Universal credit & spouse visa

Looking for guidance surrounding universal credit claim and recently arrived spouse.
Receiving legacy benefit EESA(income). Recently received migration notice to claim UC.
Informed EESA regarding spouse moving in.
Spouse arrived from abroad less than month ago.
2 questions to begin with.
1. Does one wait to receive intimation of any sort before putting in UC claim?
2. Created a universal credit account but can’t progress further as it says to link account with spouse. Does that mean the spouse needs to create a separate account despite not entitled to public funds?
Appreciate any help.
Thanks

Yes, your spouse meeds to make a UC claim even if subject to immigration control. Then you link the two claims. Your spouse’s claim will fail as will fail the habitual residence test and the claim will become a single claim. Any income or capital your spouse has will still be considered.