Universal Credit (UC) is a means tested benefit for working age people. It is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and replaces the following six benefits:
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Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
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Income Support
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Child Tax Credit
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Working Tax Credit
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Housing Benefit
For more information about Universal Credit visit GOV.UK .
Being moved onto Universal Credit: Get in touch with us today
If you’re claiming any of the six qualifying benefits and are of working age, it will affect you. Contact the Housing Rents Team via 01322 343134 as soon as you apply for Universal Credit.
Contact the Housing Rents Team via 01322 343134 as soon as you apply for Universal Credit.
The DWP may advise you to claim Universal Credit if they are aware of a change in your current DWP benefits.
If you try to claim one of the six means tested benefits listed above, and you are eligible, you will be advised to claim Universal Credit instead. There is a Housing Costs element within Universal Credit which replaces Housing Benefit.
Universal Credit and your rent increase
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit you will need to update your claim to include your new rent increase from April every year.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) may have already contacted you and issued you a ‘To Do’ advising you that you need to increase the housing element (rent charge) of your Universal Credit claim immediately via your Journal.
Even if you have not heard from Universal Credit you must ‘Report a Change’ to notify them of your rent increase, and this applies even if you have an alternative payment arrangement and your rent is currently being paid direct to the Council. If you have a telephone claim you will need to telephone Universal Credit to update your circumstances in the usual way immediately.
Failure to report the change could affect your ongoing payments. Changes can only be backdated to the beginning of the current assessment period so you need to update your housing element (rent charges)in April.
If you have any questions, or need help or support to adjust to the change please call the rents team on 01322 343134 or complete our online enquiry form .
Getting ready for Universal Credit
Universal Credit is administered online therefor you will need an email account. Payments are made monthly, and you must have a bank account, building society or Post Office account for these to be paid into.
When you receive Universal Credit, you will need to think more carefully about how you will budget your money. This is because you may have previously received one payment for your rent (your housing benefit) and a separate payment for your living costs. With Universal Credit you will be receiving just one monthly payment and you will be responsible for paying your rent from this payment. You can ask the DWP to pay the housing element direct to your landlord if you think this will cause you problems.
Universal Credit normally takes around five weeks to process from the day you apply. You can request an advance payment from DWP if you think this may cause financial hardship. You will be advised when and how much you will be paid in your Universal Credit account . If you’re a tenant you will also see how much of your payment is for housing costs. This is the amount calculated to help towards paying your rent. The housing element is for your Rent only and should always be paid to your landlord, this includes during the 4 rent free weeks you receive in a year. This is because your rent amount is calculated over 48 weeks instead of 52, this way you keep paying the same amount each month.
Find out how ready you are for Universal Credit
You can do the following to help get you ready:
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Create an email account
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Set up a bank account with your local bank or building society
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Start putting some money aside as there may be a time when you will need it.
When calculating Universal Credit the DWP will use the following information to work out how much Universal Credit you will be entitled to:
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your income
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your savings and capital
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the size and makeup of your household
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your housing costs
Checking your Universal Credit award in your online account:
When you receive your award letter in your Universal Credit account , you should check the details about you, your household, your income and capital and your housing costs are correct. Let the DWP know straight away if you think you have received the wrong award.
Claimant Commitment:
When you claim Universal Credit you will be asked to sign a Claimant Commitment, which means you enter an agreement to complete certain tasks to help you back into work. Claimant Commitments take your circumstances into account. Make sure that your work coach based at your job centre knows about all of your circumstances, especially if you have health problems or caring responsibilities that might mean that you are not always available for work.
It is really important that you understand what you need to do to continue to receive Universal Credit. If you do not keep to the commitment you have made, your Universal Credit payments may be sanctioned.
Extra housing benefit for two weeks
If you transfer from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit, the Council may award you Housing Benefit for the first 2 weeks of the period Universal Credit covers. This is to give extra help with rent because it takes 5 weeks to award Universal Credit.
Discretionary housing payment
If your Universal Credit award includes housing costs to pay your rent, it may be less than the rent you’re being charged. If you’re struggling to make up the shortfall, you may be able to get some help from us by claiming a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Exceptions to applying for Universal Credit
If both you and your partner reach State Pension age you will be eligible for Housing Benefit and will not need to claim Universal Credit. However, if only one of you reaches state pension age and one of you remains working age you will need to apply for Universal Credit. Your Universal credit claim will stop when you both reach pension age. Either the DWP or the Council will contact couples who are affected in advance to advise when a new application for Universal Credit should be made.
If you’re getting Pension Credit, it will stop if you or your partner make a claim for Universal Credit. You’ll usually be better off staying on Pension Credit. You can check using a benefits calculator.
Working age customers who are in receipt of a Severe Disability Premium now need to make a new claim for Universal Credit instead of Housing Benefit. However, if you are currently in receipt of Housing Benefit and qualify for the Severe Disability Premium in the assessment of your existing benefits then you will continue to receive Housing Benefit until there is a change of circumstances which prompts you to claim Universal Credit.
Exceptions when someone on Universal Credit can also receive Housing Benefit
Tenants placed in temporary accommodation because of homelessness will claim Universal Credit for their personal costs and Housing Benefit from Dartford Borough Council for their rent.