Universal Credit and homeless people
Information about Universal Credit for homeless people, those at risk of homelessness and the organisations supporting them.
Updates to this page
- From:
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Published:
- 27 November 2018
- Last updated:
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10 June 2026
Show all updates
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Linked to new guidance on documents you need to verify your identity in person.
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Guide for supporting organisations, acceptable ID section: bank cards can no longer be used as primary identification documentary evidence, form B79 can no longer be used as secondary evidence.
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Removed references to Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance as these can no longer be claimed. Update to the section 'Housing, service charges and Council Tax' about Discretionary Housing Payments and the Crisis and Resilience Fund. A link has also been added to Scottish Welfare Fund in 'Claiming in Scotland (Scottish choices).
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Guidance for homeless people: added section on moving to Universal Credit if you receive a Migration Notice letter which will be sent to your correspondence address.
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Updated Welsh to reflect recent changes to English
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UC and homeless people: guide for supporting organisations. The Acceptable ID is changed for consistency with the prison leavers guidance acceptable ID list. Added: - an eVisa issued by UK Border Agency, the person is allowed to stay 'for 6 months or more'.
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Added link to sanctions page from all 4 html publications.
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Guidance for supporting organisations: an expired biometric residence permit (BRP) can no longer be accepted as evidence of identity. Removed expired BRPs as acceptable ID.
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Added that an expired BRP can be accepted as proof of ID.
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Added link to new Recoverable Hardship Payments guidance.
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Added that eVisas are an acceptable form of ID for Universal Credit.
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Updating Welsh html to match English
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Advice for homeless people publication: added links to about reporting a change of circumstances, and help with housing costs if renting from a private landlord. And added information on Universal Credit and Housing Benefit help with housing costs.
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Removed references to Post Office accounts, Verify and COVID-19 in both publications.
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Added Carer Support Payment (Scotland only) to the list of other benefits that someone may be able to claim.
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If you apply for a Universal Credit advance on or after 12 April 2021, the time you must usually pay back the advance has been extended from 12 to 24 months. The most that can normally be taken from your Universal Credit payment to repay a debt has changed from 30% to 25% of your Universal Credit Standard Allowance.
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Removed the wording 'You will not get a sanction if you cannot keep to your Claimant Commitment because of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.
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Updated appendix 1 – acceptable identity document list.
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Changed the maximum amount of repayment of a Universal Credit advance from 40% to 30% of the claimant's Universal Credit standard allowance.
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Updated guidance on applying for an advance. You can now apply for an advance through your online account, by asking your Jobcentre Plus work coach or by calling the Universal Credit helpline. You will now need to verify your identity at a jobcentre first. Clarified examples in the quick guide of claiming Universal Credit and what the work coach will do.
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Added information about Universal Credit and hostels and updated attachments.
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Updated attachments to include information about 'Help to Claim'.
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'Help to Claim' information added to the Universal Credit for homeless people attachments.
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Removed references to Universal Credit live service.
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Removed references to Universal Credit full service and live service.
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Added translation
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Documents
Details
Detailed information for homeless people and the organisations supporting them when making and managing a Universal Credit claim.
This also includes:
- how to report changes of circumstances
- support available
- the types of identification that can be used to make a Universal Credit claim