In Scotland, if you make a claim for Universal Credit – you’ll be offered some choices about how it’s paid to you.
How Universal Credit is usually paid
Help to claim
If you’re claiming Universal Credit for the first time, Citizens Advice Scotland has a dedicated service to help you.
Call 0800 023 2581, via webchat on the Citizens Advice Scotland website or contact your local branch.
Universal Credit is usually paid as a single monthly payment. It might include a ‘housing costs’ element – a contribution towards your rent or mortgage.
You’re then responsible for paying your own rent or mortgage to your landlord or mortgage lender.
The choices for Universal Credit claims in Scotland
If you make a new or have an existing claim for Universal Credit, you’ll be offered two choices about how it’s paid.
You can choose between:
- being paid monthly, or
- being paid twice a month.
You’ll also be offered a choice between:
- having the housing costs element of Universal Credit paid to your bank account, or
- having the housing costs element paid directly to your landlord.
You can choose after you have had your first monthly Universal Credit payment.
Making a choice through your online Universal Credit account
If you qualify, you’ll be offered these choices through your online Universal Credit account.
You don’t have to make any changes. If you don’t make any changes, your payments will continue to be made monthly. The housing costs element will be paid into your bank account as part of your single monthly payment.
When the offer is made on your online account, you will have 60 days to decide what you want to do.
But you can still ask to make changes to the way your Universal Credit is paid at any time. To do this, you can use your online journal.
And you can change your mind at any time. For example, you can ask to go back to single monthly payments with your housing costs element paid directly to you.
In some cases, the Department for Work and Pensions might continue to pay you differently.
This only applies if your Universal Credit is being paid using an Alternative Payment Arrangement. You can ask your work coach if this applies to you.
Find out more on the mygov.scot website
Having trouble managing your online Universal Credit account?
Are you having trouble with using your online Universal Credit account? Then you can ask your work coach to help you change the way you’re paid.
You can speak to them in person at your local Jobcentre or over the phone.
The Universal Credit helpline
If you need help with your claim, call the Universal Credit helpline free on:
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (closed on bank and public holidays). Calls are free.
