Universal Credit Pathfinder Eligibility

The criteria for claiming Universal Credit during the Pathfinder is as follows:

1. Where you live - Pathfinder only covers certain geographical areas. Claimants living outside of the following post code areas cannot claim Universal Credit.
   • OL6
   • OL7
   • M43
   • SK16
2. Personal Circumstances - To claim Universal Credit the claimant must
   • be single
   • be a GB national and normally resident in GB
   • have a valid NINO (excludes temporary NINOs)
   • be between 18 years old and 1 year from State Pension Credit age
   • have a bank or building society account or Post Office Card Account
   • not be homeless or in supported accommodation
   • not own their own home (including part ownership)
   • not have more than £6000 in Savings and Capital
   • not be pregnant;
   • not have given birth within the last 15 weeks
   • not have responsibility for children (including adopting or fostering a child) or provide care for any other person
   • not be required by the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission (CMEC) to pay child maintenance
   • not have a fit note (unless Work Capability Assessment [WCA] confirmed found fit for work)
   • not be in a period of self-certification awaiting a fit note
   • not be making the claim through a Personal Acting Body (PAB)/Corporate Acting Body (CAB)
3. Current Benefit Status - A claim to Universal Credit cannot be made if the claimant is entitled to or waiting to hear about a claim to or is waiting to hear about an Appeal or Reconsideration for any of the following benefits:
   • Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)*
   • Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
   • Income Support (IS)
   • Incapacity Benefit (IB)
   • Working Tax Credit (WTC)
   • Child Tax Credit (CTC)
   • Housing Benefit (HB)

* For JSA only, the claimant must also have left old style JSA more than two weeks ago to claim Universal Credit during Pathfinder.

Disability Benefits - To claim Universal Credit the claimant must not be entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Carers Allowance (CA).

Claim Universal Credit online at www.gov.uk/universalcredit