Universal Credit

Progressive National Rollout David Wortley, Benefits Manager

01788 533440 dave.wortley@rugby.gov.uk

What is Universal Credit

• Replaces existing out of work benefits including Housing Benefit.

• Administered by the DWP - online claims and telephone based Service Centres.

• Payments made monthly in arrears.

• Role of the Council currently is to support claimants through the process.

Overview

First Customer – “This is brilliant”

agency worker, no longer restricted by the 16 hour limit, therefore able to work for odd days

The Claimant Journey

• Submit a claim on-line• Receive a telephone call / letter from the Service

Centre with appointment at JCP. • Take all evidence to JCP to support UC claim,

discuss needs for advance payment, alternative payment or budgetary support.

• All UC queries are directed to Service Centre• If evidence missing make an appointment via the

Service Centre to take into JCP

The Claimant Journey

• Service Centre make all decisions on alternative payments and budget support

• First payment will be five weeks after date of submitting claim

• Changes of circumstances reported to the Service Centre – any evidence to JCP

• The Council still provide help for payment of Council Tax

Facts and Figures

• Take up limited to certain claimant groups and postcodes within the Borough.

• Around 300 claims received to date – vast majority will be without housing costs

Delivery Partnership Arrangement

The role of the Council

Help for claimants – claiming and budget supportHousing Benefit expertise

Help provided

• 300 claimants claimed UC• 3 claimants helped to make a claim or get on-

line• No claimants referred by DWP for budgeting

support

Helping Claimants make a claim for UC

• On-line claim form can by accessed from public PCs in the Town Hall

• All staff have been trained how to use it• Claimants can telephone the Service Centre

from the Town Hall – not a free call• Because of the limited claimant group IT

access / skills has not been an issue

The on-line Claim• Simple and Clear• Initial Section to identify claimants who can not

claim UC – if not able to claim UC can not claim JSA on-line

• On completion they are advised of UC amount and pay date

Personal Budgeting Support

• Cases are passed to us from the Service Centre • To work with individuals to provide support

managing a monthly budget, and if alternative payment in place to move towards receiving payment direct and monthly

Personal Budgeting Support

We are providing the service in-house for the short-term;•More control•Able to redirect resources •To gather in-depth information to plan for the future

Personal Budgeting Support

• Created training sessions, workbooks and support material based on that being used in the original pathfinders

• Cases involving multiple debt will be handed off to other agencies.

• No time limit for working with claimants• Report back to Service Centre with regards to

reviews of alternative payments

Summary

• Universal Credit includes help to pay rent• Payments made to the claimant monthly• Payment can be made direct to the landlord if

there are arrears• The Council have no access to information

• www.gov.uk/universal-credit