Your local council cannot decide your Universal Credit claim; eligibility is assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, the council may offer a welfare benefits service or refer you to Citizens Advice for help checking your circumstances and making a claim. It can also deal with Council Tax Reduction and, in some situations, Housing Benefit, which are separate from Universal Credit. Check your council’s website and the official GOV.UK Universal Credit guidance for current information.