Universal Credit NAC Awareness Session for : 5th October 2018 - National Association of Councillors Northern Ireland
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Universal Credit
Awareness Session for :
NAC
5th October 2018
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
2Universal 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
3Unique 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
9The Income Disregard
63% of
earned
income
after work
allowance
Maximum
amount &/or Award
100% of
unearned
income
10Disregards (The Work Allowance)
Claimant Circumstances Higher Lower
Single With children/QYP £397 £192
Single Ltd Capability for £397 £192
work
Couple With children/QYP £397 £192
Couple Limited Capability £397 £192
for work
11Calculating UC
O See Case Study Handout
12Universal 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_bQgFinancial 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 ….
16Online Verification
“London……we have a problem…..”
17Online Verification
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.
18Face to Face Verification-
1 Form of ID
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
19Face to Face Verification-
2 Forms of ID
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
20In 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
23Implementation: 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
24Implementation: 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
05.12.18 Ballymena and Antrim
25Natural Migration
Move from out of work to in Move from in work to out of Move out of work to sick
work work
Move from sick to in work (or Move from in work to sick Claimants separate
permitted work becomes (reduction in hours due to
permanent) sickness)
Income Support Loan Parent Household becomes Move from sick to out of work
child reaches 3/permanently responsible for a child for the
leaves the household first time
If any of the above are experienced by
someone in a live Fresh Claim roll out area
they will naturally migrate to Universal CreditTransferring from Legacy
Benefits “Managed
Migration”
O Existing JSA, IS and ESA claimants
who haven't “naturally migrated” will
transfer to Universal Credit between
July 2019 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 28Potential 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 the online journal) • Natural migration with no transitional protection
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”
Thank you Advice NI “Making UC Better” Paper www.adviceni.net
Welfare Reform Advice
32Further Training www.adviceni.net/training
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