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Universal Credit Awareness Session
1
Session Objectives
O What Universal Credit is
O How it impacts on those receiving it
O How you can prepare for it in practical terms
2
Universal Credit Replaces:
O Income support
O Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
O Income related Employment and
Support Allowance
O Housing Benefit & LHA
O Child tax credit
O Working tax credit
3
Unique Payment Principles
in Northern Ireland O The customer is paid twice monthly by
default or once monthly if they prefer.
O Those in a couple can request a split
payment into separate accounts.
O The housing element of Universal Credit
will be paid once per month directly to
landlords as the default option.
Receiving the Housing
Element Directly The customer can receive their housing
costs element directly provided :
O They are not in arrears
O They are not subject to a sanction
But they have to chose to do this, the default
position (N.I) is to have these paid directly.
Conditions/Activity
Sanctions Process
Sanction Levels
4 Levels of Sanctions:
Level of Sanction Duration of Sanction
Higher 91- 546 days
Medium 28-91 days
Low 7-28 days
Lower Until failure is corrected
Maximum Amounts of UC
O See Rates Handout
9
The Income Disregard
63% of earned income
after work allowance
&/or
100% of unearned
income
Maximum amount
10
Award
Disregards (The Work Allowance)
Claimant Circumstances Higher Lower
Single With children/QYP
£409 £198
Single Ltd Capability for
work
£409 £198
Couple With children/QYP
£409 £198
Couple Limited Capability
for work
£409 £198
11
Calculating UC
O See Case Study Handout
12
Universal Credit and Rates
O Rate Rebate is a separate, digital only application and applicants will first need to register for a Rate Rebate account online.
O Using a verified email address applicants will be prompted to create a password. A verification email will be sent and once registered an invitation will be forwarded by email to complete the online application.
O The application process will require a name, address, date of birth and national insurance number. Tenants will also be required to provide landlord name, telephone number and email address.
Claiming Universal Credit
O Claimants will have to apply and maintain Universal Credit claims independently online via nidirect.gov.uk
O Universal Credit staff will enable, support and educate claimants to self-serve
O Claimants must use the new digital channel to make and maintain a claim unless they are defined as “vulnerable” Assisted Digital support will be offered to claimants who cannot independently make or maintain a claim online and where a claimant is unable to use the online service a claim can be made via telephony.
O UC Helpline Number 0800 0121 331 and the textphone number is 0800 012 1441.
Claiming Universal Credit-
Demo (DWP) O https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WgJU
8Y_bQg
Financial Capability-
Access to an account To receive Universal Credit there has to be a :
O Bank Account
O Building Society Account or
O Credit Union Account
And in the short Term, a post office account ….
16
Online Verification
17
“London……we have a problem…..”
Online Verification
18
O In order to complete a Universal Credit claim online eligible ID will be required.
O UK passport
O UK photo card driving licence.
If a claimant does not have this documentation and is unable to prove identity online they can do so at a Universal Credit interview at the Jobs and Benefits Office.
Face to Face Verification-
1 Form of ID
19
O NI (or UK) Electoral Card
O EEA Passport (ROI is included in
this)
O EEA National Identity Card
O Residence Permit or Card
O Immigration Status Document
O Registration or Naturalisation
Certificate
Face to Face Verification-
2 Forms of ID
20
O Birth Certificate
O Rates Statement
O Medical Card
O Recent Bank or Building Society Statement
O Debit or Charge Card
O Recently Expired Passport
O Expired Full or Provisional UK Driving Licence
O Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate
O Tenancy Agreement
In Summary
There may not be any money for 5-6 weeks
UC Advances
O Advances are available to claimants
who face “short term financial need“ in the period up to their first full
payment.
O Interest-free payment of up to 100% of
their Universal Credit estimated
monthly amount.
O Advance payments of Universal Credit
must be repaid within twelve months.
Implementation: Fresh Claims
Week commencing Social Security Office
27.9.17 Limavady
15.11.17 Ballymoney
13.12.17 Magherafelt and Coleraine
17.1.18 Strabane and Lisnagelvin
7.2.18 Foyle and Armagh
21.2.18 Omagh and Enniskillen
7.3.18 Dungannon and Portadown 23
Implementation: Fresh Claims (cont..)
Week comm. Social Security Office
16.5.18 Newry & Downpatrick
30.5.18 Lurgan, Newcastle & Kilkeel
13.6.18 Falls & Shankill
27.6.18 Andersonstown & Banbridge
5.9.18 Holywood Rd & Ballynahinch
19.9.18 Newtownabbey & Newtownards
24
Implementation: Fresh Claims
Week commencing Social Security Office
3.10.18 Shaftesbury Sq &
Carrickfergus
17.10.18 Knockbreda and Bangor
31.10.18 Lisburn and Larne
14.11.18 North Belfast and
Cookstown
25
05.12.18 Ballymena and Antrim
Natural Migration
Move from out of work to in
work
Move from in work to out of
work
Move out of work to sick
Move from sick to in work (or
permitted work becomes
permanent)
Move from in work to sick
(reduction in hours due to
sickness)
Claimants separate
Income Support Loan Parent
child reaches 3/permanently
leaves the household
Household becomes
responsible for a child for the
first time
Move from sick to out of work
If any of the above are experienced by
someone in a live Fresh Claim roll out area
they will naturally migrate to Universal Credit
Transferring from Legacy
Benefits “Managed
Migration” O Existing JSA, IS and ESA claimants
who haven't “naturally migrated” will transfer to Universal Credit between 2020 and March 2023 (via a process called “Managed Migration”).
O The transfer timeline for ongoing tax credit claims has yet to be revealed.
What is Transitional
Protection ? If after “managed migration” Mrs A’s Income Support entitlement is more than her Universal Credit entitlement she will receive a payment to make up the difference “Barring a significant change in circumstances”
O Partner Leaving Household
O UC Award Ending
O One/both members of Household stop work
O 3 month earning drop below claimant commitment
28
Potential Issues
• Date of claim
https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit
( UC Helpline Number 0800 0121 331 )
FREEPOST Universal Credit, Northern Ireland
• Identity verification
• Housing / childcare verification
• The 5 week wait for first payment
• Potentially inappropriate ‘Case closures’
• Sanctions (harsher than in legacy world)
• Cross border - must claim legacy benefits
• Decisions (not posted, uploaded on online journal)
• Natural migration with no transitional protection
Managed migration (delay starting, still ending 2023)
Potential Issues
• UC and 2 child limit
• UC and older people (split age couples)
• UC and aged 18-21 (nolonger excl from housing)
• UC and deductions (UC o’payments, UC advances,
Social Fund, Discretionary Support Scheme (in NI),
sanctions, hardship payments
• UC and premiums – SDP Gateway
• People on ESA who fail their WCA – options
• FINALLY – DfC Report https://www.communities-
ni.gov.uk/publications/welfare-changes-universal-credit-
information - “overall decrease in entitlements of
approximately £105,000,000 per annum”
Potential Issues
• UC and 2 child limit
• UC and older people (split age couples)
• UC and aged 18-21 (nolonger excl from housing)
• UC and deductions (UC o’payments, UC advances,
Social Fund, Discretionary Support Scheme (in NI),
sanctions, hardship payments
• UC and premiums – change from legacy approach
• People on ESA who fail their WCA – options
• FINALLY – DfC Report https://www.communities-
ni.gov.uk/publications/welfare-changes-universal-credit-
information - “overall decrease in entitlements of
approximately £105,000,000 per annum”
Welfare Reform Advice
33
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