Make sure your claimant commitment is right for you
Download our leaflets to use when you meet your work coach:
Remember: Getting your claimant tailored to your personal circumstances should help you to avoid being sanctioned unfairly
Getting your claimant commitment right for YOU = lower risk of sanctions
After you apply for Universal Credit, you will agree a ‘claimant commitment’ when you meet with your work coach.
The claimant commitment records what ‘conditions’ you must meet in order to keep receiving Universal Credit.
These conditions are sometimes referred to as ‘work-related requirements’. Essentially they set out what is required of you, and may include things like expected hours of work search and a commitment to being available to take up work.
If you do not meet these conditions, then you may be sanctioned. This means that your Universal Credit money will be reduced.
Remember: You can ask to change your claimant commitment at any time with your work coach, even if you are already claiming Universal Credit. If your work coach refuses to change your claimant commitment, you should speak to a welfare rights adviser or a public law solicitor about what you could do.
Download or print the leaflets.
Take them with you when you meet your work coach.
They will help to explain your personal circumstances and to get your claimant commitment right for you.
Make sure the ‘conditions’ in your claimant commitment are right for YOU
The claimant commitment you agree with your work coach should be tailored to your personal circumstances.
Some people claiming Universal Credit may not have to meet any work-related requirements – this could be because of illness or disability, or because of caring or childcare responsibilities, or because you are considered to be working as much as can be expected of you in your circumstances.
There are some important issues that your work coach should take into account if you are affected by mental health, domestic abuse, or homelessness, or if you have childcare responsibilities or you are a care leaver or refugee.
If any of those issues affect you, it is important that you tell your work coach. That way you can try to make sure that you do not have to meet unrealistic ‘requirements’ in order to receive your Universal Credit.
Remember: If you do not meet the requirements in your claimant commitment, you may be sanctioned.
Download or print the leaflets.
Take them with you when you meet your work coach.
They will help to explain your personal circumstances and to get your claimant commitment right for you.