Everything you need to know about Universal Credit NOW!

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1 Special Feature Everything you need to know about Universal Credit NOW! Your easy A B C to avoid debt ARE YOU READY? COMMUNITY MONEY ADVICE G E T M O N E Y W I S E This publication is available in large print

2 Do you receive any of the following benefits? Housing Benefit Income-based Jobseeker s Allowance Income-related Employment Support Allowance What is Universal Credit? Universal Credit is a means tested benefit for people of a working age with a low income. It will replace six existing benefits including Income-based Jobseeker s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit with a single monthly payment. Universal Credit is broken down into different elements depending on your circumstances. The personal element is money that covers your living costs. The child element is money that covers your children s living costs. The housing element is money that covers your rent. Personal element Child element 2 Contact on

3 If the answer is YES, and you re of working age, then the way you receive your benefits is going to change, and you will need to be prepared for this. Income Support Child Tax Credits Working Tax Credits How will these changes affect you? If you have been getting Housing Benefit that is paid directly to Calico, this will no longer happen once Universal Credit is introduced. Instead, the monthly Universal Credit payment will include your rent, and you will have to make arrangements to pay this yourself. There are a number of ways to pay your rent the easiest way is to set up a monthly Direct Debit through your bank. You can speak to our Income Management team, who will help you set up a Direct Debit and discuss alternative ways to make payments, if required. Universal Credit Housing element 3

4 How to prepare for Universal Credit A = Account Get a bank account if you don t have one. It is very important that you have a bank account to ensure you are able to receive your Universal Credit payments. A bank account is also essential if you are going to pay your rent by Direct Debit or Standing Order. B = Budget and get ahead Plan for Universal Credit now to avoid problems in the future. Using a budgeting plan (see over the page) now will help you to prepare for when you move across to monthly Universal Credit payments. This can also help you identify which of your debts are priority and which aren t, and can highlight any areas where you could save yourself money. We recommend that you try to get ahead with payments to your rent account, even if you currently receive full Housing Benefit. Paying as little as 2 per week to prepare for Universal Credit will help to reduce the amount of arrears on your account whilst you wait for your claim to come into payment. If you currently receive Council Tax Benefit, you will also need to call into your local Council offices and complete a form for Council Tax Support to be paid alongside Universal Credit, as this will not be included in your monthly housing element. C = Call Get in touch if you need support. Please contact our Income Management team on or to find our more about your options whilst you wait for your claim to come into payment. Paying as little as 2 per week to prepare for Universal Credit will help to reduce the amount of arrears on your account whilst you wait for your claim to come into payment. 4 Contact on

5 Budgeting plan Income Wages Benefits Other TOTAL (A) Expenditure Rent Gas Council Tax Electric Water T.V Licence Court fines Food Travel Benefit overpayments/social fund deductions Childcare costs Loans/catalogues/credit cards/overdrafts T.V. package/internet Mobile phone Other Savings TOTAL (B) Calculate your disposable income as follows: Total (A) minus (-) Total (B) = Disposable income per week/month If Total (B) is a higher amount than Total (A), it may be worthwhile booking an appointment with our Money Wise team to help you find ways to reduce your outgoings. 5

6 Universal Credit claim process Remember your A B C Complete online claim form at For help making your claim, call the DWP Helpline on It will now take up to seven weeks for your Universal Credit claim to come into payment. Once you have submitted a claim for Universal Credit, all other means-tested benefits will no longer be paid. Attend an interview with a work coach at the Job Centre. You will be asked to sign a claimant commitment. You will need to take a copy of your rent statement and tenancy agreement with you at this stage. Call your Rent Officer on or to inform them that you have made a claim for Universal Credit. Once your claim comes into payment, you will now be paid on the same date each month. If your personal circumstances change at any stage, you must inform the Job Centre. You can contact our Income Management team at any point during the claim process for support simply call or , or incomemanagement@calico.org.uk 6 Contact on

7 Additional support If you feel like your financial situation is getting out of control, there are a number of things you can do: Speak to the Job Centre about getting your rent paid directly to us call them on Find out more about Universal Credit by calling Ask to be referred to our Money Wise team for help with debts, budgeting and benefits call them on / or moneywise@calico.org.uk Contact your local Citizens Advice representative call Contact Shelter on Visit Contact Step Change Debt Charity on Speak to Welfare Rights by calling What will happen if you fall in to rent arrears? You should always speak to us if you are having trouble paying your rent. If you find that you have fallen into rent arrears, you should: Contact your rent officer as soon as possible Always open letters and return any missed calls from Calico staff Be open to negotiation when agreeing a repayment plan. Any agreement you make to reduce rent arrears needs to be realistic based on your current income and circumstances. Make an agreement you can stick to, rather than agreeing to pay an unrealistic amount, which will lead to you falling even further into arrears. Your claim can take up to seven weeks your rent account and other bills may fall into arrears while this is going through. Now is the time to start planning. 7

8 you said... we did... You said Properties are suffering from damp or condensation. Last year, we received a lot of feedback through our STAR satisfaction survey, which we have used to develop our services to meet your needs. Here are a few examples of how we have successfully acted on your views: We did STAR SURVEY Your views count WIN FIFTY POUNDS Carried out damp and condensation works to many of our properties. Organised door knocking exercises with Neighbourhood Action Teams and damp and condensation roadshows. You wanted a faster time for repair works, instead of the current priority times. You need supportive adaptions to your home. You needed help with your finances. Develop a Right First Time approach and customer-led appointments to see if this is a service we can offer our customers. This is ongoing throughout Our Occupational Therapist assessed your homes. Where required, homes were adapted, which you said improved your quality of life. We made referrals to our Money Wise team to ensure the right support can be put in place. Thanks to everyone who has taken part in the STAR survey. With your invaluable feedback, we are able to improve our services and your lives. Visit our social media sites facebook.com/calicohomesandenterprise twitter.com/calico_group Registered Office: Centenary Court, Croft Street, Burnley, Lancashire, BB11 2ED Freephone Local Number contact@calico.org.uk