Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs if you are either out of work or working but on a low income. Find out who can claim and how to apply.

Other help and support

Details of other local and national services that might be able to help and support you can be found under our financial advice and support section of the website.

United Utilities - help with water bills for those on Universal Credit

If you are applying for Universal Credit, United Utilities can help with your water bill by delaying your water bill payments until your first Universal Credit payment arrives. They will also check if they can reduce your bill by switching you to one of their support tariffs.

Help available from the Department for Work and Pensions

You can find details of other help and support that the DWP can provide for people claiming Universal Credit on their website.

This includes:

  • Advance Payments – you will have to wait at least five or six weeks before you get your first Universal Credit payment.  You can ask for up to 100% of this to be paid in advance, but you will have to pay it back from your future Universal Credit payments. 
  • Hardship Payments – you can ask for a hardship payment if you’ve had a benefit sanction.
  • Alternative Payment Arrangements – depending on your circumstances, you can ask:-
  • For the money you get towards your rent to be paid directly to your landlord
  • To receive more frequent payments (instead of monthly)
  • To have the payment split between you and your partner (if you are claiming as a couple)

For any of these, contact your work coach at the job centre or call the Universal Credit Helpline at 0800 328 5644.  Support is available at any point in your claim.

Help with your Council Tax bill

You may be able to get help from Knowsley Council with your council tax bill when you claim Universal Credit. This is called Council Tax Reduction.

You should apply as soon as you claim Universal Credit, as claims cannot be backdated. If you already had Council Tax Reduction in place when you made your claim for Universal Credit, you will simply need to provide evidence of all your new income once your claim for Universal Credit has been made and processed. Go to the upload evidence icon located on our website homepage or use our Self-Service scan stations located within our libraries. 

You cannot register to manage your Council Tax online until you are registered for Council Tax at your address. You can also apply for a Council Tax Reduction.

You can upload your Universal Credit award decision from your online Universal Credit Journal. You will be told if you need to provide any further evidence.  

Help to build digital skills

Knowsley FACE, the council’s adult and community education service, can help residents develop digital skills.

Help with managing your money

Free sources of financial advice are available locally. More information is available on the Financial advice and support page.  

Many Registered Social Landlords, including Livv Housing and ForHousing offer money advice to their tenants. 

Support in a crisis

The council’s Emergency support scheme can provide food and/or fuel to residents in an emergency situation. Those who can get support from elsewhere, including from the Department for Work and Pensions, family and friends are expected to do so. Criteria apply.  

Help with housing costs

Discretionary Housing Payments offer short-term help to residents with a shortfall between their Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payments and their rent. 

This could help residents as they look for cheaper accommodation, sort out debts or negotiate a cheaper rent. Residents can apply online or more information can be found on the Discretionary Housing Payments page.

Help with housing issues

Housing Options provides help and advice on a range of housing issues, including homelessness, finding a property to rent and advice to help resolve housing difficulties. Contact info@knowsleyhousingoptions.org.uk or call 0800 694 0280.

Help with school meal costs

Any child who was eligible through legacy benefits (those replaced by Universal Credit, for example, Income Support) will keep their entitlement until Universal Credit has been fully rolled out.  Protections mean that this will continue from 2022 until the child reaches the end of their phase of education (for example, primary or secondary).

If you receive Universal Credit and have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400, you can claim Free Meals. This is a confidential service and also helps your child’s school access to additional pupil premium funding. You can apply by downloading a form from the school meals page. 

Chat with us