Guidance and regulation

If you don’t have enough to live on while you wait for your first payment you may be able to get an advance of your first Universal Credit payment.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 20 October 2022

You may be able to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance with, or instead of Universal Credit, depending on your National Insurance record.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 11 November 2022

Factsheet explaining what Discretionary Housing Payments are, who can claim them and how to apply.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 14 April 2022

• Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment

  Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) provide financial support to help…

This guide explains what the fit note is and how you can use it to have a work and health discussion.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 6 October 2023

Guidance for health professionals carrying out PIP assessment activity and for those responsible for the quality of PIP assessments.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 3 April 2023

This document gives an introduction to Universal Credit for people who are claiming it.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 8 April 2024

These easy read guides explain how you can get help from Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and how to claim it.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 3 April 2023

How Universal Credit works if you are self-employed and how to report your self-employed income and expenses to Universal Credit every month.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 9 April 2024

This guidance explains actions required if you are given a fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work) by an employee.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 6 October 2023

The support that is available for Universal Credit claimants who have a disability or health condition.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 18 March 2024

This guidance helps healthcare professions make the best use of the fit note to support patients.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 6 October 2023

Information for GPs and patients on how we collect and publish data about fit notes issued in England.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 12 October 2018

Use this collection of materials to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 7 May 2024

This factsheet provides extra information about Pension Credit.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 22 August 2019

If you're on a low income or out of work, Universal Credit supports you to find a job or increase the hours you work.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 8 March 2019

This guidance is for healthcare professionals who undertake Work Capability Assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 19 October 2023

Employers' guide to Access to Work: money to help disabled people do their jobs.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 13 June 2023

An overview of how people who are claiming tax credits might be affected by Universal Credit.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 27 June 2023

This information is for local authority staff who process claims and administer Housing Benefit, including Local Housing Allowance.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 17 October 2013

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit guidance: Part A

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 1 November 2009