Universal Credit and your claimant commitment
How the Universal Credit claimant commitment works and what is expected of claimants in return for getting Universal Credit.
- From:
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Published
- 28 March 2013
- Last updated
-
3112OctoberFebruary20242025 — See all updates
Documents
Details
This guide explains howthat peopleif whoyou claim Universal Credit willyou’ll need to accept a claimant commitment before theyyou can receive theiryour benefit payments.payment.
It covers explains:
- what the claimant commitment is
and how it will help claimants to find work. It outlines
- the kinds of things that
claimantsyou will be required to do in return for receiving Universal Credit, anddepending showson howyour these depend upon each claimant’s individual circumstances.
The guide also highlights circumstances
- what will happen if
claimantsyou fail to do what theyyou’ve have accepted in theiryour claimant commitment.commitment
If a medical professional has said you have less than 12 months to live, you will not need a claimant commitment.
Details
This guide explains howthat peopleif whoyou claim Universal Credit willyou’ll need to accept a claimant commitment before theyyou can receive theiryour benefit payments.payment.
It covers explains:
- what the claimant commitment is
andhowitwillhelpclaimantstofindwork.Itoutlines - the kinds of things that
claimantsyou will be required to do in return for receiving Universal Credit,anddependingshowsonhowyourthesedependuponeachclaimant’scircumstances.Theguidealsohighlights - what will happen if
claimantsyou fail to do whattheyyou’vehavetheiryour claimantcommitment.commitment
If a medical professional has said you have less than 12 months to live, you will not need a claimant commitment.
Updates to this page
Last updated
-
Added a link to the new Universal Credit sanctions page.
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Added information about when your claimant commitment work-related activity can be reduced or removed.
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From 25 October 2023, if you are the lead carer of a child aged 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.
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Added a section about the impact of the age of your child, and a definition of a work coach.
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People near the end of their life who have been told by a medical professional that they might have less than 12 months to live, do not need to make a Claimant Commitment and they will not be sanctioned. This has changed from 6 months.
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Added call outs to explain a change to the rules for claiming Universal Credit that mean if a medical professional has said you have less than 6 months to live, you will not need a Claimant Commitment or face sanctions.
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Removed the wording 'You will not get a sanction if you cannot keep to your Claimant Commitment because of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.
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Updated to reflect change in higher level sanction length from 3 years to 6 months.
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Removed references to Universal Credit full service and live service.
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Updated to reflect changes to Universal Credit from April 2016 (English only, Welsh to follow).
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Revised version with new information about the roll-out of Universal Credit.
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Published November 2014 edition of the leaflet.
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Updated to include the latest information about the expansion of Universal Credit
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Detail updated to provide more information about what is in the document
-
First published.
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Update history
2026-04-29 10:38
Replaced the table on how the age of a claimant’s youngest child affects their responsibilities, with a link to where the information is already available. This is to reduce duplication. There has been no change in law or policy.
2025-02-12 16:51
Added a link to the new Universal Credit sanctions page.
2024-10-31 16:45
Added information about when your claimant commitment work-related activity can be reduced or removed.
2023-10-25 00:01
From 25 October 2023, if you are the lead carer of a child aged 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.
2023-01-09 17:51
Added a section about the impact of the age of your child, and a definition of a work coach.
2022-04-04 00:15
People near the end of their life who have been told by a medical professional that they might have less than 12 months to live, do not need to make a Claimant Commitment and they will not be sanctioned. This has changed from 6 months.