Universal Credit Contact Number: Helpline, Hours and Northern Ireland
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The Universal Credit telephone number is 0800 328 5644, the same line for a new claim, an existing one, and most queries in between. It's a freephone number, free to call from landlines and mobiles, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Northern Ireland has a separate line, run by the Department for Communities rather than DWP.
Key points
✓Universal Credit helpline: 0800 328 5644, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
✓Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
✓Northern Ireland: Universal Credit Service Centre, 0800 012 1331, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
✓Calls are free, and it's the same number for a new claim and an existing one
✓You can also message Universal Credit through your online account, which gets a reply during business hours
Universal Credit phone numbers at a glance
Where you live
Number
Hours
England, Wales and Scotland
Universal Credit helpline: 0800 328 5644
Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm
Welsh language
0800 328 1744
Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm
Northern Ireland (Universal Credit Service Centre): 0800 012 1331
0800 012 1331
Mon to Fri, 9am to 4pm
Calls to the Universal Credit helpline are free, and the same number covers both a new claim and an existing one. Have your National Insurance number ready if you have one, along with your bank or building society account details.
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If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, GOV.UK lists Relay UK:
✓Yes: Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): dial 18001 then 0800 328 5644
✓Yes: Northern Ireland via Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 012 1331
✓Yes: A British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service is available if you're on a computer, linked from GOV.UK's Universal Credit pages
✓Yes: In Northern Ireland, British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) users can contact the Universal Credit Service Centre using the InterpretersLive! video relay service
Can you contact Universal Credit online instead?
Yes, and it's often faster than calling:
✓Yes: Sign in to your Universal Credit online account and use your journal to send a message, you'll usually get a reply during business hours
✓Yes: You'll get a text or email when there's a new message in your journal
✓Yes: You can also get help at your local Jobcentre Plus office (Jobs and Benefits office in Northern Ireland), including if you need help getting online
If you cannot use your Universal Credit account, or you don't have one yet, call the helpline on 0800 328 5644. See our full Universal Credit guide for how to start a claim.
Sending documents to Universal Credit
If you have documents or medical evidence to post rather than upload to your online account, the Northern Ireland Universal Credit Service Centre gives a Freepost address:
✓Yes: Northern Ireland: Freepost, Universal Credit Northern Ireland, printed on a single address line with no other details added
✓Yes: In England, Wales and Scotland, most evidence is uploaded to your online account rather than posted; check your journal for what's asked for
Keep a copy or photo of anything you post, and get proof of posting from the Post Office, so you can show when you sent it if something goes missing.
Keep track of your case
The guides on this site are free and always will be. If your problem will take weeks or months, the Claim Companion is a free workspace to keep your deadline, your evidence and every call and letter together.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Universal Credit telephone number?
The Universal Credit helpline is 0800 328 5644, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. It's a freephone number, free to call from landlines and mobiles, and it's the same number for a new claim and an existing one.
What is the Universal Credit phone number for Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland, contact the Universal Credit Service Centre on 0800 012 1331, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (excluding public holidays). This is run by the Department for Communities, not DWP, so it's a different line from the rest of the UK.
How do I contact Universal Credit?
Call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644, or sign in to your online account and send a message through your journal, which usually gets a reply during business hours. You can also visit or call your local Jobcentre Plus office. In Northern Ireland, call the Universal Credit Service Centre on 0800 012 1331 or visit a Jobs and Benefits office.
Can I contact Universal Credit online?
Yes. Sign in to your Universal Credit account and use your journal, you'll get a text or email when there's a reply. If you cannot use your online account, call the helpline on 0800 328 5644, or 0800 012 1331 in Northern Ireland.
Is the Universal Credit helpline free?
Yes. 0800 328 5644 and the Northern Ireland number, 0800 012 1331, are both freephone numbers, free to call from landlines and mobiles.
What is the Universal Credit helpline number for an existing claim?
The same number as for a new claim: 0800 328 5644, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Universal Credit does not use a separate 'existing claims' line the way some other benefits do.
Know Your Rights UK. "Universal Credit Contact Number: Helpline, Hours and Northern Ireland." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/benefits/universal-credit/contact-numbers