Universal Credit: What you need to know

The Government’s new Universal Credit comes into effect at the end of this month. The new benefit starts to roll out in Plymouth from 25 January and as a result of this national policy, Plymouth City Council has signed a delivery partnership agreement with the Department of Work and Pension (DWP) to support residents in the claim process. The agreement includes the provision of assisted support for online Universal Credit applications and personal budgeting advice for claimants identified as in need of this help by the Job Centre. Universal Credit is a single monthly payment for people in or out of work, which merges together some of the benefits and tax credits that you might be getting now. Universal Credit will replace income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. People may have to wait up to six weeks from applying to receive Universal Credit and receiving it. Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Housing for Plymouth City Council, said: “Universal Credit is a national government programme to combine and radically change the administration of a range of benefits including Housing Benefit. All decisions to award or refuse Universal Credit are made by DWP and the Council has no influence in this process. “Although the Council does not have a statutory duty to provide any services and assistance to the DWP in introducing Universal Credit in Plymouth, clearly we want to help people as much as possible, particularly as this change is likely to affect our most vulnerable residents. As a Council we have been lobbying DWP for additional resources to be made available to provide appropriate support to claimants. “I am pleased that we have been successful in gaining this support. However, if the Council does not agree to sign a partnership agreement for delivery there will be no alternative support for Plymouth claimants available from either the DWP or other sources. “This means that we could place some of our most vulnerable residents in serious financial difficulty, impact on other Council services such as homelessness, and increase demand for support on some of our key partners. “I am concerned, as are many residents and politicians, about the fact that it will take up to six weeks from people applying for Universal Credit, to them actually receiving it, and I would ask local landlords and others to be understanding if people are new claimants or having their benefits changed as there may be delays in them getting paid.” Universal Credit is being introduced in stages and will only apply to new applications from single, working aged claimants in Plymouth from 25 January initially and it will take some time before current JSA and other benefit claimants will transfer. Whether you can claim it will depend on where you live and your personal circumstances. You can check if you can get Universal Credit by going to www.gov.uk/universalcredit or talk to someone at your jobcentre. You can also get help with budgeting from the Money Advice Service – visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk You can also call the DWP’s Universal Credit Helpline, which is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, on 0345 600 0723.