Contact us about applying for Universal Credit
Our Help to Claim advisers can help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can talk to them on the phone, online over chat or using our British Sign Language (BSL) service.
Our advisers can help you:
work out if you can get Universal Credit
fill in the Universal Credit application
prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment
check your first payment is correct
You can read our online advice on Universal Credit at any time.
Call our Help to Claim phone line
You can contact an adviser through our free Help to Claim phone service. Advisers are available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday:
England: 0800 144 8 444
Scotland: 0800 023 2581
Wales: 08000 241 220
Call the Wales number if you’d like to speak to a Welsh language adviser.
Ask for a translator if you need to get advice in a different language.
Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say:
Relay UK (England): 18001 then 0800 144 8 444
Relay UK (Wales): 18001 then 08000 241 220
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.
Chat to us online
You can also chat with an adviser online about your Universal Credit application. Chat is usually available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. It's not available on public holidays.
A ‘chat to an adviser’ button will appear below when an adviser is available.
If you can’t see a chat button, it means no advisers are available. Try again later or call our phone line.
Use our British Sign Language service
You can also make a BSL call using Video Relay Service on your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
How to complain
You can make a complaint if you're unhappy with the service provided.
Check our behaviour policy
Our staff have the right to do their jobs without being treated badly - find out how we deal with unacceptable behaviour.
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