Universal Credit

You may be able to claim Universal Credit if:

• You are unemployed
• You are on a low income
• You are aged 18 or over
• You are under state pension age
• You have less than £16,000 in savings

To make a claim for Universal Credit visit https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

For support with your claim, contact Cash Wise

Universal Credit (UC) is made up of a standard allowance plus different payments for housing costs, children, caring, sickness or disability, if you are eligible. The amount of UC you are entitled to can change every month depending on any other income you may have or if your circumstances change.

UC is paid directly to one member of the household into a bank, building society or credit union account. Generally, UC is set up as a monthly payment.

There are a number of key elements of Universal Credit (UC) that make it different from other legacy benefits, mainly:

• If you are required to make a claim for UC, then the first stage is to make an online claim. As part of this process you will have to verify your identity on Gov.UK Verify. You will need to manage your claim online via your Online Journal.
• When you make a claim, you will be asked to input your personal details including your National Insurance Number. You will also need to inform the Depertment for Work and Pensions (DWP) who your landlord is and provide information about your tenancy.
• UC is online only so no paper forms will be available. You will require a bank account, mobile phone and email address to apply. Support will be available for those who are unable to use or access the internet.
• The second stage of the application process is to go to a face-to-face interview at a Jobcentre Plus office with a Work Coach.
• You may have to wait up to 5 weeks for your first payment.
• You may be eligible for an advance payment to help you while you wait, this must be paid back through deductions from your monthly payment.
• If you are entitled to the housing costs element of UC you will receive this as part of your monthly payment. This is different to Housing Benefit as it is your responsibility to pay your rent to your landlord, e.g. WDH, each month.
• UC payments will reduce gradually as your other earnings increase so you won’t lose all your benefits at once, especially if you take on more work..

People of pension age will not be affected. If you are unsure of when you will reach Pension Credit age, the GOV.UK website provides a useful state pension calculator .

For people of working age who are still currently claiming one or more of the legacy benefits being replaced by Universal Credit (UC), The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are currently in the process of migrating claimants over to UC.

As part of this process, claimants will be sent a Migration Notice Letter, inviting them to claim UC within three months of receiving the notice. It is important that you take action once you receive a Migration Notice Letter, as if you do not claim UC or request an extension within the three month time period, you may lose your existing benefit entitlement.

Individuals who are migrated over onto UC by the DWP after receiving a Migration Notice Letter who would see their overall benefit entitlement reduce as a result of the move will receive Transitional Protection, to ensure that they are not worse off financially as a result of the change. Transitional Protection is not time limited but can be withdrawn if your circumstances change in the future. As such, it is important that you don't claim UC until you have received your Migration Notice Letter unless you are confident that you will be better off financially on UC. If you claim UC before receiving your Migration Notice Letter, you may miss out on any Transitional Protection you are entitled to.

For more information the DWP's migration of legacy benefit claimants on to UC, you can visit https://ucmove.campaign.gov.uk/ or if you need help to make a claim after receiving your Migration Notice Letter, contact Cash Wise for support.