Universal credit

[Cupcakes12]

Hi everyone
Can someone kindly explain universal credit please?
I am currently on Jobseeker's Allowance

Universal credit replaces the six main income related benefits - income support, income related ESA, income related JSA, working and child tax credits and housing benefit. On Uc you are entitled to various elements depending on your situation - so a personal element for yourself or couples element if you are part of a couple, child element ( s) if you have kids, rent element if you rent, child disability element if you have a disabled child etc. Those elements all added together make your total UC. If you work and have wages then this amount is reduced on a taper for each pound you earn. if you don't have earnings then you get the full amount with no deductions. You have work conditionality agreements with your work coach so in return for getting Uc then you agree to work search for a certain number of hours each week.

Is the money the same?

No not necessarily, some people get more, some people get less

Oh ok
What does the amount depend on if your don't mind telling me?

It depends on your age, your kids ages, your rent and if you private rent then it depends what the local housing allowance is for your area. It also depends whether anyone in the household has limited capability for work or whether there are disabled children, whether anyone is a carer, and what wages are coming into the household.