Taking a new path -
T U O L L PU ND KEEP A
preparing for more changes to the benefits system The Government is changing the way people receive some benefits and the things you need to do to be able to receive some benefits is changing too. So, if you claim any of the affected benefits, it’s important that you change with the system so you’re as prepared as possible to deal with all of this. Here we explain some of the main changes, please read them carefully to see if they apply to you.
BILLS
LIFESTYLE
BENEFIT
CHANGES Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!
The road ahead You may have heard about changes to the benefits system and you may even have experienced some already. The changes are picking up speed now and this could affect you and your family in a number of different ways. Most of the changes affect working age people and they could mean pressure to take on more work related activity and lead to you receiving less money in some cases. It is important that we are all well prepared for the changes in the road ahead, so in this guide you’ll find lots of information about what we know at the moment, as well as ways you can stay in touch with us to find out more as our journey progresses. There are more proposed changes than we’ve been able to list here so we’d advise signing up for our newsletter as soon as possible so you can receive further information. You can find out how at the end of this booklet.
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CHANGES page 2 Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!
A change of direction • Local Housing Allowance – this Government proposal will limit Housing Benefit available
to those living in council and housing association properties so that they don’t receive more than someone would they lived in private rented accommodation. It may mean less Housing Benefit for some from April 2018, for those who renew or start a new tenancy after 1 April 2016. (Please note this is deferred until April 2017 for those in supported housing.)
• Benefit cap – this is the Government limit on the total amount of benefit that some benefit
claimants can receive. It’s currently set at £500 a week for couples or those with children, which will reduce to £385 later this year and £350 for single people with no children which will change to £258 later this year. (Please note that exceptions can apply and some benefits are not included.)
• Housing costs for young people – the Government has proposed that, under Universal
Credit, the housing costs (similar to Housing Benefit now) element will be withdrawn from some 18-21 year olds from April 2017. Some young people aged 18-21 will be exempt from this change and will still be able to get help with housing costs, such as vulnerable young people, those who may not be able to return home to live with their parents, those who have been in work for six months prior to making a claim, young people who are sick or disabled and those with young dependent children.
• Pay to Stay – there is a Government proposal that social housing tenants who have a certain level of income will need to pay more rent than those with lower incomes. At this point in time, households with an income of over £30,000 will be affected, and it is expected that the additional rent cost will be staggered in-line with increases in income.
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – is ending for people who were born after 8 April 1948 and are 16 or over. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send you a letter to invite you to apply for a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The letter will tell you what to do next and by when. Your DLA will end if you don’t claim PIP in time as you don’t automatically swap from one benefit to another. (Please contact our Advice and Support Service who will be able to provide you with assistance.) Please note under 16 year olds can still claim DLA.
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S T N E M PAY page 3 Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!
Travelling forward - Universal Credit Universal credit is a new benefit for people who have a low income. It is for people of working age, paid to people who are working, seeking to work or those who are unable to work. It is a benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through Job Centre Plus. It is being introduced in stages across the country. Universal Credit aims to make the welfare system simpler by replacing six benefits, including tax credits with a single monthly payment. It includes support for the costs of housing, children and childcare, as well as support for disabled people and carers. Universal Credit replaces: • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance • Income Support
• Working Tax Credit • Child Tax Credit • Housing Benefit
From 27 April 2015, Universal Credit became available to single people who would have otherwise claimed Job Seeker’s Allowance. From 25 May 2016, customers who live in the area covered by The City Centre Job centre at Cathedral Square who need to make a new claim for any of the above benefits will be directed to make a claim for universal credit. Those already on the above benefits living in that area will be told they have to claim Universal Credit if they have a change in circumstances. Please note that Universal Credit does not include assistance with your Council Tax. If you claim Universal Credit you will still have to contact Newcastle City Council to apply for Council Tax support (their website details are included at the back of this booklet but you can also call them on 0191 278 7878.)
Rules of the road Although the benefits are being brought together, the individual reasons for getting benefit will still apply so that hasn’t really changed. But there will be more work-related expectations on those who claim and the amounts claimed may be different. Universal Credit will also be subject to the benefit cap, as mentioned on the previous page. You need to claim Universal Credit online and will need a breakdown of your rent charges. Your Housing Services Office will be able to provide this for you; you can find their details on our website or visit them in person. You will also need to provide details of your landlord, which are as follows: Landlord name:
Your Homes Newcastle
Landlord address: YHN House, Benton Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7LX And you’ll need some other documents to provide evidence of things like your address, your current benefits, National Insurance Number and any other income you have.
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page 4 Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!
Universal Credit claimant journey
1 2 3
I arrange an interview in the jobcentre.
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To make my claim, I create my digital Universal Credit account online at GOV.UK. If I need help, I can telephone the Universal Credit helpline (0345 600 0723) for assistance.
I get information or advice about how to claim Universal Credit.
5
I attend my interview at the jobcentre, taking along any paperwork that has been asked for. I sign my Claimant Commitment, which records the work-related activities I’ve agreed to do in return for receiving Universal Credit.
I receive an online notification to remind me about my interview at the jobcentre.
8
6
Depending on my circumstances I may have to regularly visit the jobcentre where my work coach and I discuss the actions we’ve agreed in my Work Plan.
7 9
If there is a change in my circumstances, including if I start work I have to report this to my online UC account. My Claimant Commitment is reviewed and may be changed to take into account my new situation.
bubbles on pages 10 - 1 .
I receive my Universal Credit decision notification via my online UC account. It tells me when I will receive my payments, and confirms what I need to do in return for getting Universal Credit.
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Customers who have already been through the process have told us the key thing is to prepare - you can read some of their comments in speech
I undertake my agreed activities according to my online to do list. I can get advice on jobseeking, budgeting and going online from my work coach. I access my online UC account regularly.
If a change in my circumstances means my Universal Credit payments change, I receive an online notification confirming the new details.
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Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!
Preparing for the journey Change can make people anxious, but if things are changing and you feel unsettled, the worst thing to do is nothing at all. In any situation, preparing in advance can make a journey far less difficult and knowing that you’re well prepared can make you feel better about going on a new journey in the first place. Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears. When you claim it, you may have to wait up to six or seven weeks for the first payment. If you can’t manage, you may be able to claim an ‘advance payment’ of Universal Credit. For more details visit our website or contact our advice and support service using the details at the end of this booklet.
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Many of these changes may mean you get less benefit. If you have problems budgeting or managing your money, or are worried about money in general, then contact us straightaway. You can also visit our website for practical advice on managing your money.
Benefits are complicated and billions of pounds of benefits are unclaimed each year. You can also contact us for a benefit check to make sure you are not missing out. In order to fully prepare for Universal Credit, you need to have a bank account and to be confident using a computer. YHN can help with both of these things if they’re new to you and you can read more about how over these next two pages.
Get a bank account and pay your rent Universal Credit payments are designed to be more like a typical salary payment, to help those who claim get used to the routine of a monthly wage. Because of this, Universal Credit payments are paid monthly, in arrears, directly into the claimant’s bank account. This means that you must have a bank account to claim Universal Credit and then you will be personally responsible for paying your rent to YHN.
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Unfortunately, in the vast majority of cases, even if you would rather we receive your rent directly, this will not be possible. If you do not have a bank account we can put you in touch with a bank so you can set one up. We can also offer advice and support if you are unsure about doing your own budgeting, including helping you to set up a direct debit so that your rent is paid automatically.
Keeping up with your rent payments couldn’t be more important; please speak to your income officer and agree how you’re going to make sure your rent is always paid on time.
Get more confidence online Universal Credit is claimed online and the expectation will be that it is managed by you online. Universal Credit payments are also run through a sort of online banking system, which is something you’ll need to be familiar with so that you can manage your money. Obviously not everyone is used to using online systems like this and we know it can be difficult to use a system you’re not familiar with.
But don’t worry – we can give you lots of support to help you increase your confidence online. YHN has a team of Digital Champions, who are customers we’ve trained to help other customers get used to the online world. They can visit you in community venues across the city to show you how to get on the internet, set up an email address and do various other things online.
DO IT ON
LINE
page 6 Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!
We also arrange free online training out of the City Library in partnership with the Skills Hub, which can lead to a certificate once you’ve completed a certain number of hours. We run “Techy Tea Parties” from there too – these run on the second and last Thursdays of each month and are a little more advanced, you can even take your own equipment such as a tablet or smartphone along and our
friendly volunteers will help you to get more out of them.
For more information about Digital Champions and free IT courses call Lisa Dawson on 0191 278 8600. You can book a place at a Techy Tea Party by calling 0191 277 4100.
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Find work
The City Library Skills Hub is a new service offering a one-stop shop for support with training, career and job advice. To talk to an advisor call 0191 277 4125.
Universal Credit can be essential if you don’t have any other income but the Government is keen that you are better off in work so you must commit to preparing and looking for work to claim. There are various levels of this depending on your situation, such as being a lone parent or carer or being ill and so on. Some people do not have any work requirements. We know that it isn’t always easy to find a job – sometimes you might not know where to start looking and, even if you do, you might not be confident in your skills or abilities to get through an interview process. We can help with all of this in a number of ways. We offer apprenticeships in a number of subjects that are only available to our customers aged 16-24. We also offer six month paid placements to customers of all ages in various roles, and we can even support you to set up your own business if that’s something you’d be interested in.
We also work in partnership with other organisations who can help provide advice and support relating to employment and training and you can read more about this on our website too. We have been working in close partnership with Job Centre Plus. One of the organisations we work closely with is Newcastle Futures, who can help with CV writing and application forms, searching for jobs, access to computers and even budgeting advice.
You can find out more at www.newcastlefutures.co.uk or by calling 0191 230 2970.
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page 7 Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!
Getting from A to B As with all major changes, the best way to prepare is to try to understand them, seek further information if you don’t, and do everything you can to be in the best possible position to cope with any forks in the road. We hope this information will help you to make sense of the changes, but it’s important that you’re aware that we are receiving updates all of the time and some elements of the proposed new Government policies are still being worked out. We will be updating our website with information as and when we receive it so it’s a good idea to regularly check there: www.yhn.org.uk and you’ll also find updates on our social media pages – see below for details. You can find a great deal of information on Newcastle City council’s website (www.newcastle.gov.uk) and at www.gov.uk too.
We would also strongly advise you to sign up for our email newsletter so we can continue to inform you of any important details you might need to be aware of. Please email communicationsteam@yhn.org.uk and put “Welfare reform updates” in the subject field so we can add you to our distribution list.
If you have any queries about the information contained here or any other concerns about welfare reform and / or Universal Credit, then our Advice and Support Service can help. Please contact us on tel: 0191 277 1144 or email: universal.credit@yhn.org.uk Please don’t suffer in silence – if you’re worried about anything it’s important you let us know so we can help you.
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T I D E R C L A UNIVERS
page 8 Please note that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. We will provide further updates via our website and through an e-newsletter – please keep in touch with us to read more!