Universal Credit

A UK means-tested social security payment that consolidates six legacy benefits (including Income Support, Housing Benefit, and Employment Support Allowance) into a single monthly digital claim. Universal Credit is operated by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is applied for primarily through an online portal or smartphone app, with phone support as a secondary route. Its digital-first design and mandatory migration process have been widely criticised as exclusionary for disabled claimants, people with communication disabilities, older adults, and those without stable internet access or digital literacy.