Universal Credit Partner Presentation Progress so far 26 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Universal Credit – Partner Presentation

Progress so far

• 26 Universal Credit Service Centres
• 235 Jobcentres operate the Universal Credit full service

(as at 24th January 2018)

• 700,000 on caseload as at 14th December 2017
• 300,000 (46%) in employment as at 14th December 2017

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The service will initially be available to claimants making a new claim, or certain changes in circumstances.

Universal Credit Full Service – who can claim?

Working Tax Credits Income based JSA Housing Benefit Income Support Income based ESA Child Tax Credits

The service will be available for all claimant groups from the start. The service will initially be available to claimants making a new claim, or certain changes in circumstances.

As of 6 April 2017, claimants, where the household has more than two dependant children at the point of a new claim, will need to apply for Child Tax Credit and any other legacy benefits including Housing Benefit (HB) that they may be entitled to.

What’s Different About Universal Credit?

Support for those who need it

Local partnership support – typical delivery partners

The purpose of the partnerships approach is a joined up “coherent claimant journey” for claimants with complex needs so that they can progress from benefits dependency to independence

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24/09 Date of Claim +7 days

1st Universal Credit Payment Calculation / notification to claimant: 01/1.

1st Universal Credit Payment Received by Claimant: 07/11

Regular Universal Credit Assessment Period

2nd Universal Credit Payment Calculation: 01/12

2nd Universal Credit Payment Received by Claimant: 07/12

An example claim (changes in February 2018 no waiting days)

31/10 30/11

7 waiting day Period

01/10 End of waiting days

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• For a minority of claimants, Alternative Payment Arrangements may be

required; these might include – DWP will pay housing costs directly to the landlord (managed payment to landlord) – making payments more frequent than monthly – splitting the payment within the household

• Option to make managed payments directly to the landlord if a claimant

reaches a certain level of rent arrears (usually 2 Calendar months / 8 weeks)

• Considered on a case by case basis and assessed on their individual needs
• The decision about whether an Alternative Payment Arrangement is suitable

will be made by a Universal Credit Decision Maker through the Personal Budgeting Support process

• All Alternative Payment Arrangements are subject to review

Personal Budgeting Support – Alternative Payment Arrangements

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Alternative Payment Arrangements: consideration factors

Highly likely / probable need for Alternative Payment Arrangements

Drug / alcohol and / or other addiction problems e.g. gambling Learning difficulties including problems with literacy and/or numeracy Severe / multiple debt problems In temporary and / or supported accommodation Homeless Domestic violence / abuse Mental Health Condition Currently in rent arrears / threat of eviction / repossession Claimant is young: either a 16/17 year old and / or a Care leaver Families with multiple and complex needs

Less likely / possible need for Alternative Payment Arrangements

Third party deductions in place (e.g. for fines, utility arrears etc.) Claimant is a refugee / asylum seeker History of rent arrears Previously homeless and / or in supported accommodation Other disability (e.g. physical disability, sensory impairment etc.) Claimant has just left prison Claimant has just left hospital Recently bereaved Language skills (e.g. English not spoken as the ‘first language’). Ex Service personnel NEETs - Not in Education, Employment or Training

Universal Credit Transition – live to full service

EALING 3/18 RICHMOND 6/18 KINGSTON 6/18 HARROW 7/18 WANDSWORTH 9/18 HILLINGDON (Hayes & Uxbridge) 10/18 BRENT (Harlesden) 11/18 BRENT (Wembley) 12/18 All of the above dates are subject to change.

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Timing

From 2016 From 2020 through to 2021 From 2017 From 2019

Rollout of the Digital service across nation and regions will be a phased delivery approach with around 5 jobcentre areas going live each month initially. We will accelerate delivery to around 30 jobcentre areas per month going live with the digital service. Testing Migration of the legacy system will begin in 2018 with the start of national migration in 2019

The intention is that all cases are migrated, and a full service is available nationally, by 2020/2021

Universal Credit Full Service – Where Next.

Our future plans.

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Communications – What we’ve done so far

• GOV.UK
• Claimant Leaflet
• Partner Toolkit
• Infographics
• Videos

Useful Links

UC Rollout Schedule : http://bit.ly/ucrollout Universal Credit in Action YouTube channel : http://www.youtube.com/UniversalCreditinAction The claimant commitment : http://bit.ly/yourcommitment Local Support Services Framework : http://bit.ly/lssframework Universal Credit Personal Planner (for financial and digital preparation) : http://bit.ly/ucpersonalplanner Money Advice Service : http://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/universalcredit Improving Lives of Workless Families : http://bit.ly/worklessfamilies Universal Credit detailed guides on gov.uk : http://bit.ly/ucguides Universal Credit and Landlords : http://bit.ly/uclandlords Partnership Managers and Employer facing staff community group : https://intranet.dwp.gov.uk/page/universal-credit-partnership-resource-centre/

Any Questions ?