Young People and Benefits - Young people in work

If you are a young person and working, you might be able to claim Universal Credit if: 

• The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has decided you have limited capability for work, and you are earning less than £793.17 per month, or the DWP has decided you have limited capability for work and you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Child Disability Payment Scotland, Adult Disability Payment Scotland or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
• You are earning less than £793.17 per month (or are earning any amount and get PIP, Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment or DLA) and have a sick note saying you are not fit for work.
• You are receiving Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment (Scotland), or you would be entitled to Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment (Scotland) but your earnings are too high, or
• You or your partner are responsible for a child
• You are pregnant and within 11 weeks of your due date, or you had a baby within the last 15 weeks
• You are an orphan and have no one acting for you in place of your parents
• You have left local authority care and live away from your parents or any person acting in their place (but see the special rules for care leavers)
• You have to live away from your parents and any person acting in their place and either:
  • you are estranged from them or would be in danger if you lived with them
  • they cannot support you because they are in prison or unable to come to the UK
  • they are sick or have disabilities.

If you live in Scotland and are aged 16 to 24 you could be eligible for a Job Start Payment. This is a one-off payment to help young people and care leavers move back into work. For more information, read our Job Start Payment guide.