Universal Credit Roll Out

Universal Credit Roll Out.

 

The DWP will continue to roll out Unviersal Credit within the next few months.

 

The original intention of the DWP was to have majority of Benefit Claimant migrate to Unviersal Credit by the end of 2022.  However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay on this, and the revised time scale is between November 2022 and late 2026.
 

With the rise of the Cost-of-living Crisis affecting affordability already, any loss of income would cause a further struggle. We have outlined some Advice below on what to expect from the Unviersal Credit Migration Process.
 

Whether you’ve had a change in circumstances that has meant your old benefits have stopped or you have decided to voluntarily move onto Universal Credit, there are a few things to think about and some common questions people have.

 

 

 

What will happen to my other benefits?

If you're receiving Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, they will stop as soon as you make your Universal Credit claim. There have been occasions where the Tax Credit have failed to cancel the claims in time. In this scenario, you may have been over paid and may have to pay funds back. However, this scenario is very unlikely since the departments have now cleared their back log.

If you're getting Tax-free Childcare, your account will be closed as soon as you claim Universal Credit.

If you are receiving any of these benefits, they will stop two weeks after you make your Universal Credit claim:

·      Housing Benefit (England, Scotland, Wales) or Housing Benefit (Northern Ireland)

·      income-related Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

·      income-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

·      Income Support

If you are getting Council Tax Reduction/Support, you should contact your council to let them know you've claimed Universal Credit. Unviersal Credit will support your application to Council Tax Reduction if you’re eligible.

Any other benefits you're getting should carry on being paid the same as usual.

 

 

 

Can I revert to Tax Credits?

No. Once a claim to Unviersal Credit is made, reverting to Tax Credits isn’t an option.

There have been limited exceptional circumstances when people are subject to Identity Fraud can revert. If this has happened to you, you must seek Advice from your local Job Centre as soon as possible.

 

 

 

How do I know if I would be ‘better off?’

You can complete an online Benefit calculation, which will run through a series of questions before providing you with an estimated figure of your entitlements.

You can use the Entitledto.com calculator to confirm.

 

 

 

What happens to my Rent during the 5 week wait?

 

As mentioned above, any claim to Housing Benefit would continue for two weeks once a claim to Unviersal Credit is made. As there is a 5 week wait for Universal Credit, there will be two weeks out of the five where your rent will not be covered. In this scenario, you can inform your landlord that you’re migrating over. They may allow some allowance for you; however, the rent would still need to be covered for these times.

You will be given the opportunity to take out an advanced payment once your ID has been verified with the DWP. This Advanced Payment is a LOAN and would need to be repaid at small percentage out of the Claim.  The methods / amounts of recovery will be discussed with you upon the Advance being taken.

 

 

 

Will I need to look for work?
 

Upon applying for Unviersal Credit, you will be asked to sign a ‘Claimant Commitment’ which is an agreement to look for work unless you have any restrictions on this. Resections can include Child / Caring Commitments or having a Health Condition or Disability.  In these scenarios, your ‘Claimant Commitment’ would be altered to reflect your circumstances, however it would be your reasonability to inform the DWP of any changes.
 

You will be placed into a ‘Conditionality Group’ which comes with rules that differ depending on your circumstances.
 

If you were previously getting Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support as a couple, neither of you would have been expected to look for work. Once you move onto Universal Credit, you might find that one or both of you will be expected to look for work.

Find out more about what you would be required to as part of your Unviersal Credit claim.

 

 

 

I'm self-employed - is there anything extra for me to think about?

Self-employed people can often find they are much worse off on Universal Credit than on the old benefits system. This is because of a rule called the Minimum Income Floor. 

If you usually earn less than someone working full time on minimum wage would earn, you're likely to find that Universal Credit in the long term is less generous than the benefits it replaces.

 

 

 

Transitional protection

Although everyone will be moved onto Universal Credit eventually, this will be done through a process of invitation. People who get the invitation to move onto Universal Credit will get transitional protection payments to make sure they are not worse off on Universal Credit than on their old benefits. You won't get the transitional protection if you decide for yourself to move to Universal Credit.

 

 

 

Further Advice.

The Citizens Advice Help to Claim Service can discuss whether Unviersal Credit would be for you, they can also help with a Telephone Application, and offer support until your first payment is received.

 

 

 

Help to Claim Service: 0800 144 8444

England: 0800 144 8 444 (Relay UK: 18001 0800 144 8 444).

Scotland: 0800 023 2581

Wales: 08000 241 220 (Relay UK: 18001 08000 241 220).

In Northern Ireland, contact Advice NI on 0800 915 4604

Monday – Friday 8am-6pm.

 

 

Turn2Us can complete ‘Benefit Check’s based on different scenarios to ensure you know your entitlements. They can also search for any localised support Grants which may be able to help you.

 

 

Turn2US: 0808 802 2000

Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.

Call us on: 0808 802 2000, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Mondays-Fridays.

All calls are free from a UK landline and from most mobiles. If you are calling from a mobile, please check with your network provider or please  their online contact form.