The rollout of UC Full Service across Salford has been postponed until September 2018. Further details on recent announcements on Universal Credit follow:
Universal Credit replaces legacy payments with a single monthly payment – merging six benefits into one. It ensures people are better off in work by gradually reducing the benefit payment as earnings increase, so claimants will not lose all their benefits at once, as they would in the old system.
People are moving into work faster and staying in work for longer under Universal Credit. Universal Credit claimants are more likely to be in work within six months than compared to claimants in similar circumstances on the old system. When fully rolled out, Universal Credit is expected to boost employment by around 250,000 – this equates to an average of nearly 400 jobs in every constituency in the UK.
Universal Credit is performing well: the vast majority of claimants now receive their first payment on time. Uptake of advances has increased and they are providing support to claimants in the first few weeks of their claim. We are introducing Universal Credit gradually. Of the total number of households that will eventually move onto Universal Credit, 9% are currently receiving it and this will increase to 12% by February 2018.
As we roll out Universal Credit, we are constantly improving how the system works. The recent announcements offer a balanced package of improvements which puts more money into claimants’ hands earlier and addresses all of the issues claimants face at the beginning of their claim.
Abolishing waiting days
Much comment has focused on the initial seven ‘waiting days’. From February 2018, we are removing the seven-day waiting period for new Universal Credit claimants, reducing the length of time claimants might wait to receive their first full payment.
Increasing advances:
In Universal Credit claimants are entitled to an advance of up to 50% of the first month’s payment – with the following six months’ payments adjusted to account for this.
From January 2018, we will be changing the system so that new Universal Credit claimants will be offered an advance of up to 100%. In practice, this means that new claimants in December can already receive an advance of up to 50% of their overall entitlement, and may receive a second advance to take it up to 100% in the New Year. Taken with the first payment, this means that claimants in need could receive nearly double the money they would usually get.
We will also be making all payments of advances recoverable over 12 months – if this is what claimants want, regardless of the level of the advance claimed. In addition, from spring next year, we will be making it possible to apply for an advance online – further increasing accessibility for those who need it.
It is worth noting that a self-service advance will be made available from spring 2018, where claimants can request an advance from their online account.
Support with housing costs
Nearly all of the most vulnerable claimants currently receive Housing Benefit. So claimants who were previously receiving Housing Benefit will receive a transitional payment – an extra two weeks support worth on average £233 per claimant – when they move to Universal Credit. This will be unrecoverable, automatic and received early in the first assessment period.
We will also be issuing new guidance to staff to ensure that claimants living in the private rented sector whose Housing Benefit was previously paid directly to landlords are automatically offered this option when they join Universal Credit.
Alternative Payment Arrangements for Landlords
From December 2017, new guidance will be issued to staff to ensure that claimants in the Private Rented Sector, who have managed payments to landlords for their legacy Housing Benefit, are offered this option when they join Universal Credit, provided the relevant criteria continue to be met. This gives additional continuity to claimants when they join Universal Credit.
Temporary accommodation housing support
Currently local authorities see a funding shortage when they place people into temporary and emergency accommodation as they could only recoup around 50% of the cost from Universal Credit. This housing support will be increased to 80% of their expenditure on temporary accommodation.
Providing budgeting help
Finally, those claimants who have difficulty managing their finances can currently qualify for help under the Universal Support scheme, delivered by Local Authorities. We are also exploring with Citizen’s Advice the scope for greater collaborative working to help claimants locally as they move to Universal Credit, and hope to be able to offer an update on this in due course.
Helping claimants progress in work
In addition to these measures, the Government has allocated £8m over four years to conduct a suite of tests and trials to support development of the evidence about what works to help people progress in work. This includes women whom are returning to work and those whom are in insecure work.
Universal Credit Re-profile
To allow all the policy changes above to be implemented, from December 2017 the Live Service will no longer take any new claims. If not living in a Full Service area, claimants will be asked to claim legacy benefits or tax credits. The gateway direct for new claims for families with more than 2 children onto legacy benefits will also be extended until January 2019. To complete the necessary system changes for the Universal Credit Full Service, our roll out schedule will now be completed by December 2018. Details on this are being circulated separately.
Comprehensive support
This is a comprehensive and wide-ranging package worth £1.5 billion. It is significantly more generous than reducing the UC payment to one month. In terms of cashflow, our package of reforms mean that under Universal Credit, by the time of their first payment, a single claimant aged over 25 receiving housing support in the private rented sector can receive just over £1200, including their advance. By contrast, the equivalent claimant in JSA would receive just £700.
We must not forget that the support we give people is about more than just money. It is about the help we give people to get into work, to stay in work, and stand on their own two feet. That is what Universal Credit is about – and it will change our welfare system for the better.
• Please see below copy of the letter which has been sent to Local Authorities.
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• Please find the link to the Budget / Secretary of State statement press release and rollout schedule from Gov.uk<http://Gov.uk>:- https: