What Universal Credit is and where to log in
Universal Credit is a UK government benefit that combines six older benefits into one monthly payment. It covers income support, jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance, housing benefit, child tax credit, and working tax credit. You manage your account and report changes through an online portal run by the UK government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The login page is at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk. This is the only official entry point for your Universal Credit account. You will need your National Insurance number and a password you created when you first claimed.
If you have not yet claimed Universal Credit, you must start a new claim on the same website before you can log in. The login portal is only for people with an existing claim.
Key Takeaways
- The official Universal Credit login is at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk — do not use any other website or app claiming to be Universal Credit.
- You will need your National Insurance number and the password you set up when you made your claim, not your date of birth or other personal details.
- If you forget your password, use the "I've forgotten my password" link on the login page to reset it by email or text message.
- Once logged in, you can report changes to your circumstances, upload documents, view your payment dates, and message the DWP about your claim.
What you need to log in
You will need two pieces of information: your National Insurance number (the nine-character code on your National Insurance letters or payslips) and your password. The password is the one you created yourself when you first claimed Universal Credit, not a temporary code sent to you.
You do not need your date of birth, your claim number, or any other personal details to log in. The system only asks for your National Insurance number and password. If you are logging in on a shared device, always log out completely when you finish — do not just close the browser.
If you have a Government Gateway account from another service (such as Self Assessment or HMRC), you cannot use those credentials to log into Universal Credit. Each service has its own separate login.
Resetting your password if you have forgotten it
On the login page at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk, select "I've forgotten my password". Enter your National Insurance number. The system will ask you to choose how you want to reset your password: by email or by text message to the phone number registered with your claim.
If you choose email, check your inbox and spam folder for a message from noreply@notifications.service.gov.uk. The email contains a link that is valid for 24 hours. Click the link and create a new password. Your new password must be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (such as ! or @).
If you choose text message, you will receive a code on your registered phone number. Enter that code on the password reset page, then create your new password using the same rules. Once you have reset your password, you can log in when ready with your National Insurance number and your new password.
What to do if you cannot log in even after resetting your password
If you have reset your password and still cannot log in, check that you are using the correct website: www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk. Phishing websites that look similar exist, so always type the address yourself or use a bookmark you have saved.
Check that you are entering your National Insurance number correctly. It is nine characters and usually written as two letters, six numbers, and one letter (for example, AB123456C). Do not include spaces or dashes when you type it.
If you are still locked out after multiple attempts, the system may temporarily block your account for security. Wait 30 minutes and try again. If the problem continues, you will need to contact the DWP directly. Call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). You can also report the issue through your account if you can log in, by selecting "Message the DWP" in the menu.
Staying safe when you log in
The DWP will never ask you to log in through a link in an email or text message. If you receive a message claiming to be from Universal Credit and asking you to click a link, do not click it — it is almost certainly a scam. Always go to www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk directly by typing the address yourself.
Never share your National Insurance number or password with anyone, including DWP staff. The DWP will never ask for your password. If someone claiming to be from the DWP asks for it, hang up or close the message and call the helpline yourself on 0800 328 5644 to check.
Use a strong, unique password that you do not use on any other website. If you use the same password for your bank, email, and Universal Credit, a scammer who gets one password can access all three. Change your password every few months, especially if you think someone else may have seen it.
What you can do once you are logged in
Once you have logged in, you can view your next payment date, the amount you will receive, and the date it will arrive in your bank account. You can also see a history of all your past payments and check whether any deductions have been made (for example, for a loan or overpayment).
You can report changes to your circumstances, such as a change in income, a new job, a house move, or a change in childcare costs. You can upload documents to support your claim, such as payslips, tenancy agreements, or proof of childcare costs. You can also message the DWP about your claim and view their replies.
If you need to make a complaint about your Universal Credit claim, you can do so through the account. The DWP will respond within a set timeframe depending on the type of complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I log in on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The Universal Credit website works on phones and tablets as well as computers. Use the same login details (National Insurance number and password) on any device. The DWP does not have an official app for Universal Credit, so do not read anything claiming to be the Universal Credit app — use the website instead.
What if I do not have an email address or phone number to reset my password?
You will need at least one of these to reset your password online. If you do not have either, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 and explain your situation. They can help you reset your password over the phone or set up an email address or phone number on your account.
Can someone else log into my Universal Credit account?
No. Only you should have your password. If you want someone to help you manage your claim (such as a family member or adviser), you can give them permission through your account by adding them as an "authorised representative". They will have their own login and will not need your password.
What happens if I have not logged in for a long time?
Your password does not expire, so you can log in with the same password even if you have not used your account for months or years. However, if your circumstances have changed since you last claimed, you may need to report those changes when you log in.
Is the Universal Credit website the same as the Government Gateway?
No. Universal Credit has its own separate login at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk. The Government Gateway is used for other services like Self Assessment and HMRC. You cannot use your Government Gateway password to log into Universal Credit, and you cannot use your Universal Credit password to log into the Government Gateway.