Who will this affect? | Universal credit FAQ's

At this stage of the roll out, it will affect new single claimants of out-of-work benefits, including those eligible for housing benefit.

It will not apply to:

• Carers, couples, or anyone with dependent children.
• People making a claim for Employment and Support Allowance or anyone appealing a decision, or in the mandatory reconsideration period.
• People who have left the UK for a continuous period of more than four weeks in the last two years (habitual resident test).
• People who don’t have a current account with a bank, Post Office or credit union.
• People who are homeless or living in supported or temporary accommodation.