If you are self-employed and claiming universal credit, DWP will need to decide if you are in ‘gainful self-employment’. 

This page explains how to report your self-employed income and how it is calculated for universal credit.

For universal credit, if you are an owner or director of a limited company you may be treated as though you are self-employed and the company income treated as your self-employed income. 

The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of working age benefits that you can receive. If your universal credit is over the amount of your benefit cap, it might be reduced.

Universal credit is a monthly award and payments are generally made monthly.  In Northern Ireland, payments are usually made twice monthly. There are a number of alternative payment options available depending on your circumstances.

The surplus earnings rules apply whether you are employed or self-employed or both. The rules mean that excess earnings are carried forward from one assessment period to another if certain conditions are met. They are then treated as extra income in a later assessment period.