Guidance

Universal Credit and your claimant commitment

Updated 31 October 2024

Your claimant commitment

When you claim Universal Credit you will need to accept your claimant commitment.

Your claimant commitment will set out what you have agreed to do to prepare for and look for work, or to increase your earnings if you are already working. It will be based on your personal circumstances and will be reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. Each time it is updated, you will need to accept a new claimant commitment to keep receiving Universal Credit.

The claimant commitment is your record of the responsibilities that you have accepted in return for receiving Universal Credit, and the consequences of not meeting them.

You can view your latest claimant commitment online. You will also be able to update your progress on your goals using that account.

If you live with a partner

If you live with a partner, you both need to claim Universal Credit. Both of you will need to accept a claimant commitment.

Tailored to your situation

Universal Credit changes as things change in your life. Your responsibilities in your claimant commitment will vary depending on such things as your family, your health and your potential for future earnings.

If you are able and available for work you will need to do everything you reasonably can to give yourself the best chance of finding work. Preparing for and getting a job must be your full time focus.

If you do not do this without a good reason, your Universal Credit payments might be reduced. This is known as a sanction.

When your work-related activities may be reduced 

Your work-related activities may be reduced in the following situations: 

• you have been a victim of domestic violence or abuse 
• you’re supporting a child who has seen or experienced violence or abuse, including domestic violence 
• you’re a care leaver in full-time non-advanced education – find out more about Universal Credit and students 
• you go abroad to receive medical treatment, recover from medical treatment or to accompany a child or partner – find out more about claiming Universal Credit when you travel abroad 
• you’re homeless or at risk of homelessness 
• you’re assessed as having ‘limited capability for work’ after you have a work capability assessment. You will be expected to prepare for work so far as you are able
• after the death of your partner, child or young person who you were responsible for. Your work-related activites may be reduced for up to 6 months 
• you’re supporting a child whose parent, sibling or lead carer has died. Your work-related activities may be reduced for up to one month in every 6 months, for up to 2 years 
• you’re being treated for drug or alcohol dependency. Your work-related activities may be reduced for up to 6 months 
• you’re sick for up to 14 days – find out more about reporting your health condition or disability 
• you’re in witness protection (under protection while involved in a criminal investigation or proceeding) – your work-related activities may be reduced for up to 3 months 
• you’ve had a domestic emergency, like a funeral or a fire 
• you need temporary childcare 

When your work-related activities will be removed 

Your work-related requirements will be removed if: 

• a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live - find out more about Universal Credit if you might have 12 months of less to live 
• you’re assessed as limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) after you have a work capability assessment   
• you’re earning as much as can be expected

Caring for at least 35 hours a week for someone who gets a health or disability related benefit 

You will not need to do any work-related activities if you are caring for at least 35 hours a week for someone getting: 

• Attendance Allowance 
• Constant Attendance Allowance 
• Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate) 
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component 
• the Armed Forces Independence Payment 

Carrying out a public duty 

You will not need to do any work-related activities if you are doing the following roles: 

• volunteer firefighter, lifeboat crew member or coastguard 
• councillor (someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council) 
• special constable 
• United Kingdom Reserve Forces, including Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Auxiliary Air Force and Special Forces reserves 
• jury service 
• public or independent inquiry core participant 
• attending court or a tribunal as a participant or witness 
• attending a residential camp as part of an Open University course 

Report a change of circumstances 

If any of these situations apply to you, you must report a change of circumstances in your Universal Credit account.

If you have children

If you make a Universal Credit claim and have children you will need to nominate a main carer.

If you’re a single parent or the main carer, your responsibilities will change as your youngest child gets older and will be tailored to your personal circumstances.

Age of your youngest child	Your responsibilities
Under 1	You will not be expected to look for work.
Age 1	You will not be expected to look for work. The only work-related activity you will be expected to do is to have regular appointments to discuss a future move into work.
Age 2	You will not be expected to look for work. The work-related activities you will be expected to do are having regular appointments with Universal Credit and work preparation activities, such as writing your CV.
Age between 3 and 12	You will be expected to work up to 30 hours a week, or spend up to 30 hours a week on work-related activities such as applying for jobs.
Age 13 or over	You will be expected to work up to 35 hours a week, or spend up to 35 hours a week on work-related activities such as applying for jobs.

Support from your work coach

If you need to look for work, you will get help from a ‘work coach’. Your work coach can help with things like writing a CV, accessing training and looking for work in your area.

They will focus on mentoring and coaching you, to help you meet the requirements recorded in your claimant commitment.

If you are able to look or prepare for work, your claimant commitment will include things like your job goals, regular work search activity, or any work preparation actions that you must complete to receive Universal Credit.

These will be in the ‘work plan’ section in your online account. Work search activity could involve registering with ‘Find a job’ or a recruitment agency, or applying for suggested vacancies.

Work preparation activity could include preparing a CV or attending and completing a training course. You could also be expected to attend regular appointments to discuss your progress. You should think of jobseeking as a full-time job.

You will be expected to look or prepare for work for 35 hours a week, depending on your circumstances.

If you do not do what is in your claimant commitment

Your commitments will clearly state what will happen if you fail to meet each of your responsibilities. You may receive a reduction in your benefit, known as a sanction, if you fail to meet one of your responsibilities and cannot give a good reason to explain why.

How long sanctions last depends on what you failed to do and how many times you failed to meet your responsibilities, without good reason.

If a medical professional has said you might have less than 12 months to live, you will not face sanctions.