per week you should speak to your work coach who will agree an alternative. |
| You are fit for work and your youngest child is aged five to 12 |
Depending on your circumstances you may be expected to:
If you are not able to spend up to 30 hours per week you should speak to your work coach who will agree an alternative. |
| You are fit for work and your youngest child is aged 13 or over |
Depending on your circumstances you may be expected to:
If you are not able to spend up to 30 hours per week you should speak to your work coach who will agree an alternative. |
If you look after someone who is sick or disabled
If you care for someone who gets a sickness or disability benefit such as:
- Personal Independence Payment
- Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
what you are expected to do will depend on how many hours you spend looking after them.
If you look after someone for less than 35 hours a week, or the person you look after doesn’t receive sickness or disability benefits, you should speak to your work coach.
| Your Circumstances | Actions |
|---|---|
| You look after someone for 35 hours or more a week |
You will be expected to:
|
| You look after someone for less than 35 hours a week |
You will be expected to:
|
If you work for an employer
If you are working you may not have to go to interviews at your local Jobs & Benefits office. This will depend on your earnings.
The Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET)
The AET is an amount you can earn that affects what you’re asked to agree to do.
For individual claimants, the AET is £892 per assessment period.
If you’re in a couple, the combined couple’s AET is £1,437 per assessment period.
| Your Circumstances | Actions |
|---|---|
|
If you as an individual earn below the AET in an assessment period |
You must:
|
|
If you’re part of a couple whose individual earnings are below the individual AET, and whose combined earnings are below the couple’s AET |
Both of you must:
You will get regular support from your work coach including help with job search, interview skills and connecting with employers. |
|
If you earn the individual AET or more, or If you are in a couple and your combined earnings are equal to or higher than the couple’s AET |
You do not need to actively look for more or better paid work. You or your partner do not need to actively look for more or better paid work. |
Conditionality Earnings Threshold (CET)
The CET is an amount that’s based on the number of hours you can reasonably be expected to work or do work-related activities. It is based on your circumstances.
| Your Circumstances | Actions |
|---|---|
|
You work for an employer and earn a low amount |
You will be expected to:
|
|
You work for an employer and your earnings are over the conditionality earnings threshold (See note 1 below) |
You will be expected to: tell Universal Credit if your circumstances change. |
Note 1 – Conditionality Earnings Threshold
Your earnings are above the conditionality earnings threshold if:
- you are earning enough to not have to carry out any work-related activity, or
- if you are claiming as a couple, the total of your and your partner’s earnings are enough for you to not have to carry out any work-related activity
If you are self-employed
If you are self-employed your work-related requirements will depend on your circumstances.
| Your Circumstances | Actions |
|---|---|
|
You are self-employed, considered to be gainfully self-employed and in the start-up period
|
You will be expected to:
|
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You are self-employed, considered to be gainfully self-employed and the Minimum Income Floor applies (See notes 2 and 4 below) |
You will be expected to:
|
|
You are self-employed and not considered to be gainfully self-employed (See note 2 below) |
You will be expected to:
|
If you are the main carer with responsibility for looking after your youngest child aged 3-12, your expected hours of work-related activity are up to a maximum of 30 hours per week, depending on your circumstances.
If you are not able to spend up to 30 hours per week you should speak to your work coach who will agree an alternative.
If you were found to be gainfully self-employed before 31 January 2024, your expected hours of work related activity are at a lower maximum of 16 hours per week (for youngest child aged 3-4) or 25 hours per week (for youngest child aged 5-12).
Note 2 – Gainfully self-employed
At your self-employed interview, Universal Credit will decide if you are ‘gainfully self-employed’. You are gainfully self-employed if your self-employed work is your main employment, you take an income from it, and it is regular, organised, developed and expected to produce a profit.
Note 3 – Start-up period
If you're found to be gainfully self-employed, you'll be eligible for start up period of up to 12 months, when you can focus on growing your business while getting Universal Credit payments.
Note 4 - Minimum Income Floor
The minimum income floor is the amount of money an employed person in a similar situation to you would earn on the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage, after taking off tax and National Insurance.
You’ll find out what your minimum income floor is at your self-employed interview.
If you earn more than the minimum income floor, your Universal Credit payment will be calculated using your actual income.
If you earn less than the minimum income floor, your payment will be calculated using the minimum income floor. This will only be done if:
- your self-employed work is your main job or main source of income
and
- you are not in a start-up period
If you work for an employer and are also self-employed
If you work for an employer and are also self-employed you may not have to go to interviews with your work coach. This will depend on your earnings.