Universal Credit support in Newcastle

Help with a better off comparison and more specialist support

Help with your online UC claim

Help with managing your UC claim

Further advice and support you may need when you claim UC

Help with how to use computers and the internet

Help with a better off comparison and more specialist support

Those on 'legacy benefits' need to know now if they will be better off or worse off on Universal Credit. But note there is no choice for those who have received a 'migration notice' from the government. See our move to Universal Credit page for more details

Self-help calculators help you compare your legacy benefits with Universal Credit but that is only a financial comparison

The following services can help you decide if you would be better-off or worse-off on UC by carrying out a better off calculation and advising on the implications of a move to Universal Credit. Some of them may be able to also help you to challenge a Universal Credit decision.

(their full details are in the Where to Get Advice in Newcastle document on the benefits advice services page):

Welfare Right Service

Phone 0191 277 2627 (09.30 - 12) and see their drop-in sessions on the benefits advice services page (in the Where to Get Advice document)

Help to Claim by Citizens Advice

Phone 0800 144 8 444 (8am - 6pm)

Citizens Advice Newcastle

Phone 0808 278 7823, Drop in at the City Library (Monday - Friday 10am - 12pm)

Online form

Citizens Advice Newcastle Website

Caring Hands Charity

Phone 0191 261 5234 or email:contact@caringhandscharity.org.uk

The Welfare Benefits Advice service is available to people who live in Ouseburn Ward and South Heaton Ward of Newcastle upon Tyne

Age UK Gateshead in Newcastle

Phone 0191 4773559 or email: advice@ageukgateshead.org.uk

For people aged 50 and over

Karbon Homes

Email:moneymatters@karbonhomes.co.uk

For Karbon Homes tenants. Website: Karbon Homes

North East Law Centre

Phone 0191 230 4777 or email: reception@nelawcentre.co.uk

Turn2us

Phone 0808 802 2000 (9-5.30pm) or visit the webpage

Your Homes Newcastle (YHN)

Phone 0191 278 8600 or email yhn@yhn.rog.uk

Completing an online form

For YHN tenants. Website:  Your Homes Newcastle

Byker Community Trust (BCT)

Phone 0800 533 5442, email welfare@bykerct.co.uk or visit the BCT reception (Monday-Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4:30pm)

For BCT tenants

Home Group

Phone 0345 141 4663, or go to https://www.homegroup.org.uk/get-in-touch/ (e.g. live chat and online contact form),  or email: contactus@homegroup.org.uk

For Home Group tenants only

Disability North

Phone 0191 2840480 or email reception@disabilitynorth.org.uk

The Hub Welfare Rights and Advice service

Phone 07547 393 191, email hubprojectadvice@gmail.com or drop in every Tuesday from 3.30 - 5.30 at Westgate Baptist Church, 366 West Road, NE4 6NX

This service is only for asylum seekers, refugees, and other migrants

Website: The Hub Welfare Rights and Advice service

Help with your online UC claim

Universal Credit claims should be made online on the Government’s website: Universal Credit: How to claim - GOV.UK or 

Universal Credit if you receive a Migration Notice letter - GOV.UK

Information you will need to make a claim

You’ll also need this information for other people you live with. Without this information, you may not get a payment. Some of it can be discussed in your interview which is set up a few days after your claim:

• Your email address and phone number (to start your account)
• Your postcode
• Your National Insurance number (if you have one) and your nationality
• Your rent agreement (if you have one) or mortgage details
• Details of your savings or other capital
• Details about your work and earnings
• Details of any income that is not from work, e.g. from an insurance plan
• Details of any other benefits you are getting
• Details of any education or training
• Details of your children, including their Child Benefit numbers
• Information about the health or disabilities of you or family members (this may increase your Universal Credit)
• Details of the bank, building society or credit union account you want Universal Credit to be paid into (including account name, sort code and account number)

Verifying your identity

When you claim UC, you will be asked to verify your identity. You can do this online  the Government Gateway. If you can’t do this, phone the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

If you can’t access the above or need support to complete the online Universal Credit claim, here are some services that may be able to help:

Universal Credit Helplines and webpage

Phone the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644

This government website page is for those who have accessibility needs and need support with:

• using the phone (advice on Relay UK, textphone, Video Relay Service for deaf people who use British Sign Language and alternatives to the phone, including home visits)
• using a computer
• reading letters or filling in forms
• attending face-to-face meetings
• managing your own affairs 

Those who have received a 'migration notice' letter inviting them to claim Universal Credit can also ring the dedicated 'migration notice' helpline on 0800 169 0238. See our move to Universal Credit webpage for more details on the migration notice.

Citizens Advice's 'Help to Claim' service

Citizens Advice's 'Help to Claim' service can assist you in making a claim.

It is available between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

• Phone free: 0800 144 8 444
• Relay UK if you can't hear or speak on the phone: 18001 then 0800 144 4 444
• British Sign Language (BSL)
• Webchat advice

Ask for a translator if you need to get advice in a different language.

Professionals can refer someone to Help to Claim via this form

Details: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim  

Help at the Jobcentre

Jobcentres have computers and Wi-Fi access which you can use to make a claim.

You can get face to face help to make claims and maintain your claim from the two Jobcentre Plus offices in Newcastle:

Newcastle City                                      Newcastle East
1 Cathedral Square                              Coquet House
Mosley Street                                         Clifford Street
Newcastle upon Tyne                         Byker
NE1 1EE                                                     Newcastle upon Tyne
                                                                         NE6 1PH

Home visits by the DWP

In limited circumstances, the DWP may agree to visit you in your home. The details are on this government webpage Support visits if you need help to claim benefits

More detail on home visits and vulnerable and complex needs from papers deposited in the House of Commons library:

Home visits: https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2022-0860/071._Home_visits_V12.0.pdf

Complex needs: https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2022-0860/039._Complex_needs_overview_V18.0.pdf

Links to these and more on Rightsnet.  About Deposited Papers - UK Parliament 

For Your Homes Newcastle tenants  

YHN’s Financial Inclusion Officers or Support and Progression Workers can help you claim UC.  Get in touch by completing a form or calling 0191 278 8600. More details can be found on www.yhn.org.uk/services-customers/money-advice

Newcastle City Council UC claim support

We provide a face-to-face service to support residents to make Universal Credit claims online and those who already have claims but need help to manage their online Universal Credit accounts.

Existing Universal Credit claimants need to have their login details to access their accounts.   

To access this support call 07970 632 851 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm).

Appointments are held across the city on the days and times below. Please call in advance to arrange an appointment. Please note that our advisor is unable to offer benefit advice.  More details.

Newcastle City Council's Welfare Right Service

Phone 0191 277 2627 (09.30 - 12) and see their drop-in sessions on the benefits advice services page (in the Where to Get Advice document)

Caring Hands Charity

Phone 0191 261 5234 or email:contact@caringhandscharity.org.uk

The Welfare Benefits Advice service is available to people who live in Ouseburn Ward and South Heaton Ward of Newcastle upon Tyne

Byker Community Trust (BCT)

Phone 0800 533 5442, email: welfare@bykerct.co.uk or visit the BCT reception (Monday-Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4:30pm)

Must be a BCT tenant

Home Group

Phone 0345 141 4663, or go to https://www.homegroup.org.uk/get-in-touch/ (e.g. live chat and online contact form),  or email: contactus@homegroup.org.uk

For Home Group tenants only

Disability North

Phone 0191 2840480 or email: reception@disabilitynorth.org.uk

The Hub Welfare Rights and Advice service

Phone 07547 393 191, email hubprojectadvice@gmail.com or drop in every Tuesday from 3.30 - 5.30 at Westgate Baptist Church, 366 West Road NE4 6NX

This service is only for asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants

North of England Refugee Service

Phone 0191 2457301 or email: newcastle@refugee.org.uk

The service provides information, confidential advice and support on matters relating to asylum seekers and refugees

Search

Phone 0191 273 7443 or email info@searchnewcastle.org.uk

For people 50+ in and live in West End of Newcastle

Streetwise

Phone 0191 2305533 or email admin@streetwisenorth.org.uk

Advice and support around debt, money management and benefits for young people aged 18 – 25 years who live, work or access education/training within the Newcastle area.

More details on how to claim on www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/making-a-claim/how-to-claim/

Help with managing your UC claim

The below services are able to provide longer term support to help you manage your UC claim.

Newcastle City Council UC claim support

We provide a face-to-face service to support residents to make Universal Credit claims online and those who already have claims but need help to manage their online Universal Credit accounts.

Existing Universal Credit claimants need to have their login details to access their accounts.   

To access this support call 07970 632 851 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm).

Appointments are held across the city on the days and times below. Please call in advance to arrange an appointment.

Please note that our advisor is unable to offer benefit advice. 

Journal Support

Drop-in sessions for those who already have a Universal Credit Account

East End Library (Shields Rd), Wednesdays 10am until 12pm - from 1st November 2023

Provided by Get Online Newcastle

Newcastle City Council's Welfare Right Service

Phone 0191 277 2627 (09.30 - 12) and see their drop-in sessions on the benefits advice services page (in the Where to Get Advice document)

Newcastle City Council’s Private Rented Service

Phone 0191 277 1438 (9am and 12) or email privaterentedservice@newcastle.gov.uk,

This service is for private rented tenants who live in Newcastle.  More information can be found at https://www.privaterentedservice.co.uk/

Your Homes Newcastle tenants

YHN’s Financial Inclusion Officers or Support and Progression Workers can help you claim UC.  Get in touch by completing a form or calling 0191 278 8600. More details can be found on www.yhn.org.uk/services-customers/money-advice

Caring Hands Charity

Phone 0191 261 5234 or email:contact@caringhandscharity.org.uk

The Welfare Benefits Advice service is available to people who live in Ouseburn Ward and South Heaton Ward of Newcastle upon Tyne

Byker Community Trust (BCT)

Phone 0800 533 5442, email: welfare@bykerct.co.uk or visit the BCT reception (Monday-Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4:30pm)

Must be a BCT tenant

Home Group

Phone 0345 141 4663, or go to https://www.homegroup.org.uk/get-in-touch/ (e.g. live chat and online contact form),  or email: contactus@homegroup.org.uk

For Home Group tenants only

Disability North

Phone 0191 2840480 or email: reception@disabilitynorth.org.uk

The Hub Welfare Rights and Advice service

Phone 07547 393 191, email hubprojectadvice@gmail.com or drop in every Tuesday from 3.30 - 5.30 at Westgate Baptist Church, 366 West Road NE4 6NX

This service is only for asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants

North of England Refugee Service

Phone 0191 2457301 or email: newcastle@refugee.org.uk

The service provides information, confidential advice and support on matters relating to asylum seekers and refugees

Search

Phone 0191 273 7443 or email info@searchnewcastle.org.uk

For people 50+ in and live in West End of Newcastle

Streetwise

Phone 0191 2305533 or email admin@streetwisenorth.org.uk

Advice and support around debt, money management and benefits for young people aged 18 – 25 years who live, work or access education/training within the Newcastle area.

Further advice and support you may need when you claim UC

Paying your rent

When you claim UC, the Housing Element (that replaces Housing Benefit) will be paid to you rather than your landlord.  In some circumstances you also can request a temporary Alternative Payment Arrangement where the Housing Element is paid directly to your landlord.

Struggling to pay you rent

If you are finding it difficult to pay your rent, you can apply for additional help through the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) scheme. For more information and to make an application visit our webpage: Housing Benefit - Help to pay your rent | Newcastle City Council

Council Tax

Universal Credit does not include help with your Council Tax bill

Instead, you need to claim Council Tax Reduction directly from Newcastle City Council. You can do this online at www.newcastle.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport

More information about Universal Credit

Is available online at www.newcastle.gov.uk/universalcredit

Cost of living

If you’re struggling with the cost of living visit our webpage Cost of living support | Newcastle City Council for information about the help and support available across the city.

Charities

Turn2Us and Charity Choice provide search tools for help with one-off or regular payments. Charis administers trust funds on behalf of several energy companies

Free school meals

Our free school meals webpage has information on eligibility and how to apply for free school meals.

Foodbanks

Details of local foodbank and free emergency food

Crisis Support Scheme

If you need food, clothing, fuel for heating or expenses for emergency travel to cover a short term period of crisis or disaster, the Crisis Support Scheme can help.

Loan Sharks

If you wish to report a business or person that you suspect may be carrying out an illegal activity, such as a loan shark, please contact our Trading Standards Service. For more information on support available for those affected by loan sharks visit www.stoploansharks.co.uk