Universal Credit Tracey Nicola Training and Development Officer Southend Council

Universal Credit Means tested benefit for Working Age people replacing: Working Tax Credit / Child Tax Credit Housing Benefit Income Support Income Based Jobseekers Allowance Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

Universal Credit Maximum UC is the sum of all relevant elements they qualify for. The elements are: Standard Element Child Element Childcare Element Carer Element Limited Capability for Work Element Housing Costs Element

Moving Onto UC Moving Onto UC Jobcentres started to trial new claims from 2013 Initially only for single people who: - are actively seeking work - have no children - no mortgage and - savings under £6000 From June 2014 this extended to couples From November 2014 this extended to new claims for families National rollout continues with expansion into the South from February Southend went live with new claims for single people as above 13 th April 2015

Universal Credit An existing HB claim will be affected if: A HB claimant leaves the accommodation for which HB is paid, to move in with a Universal Credit claimant as their partner, or A Universal Credit claimant moves into accommodation with an existing HB claimant as their partner A single person gets HB and is in a position where they would have had to make a new claim for Jobseekers Allowance, for example have become unemployed or had a break in their Jobseekers Allowance claim Once on Universal Credit they will stay on it even if their circumstances change

Claiming UC UC is claimed online at Any issues should use the help/claim line or Claim starts with a determination of eligibility, then gathers full details to allow assessment. Submitted at the end ‘Date of Claim’ is when the claim is submitted Maximum backdate 1 month

Assessment Periods Assessment Periods An ‘assessment period’ is 1 month The first monthly assessment period starts on the first day of entitlement to UC Each subsequent assessment period will begin on the same day Each assessment period is calculated on the personal circumstances and income/capital held or received in that period

Payment of UC Payment of UC One payment per household, paid monthly in arrears into a relevant account Paid 7 days after the end of the monthly assessment period Money Advice offered to all who claim. Jobcentre, in partnership with external organisations, will offer support with budgeting, setting up bank accounts etc for those who need it

Payment of UC Payment of UC Alternative payment arrangements include splitting the payment between a couple, increasing the frequency and paying the Housing Cost direct to a relevant third party Can be flagged by the claimant to their work coach at any time in the claim, or in some cases the landlord using the ‘Landlord Request for a Managed Payment’ form All APA’s are reviewed and with the claimants consent

Questions? Questions?