UNIVERSAL CREDIT HOUSING GUIDE

Transcription

1 UNIVERSAL CREDIT HOUSING GUIDE 6 th September 2017 Paul Armstrong parmstrong@nifha.org

2 CONTENTS Introduction Page 3 When will Universal Credit be Introduced? Page 4 Applying for Universal Credit Page 5 How is Universal Credit Calculated? Page 10 How is Universal Credit Paid? Page 11 Rent and Service Charges Page 13 The Claimant Commitment Page 14 Welfare Supplementary Payments Page 15 Communication with Universal Credit Page 16 Rates Page 17

3 INTRODUCTION Universal Credit replaces several means-tested benefits including Housing Benefit. As Housing Benefit makes up much of a housing association s income it is therefore important that the operational aspects of this new benefit are understood. This guide provides an overview of Universal Credit and gives details on how it will impact on housing management practices. The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 make provision for the introduction of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland. This is a single payment for working-age people who may be on a low income or out of work. It includes support for the cost of housing, children and childcare, as well as financial support for disabled people, carers and people who are too ill to work. To claim Universal Credit, the claimant must agree a commitment that they will look for work or strive to increase their earnings if they are already working. The following means-tested benefits will be replaced by Universal Credit: Income Support Income-based Job Seeker s Allowance Income-related ESA Child Tax Credits Working Tax Credits Housing Benefit. To be eligible for Universal Credit in Northern Ireland the claimant must: Live in Northern Ireland Be 18 years of age or over (some claimants aged 16 may be eligible 1 ) Be under State Pension age Not be in full-time education Not have savings or capital over 16,000. Universal Credit is a digital service. This means that the benefit application and all subsequent communications relating to the claim will be carried out online. Claimants will not receive letters or s about their claim they have a responsibility to regularly log into their online Universal Credit account to access any communications about their claim. NIFHA are continually engaging with the Department for Communities (DfC) in relation to the rollout of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland. This guide will be regularly updated as further information becomes available. However, if you have any questions regarding Universal Credit, please contact Paul Armstrong on (028) or parmstrong@nifha.org 1 The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, Paragraph 8 3

4 WHEN WILL UNIVERSAL CREDIT BE INTRODUCED? The introduction of Universal Credit will be carried out in two phases: Transition phase new benefit claims will be for Universal Credit. Managed migration existing benefit claimants will migrate over to Universal Credit. The transition phase will be introduced for new claims by geographical area from September 2017 until September Following this phase, the managed migration phase will run from July 2019 until March If someone who is currently on one of the benefits being replaced has a change in circumstances and lives in an area where Universal Credit has been introduced, they may be moved to Universal Credit. This can happen at any point from the start of the transition phase providing the claimant lives in an area where Universal Credit has been rolled out. The planned roll-out of the Universal Credit transition phase is: DATE UNIVERSAL CREDIT WILL START 27 September 2017 Limavady 15 November 2017 Ballymoney JOBS & BENEFITS / SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE 13 December 2017 Magherafelt and Coleraine 17 January 2018 Strabane and Lisnagelvin 7 February 2018 Foyle and Armagh 21 February 2018 Omagh and Enniskillen 7 March 2018 Dungannon and Portadown 18 April 2018 Banbridge and Lurgan 2 May 2018 Kilkeel, Downpatrick and Newry 16 May 2018 Bangor, Newtownards and Holywood Road 30 May 2018 Knockbreda, Newtownabbey and Shankill 13 June 2018 Corporation Street, Falls and Andersonstown 27 June 2018 Shaftesbury Square, Lisburn and Larne 4 July 2018 Carrickfergus, Antrim and Ballymena July to September 2018 Cookstown, Ballynahinch and Newcastle TRANSITIONAL PROTECTION Transitional Protection is a top-up amount to ensure that a claimant is not worse off when they move onto Universal Credit. Those claimants who are part of the transition phase will have had a change of circumstances that has meant they had to make a new benefit claim; transitional protection is not available to them. Transitional protection will only be available to claimants who move to Universal Credit as part of the managed migration phase from July

5 APPLYING FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT Universal Credit can only be claimed online at ACCOMMODATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM UNIVERSAL CREDIT: Accommodation provided by a housing association, registered charity or voluntary organisation into which the claimant receives care, support or supervision 2 ; Temporary accommodation provided by the Housing Executive, housing association, registered charity or voluntary organisation to the claimant because they have left their home because of domestic violence 3 ; Hostels to provide accommodation together with care, support or supervision for homeless people with a view to assisting them to be rehabilitated or resettled within the community 4. HOW TO MAKE AN APPLICATION FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT All applications will have to be submitted online and claimants will have to create a username and password as well as answer two security questions. The claimant must have an address, this can belong to someone else such as a family member or appointee. Once an account is created an will be sent to the address provided and this will be used to confirm the account. This must be actioned within one hour of the account being created. When the account has been confirmed the claimant will be presented with a to do list that will have to be cleared before moving on. This list will include questions on nationality, health and housing. The date of the Universal Credit claim will be the date the claim is submitted and not the date a username and password has been created. Once all the to do list questions have been answered the claimant can then submit the claim. Before submitting the claimant will be given the chance to review all the information and ensure it is correct. CLAIMANTS WILL REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR CLAIM: An address Their postcode Their landlord s details Details of the bank or building society account they want Universal Credit to be paid into Details of savings or other capital they have Details of any income that is not from work Details of their housing costs (rent) Details of any other benefits they are receiving Claimants will be asked to provide details of all the people who live in their home such as their partner and children. Claimants may also be asked to provide evidence that confirms their information such as bank statements. This evidence should be provided within one calendar month of the claim being made. 2 The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, Schedule 1, Paragraph 4 (3) 3 The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, Schedule 1, Paragraph 4 (4) 4 The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, Schedule 4, Paragraph 28 (6) 5

6 IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED WHEN MAKING A CLAIM FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT For verification of identity claimants are required to provide one primary evidence document and two secondary evidence documents. Acceptable documents are listed below: PRIMARY EVIDENCE A current passport showing that the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a British citizen or a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies having the right of abode in the United Kingdom A current passport or national identity card showing that the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a national of the European Economic Area or Switzerland Electoral Identity Card A residence permit, registration certificate or document certifying or indicating permanent residence issued by the Home Office or the United Kingdom Border Agency to a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland A permanent residence card issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to the family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland A Biometric Residence Permit issued by the United Kingdom Border Agency to the holder which indicates that the person named in it can stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom, or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, can stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom, has the right of abode in the United Kingdom, or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom SECONDARY EVIDENCE Certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen Original birth certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland (or certified copy from Registrar) Foreign birth certificate Original (or certified copy from Registrar) birth / adoption certificates An expired full or provisional photo driving licence Provisional driving licence (where photo card licence, the licence has not expired) NIHE rent card Land & Property Services rates documents Life assurance / insurance policies Mortgage repayment policies Recently paid fuel / telephone bills in the customer s name Original marriage certificate Original civil partnership certificate Divorce / annulment papers Current firearms certificate Dissolution of civil partnership papers Certificate / contract of employment in Her Majesty s forces Certificate / contract of employment under the Crown Certificate / contract of employment in the Merchant Navy Current Police registration certificate Current / recent wage/pension slip that includes payee name and NINO Letter from employer / contract of employment Deed Poll certificate

7 An Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office or the United Kingdom Border Agency to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the person named in it can stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom A certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen, which indicates the holder is entitled to take up employment in the United Kingdom Additionally As an exception to the standards contained in the common standards for identity verification, and if any of the above documentation is unavailable, the following documents may also be accepted: Full driving licence, if a photo card licence, the licence has not expired Provisional driving licence, if a photo card licence, the licence has not expired Current bank / building society / Post Office card account statements Current / open saving account book Personal cheque book Current debit / switch card Current charge card Trade union membership card Travel pass with photograph affixed Apprenticeship indentures Vehicle registration / motor insurance documents Expired passport Form B79, a form used to notify DfC staff that a person has been discharged from prison and has been advised to claim benefit Bail sheet Correspondence from HMRC Tenancy agreement for current property Invoices (self-employed) Letter from accountant containing information which helps to establish identity Letter from solicitor containing information which helps to establish identity Current / recent instrument of court appointment, for example a probate or court registered Power of Attorney Stock transfer certificate (Director) Certificate of incorporation (Director) Memorandum of association (Director) NHS medical card Student ID card (student) Letter from educational institution (student) Student loan documentation If the claimant does not have sufficient evidence to verify identification they must undergo biographical security questions / checks at their local Jobs and Benefits Office.

8 Identification is certified online using the GOV.UK Verify service. This service will not accept certain forms of ID such as Electoral Identity Cards and in these cases claimants will be prompted to make a face-to-face appointment in their local Jobs and Benefits Office to have this ID verified. At present Northern Ireland driving licences are not accepted as valid ID when using the GOV.UK Verify service. However, the Department of Finance are working to ensure that these are accepted online by the Universal credit go-live date. SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE CLAIMANTS The definition of a vulnerable claimant is An individual who is identified as having complex needs and requires additional support to enable them to access Universal Credit Services. Support for financially vulnerable claimants. These are claimants who have debt such as rent arrears or other debt: Claimants may be referred to Finance Support i.e. Discretionary Support. Claimants will be signposted to third sector provision for financial capability advice including budgeting support. Support for non-digital claimants. These are claimants who have low digital skills or do not have digital access: Assisted digital via end to end telephony or face to face for claimants with limited IT literacy; Assisted access for claimants who do not have IT access; Home visits will be carried out, when required. Support for socially vulnerable claimants. These are claimants who have no ID, health conditions, drug/alcohol dependencies, cognitive impairment, complex housing or are homeless or care-leavers: Specific tailoring due to claim complexity; Support could include Financial Capability advice including budgeting support and assistance with claim completion. Claimants may be referred to Finance Support i.e. Discretionary Support. ASSESSMENT PERIOD It may take up to six weeks after a Universal Credit claim has been made for the first payment to reach the claimant s account. Waiting Days (7 Days) Assessment Period (1 Calendar Month) Payment (7 Days) Claim Submitted Assessment Period Starts (Assessment Date) Assessment Period Ends Payment Made to Claimant

9 Universal Credit will not normally be paid for the first seven days of a claim; these days are called waiting days. This means housing costs, along with the personal allowance element will not be payable until the eighth day after the claim date. During the assessment period claimants can apply for an advance of up to 50% of their Universal Credit standard allowance entitlement. Claimants will have to pay the advance payment back. The repayments will be automatically deducted from their Universal Credit payments until the advance is fully paid back. This means that they will get smaller Universal Credit payments while they pay back the advance payment. PRISONERS If a person is claiming Universal Credit and they have been sentenced to a term in custody that is expected to last more than six months their benefit will cease 5. When a claimant is leaving prison, benefits are claimed in the area in which they have settled and not the prison address. In areas where Universal Credit has not yet been introduced, this will mean they apply for the benefits being replaced by Universal Credit. If a prisoner presents at a Jobs and Benefits Office an appointment will be made immediately for them to apply for Universal Credit. For those not allowed to access IT as part of their bail/licence conditions they will be treated as a vulnerable client and assisted with their claim in the Jobs and Benefits Office. 5 The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, Paragraph 19 9

10 HOW IS UNIVERSAL CREDIT CALCULATED? Universal Credit payments are worked out in three stages. 1. Standard Allowance This is an amount for the claimant and their partner. There are four Standard Allowance rates. The amount they receive will depend on their age and if they are part of a couple. AGED UNDER 25 AGED OVER 25 Single Claimants Joint Claimants Elements Claimants may be entitled to an additional amount, known as an element. ELEMENT Child element Childcare element Limited capability for work and work-related activity element Carer element Housing element WHAT THE PAYMENT IS FOR Payment for each child the claimant has plus an additional amount if any child has a disability. (This is called the Disabled Child Element and is paid at one of two rates). Payment to help cover relevant childcare costs. A payment when the claimant cannot be expected to look for work because of a disability or health condition. A payment to support the claimant if they are providing a significant amount of care to someone with a disability. A payment to help cover relevant housing costs (rent). The housing payment will be paid directly to the property landlord. Claimants can request the payment is made to them. 3. Other Income Universal Credit payments are dependent on other income such as: Earnings; Savings and/or capital above 6,000; Other benefits the claimant is receiving; Any other income (for example, a pension) or take-home pay; Any advances, sanctions, overpayments or third-party deductions the claimant and/or their partner might have. Once a claimant s Universal Credit payment has been calculated, they will be told of the decision. This information will not be sent to the landlord. 10

11 HOW IS UNIVERSAL CREDIT PAID? It may take up to six weeks after a Universal Credit claim has been made for the first payment to reach the claimant and housing association s account. Payments are made to the claimant twice monthly by default with the option of monthly payments on request. The housing element will be paid to housing associations every 28 days. Waiting Days (7 Days) Assessment Period (1 Calendar Month) Payment (7 Days) Claim Submitted Assessment Period Starts (Assessment Date) Assessment Period Ends Payment Made to Claimant Universal Credit will not normally be paid for the first seven days of a claim; these days are called waiting days. This means housing costs, along with the personal allowance element will not be payable until the eighth day after the claim date. The seven-day waiting period will not apply 6 if the claimant: Has claimed Universal Credit within the past six months; Is splitting up from or moving in with someone who is already claiming Universal Credit; Is moving on to Universal Credit from another benefit; Is terminally ill; Is vulnerable, for example they have recently been a victim of domestic violence or are leaving care or prison. The seventh day after a claim is made is the date of the month on which Universal Credit will be paid each month. This is called the assessment date. Universal Credit is paid in arrears and claimants must wait one calendar month from their assessment date before their first payment is made. This is called the assessment period. After the assessment period, it can take up to seven days for the first payment to reach the claimant s bank account. PAYMENT TO THE CLAIMANT Universal Credit will be paid twice a month; however, the claimant can request a monthly payment. Under exceptional circumstances if the claimant has specific issues such as alcohol or drug dependency, a more frequent payment can be arranged. A claimant s Universal credit can be paid into a bank account or a Post Office account. The use of Post Office accounts is not being publicised as Universal credit would prefer a that bank account was set up. If the claimant does not have a bank account or a Post Office account, Universal Credit can be paid using Faster Payments Service or Simple Payment. 6 The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, Paragraph 20 (3) 11

12 PAYMENT TO HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS The Northern Ireland default position is to pay the housing costs element of the Universal Credit award directly to the landlord as a monthly payment. A claimant can opt out of the default arrangement and ask for the housing costs element of their Universal Credit to be paid directly to themselves. To do this they must satisfy the following criteria: The claimant has not had their Universal Credit payment split between two parties in the household; The claimant has no Discretionary Support or Universal Credit debt; The claimant has no current or historical rent arrears. If a claimant has successfully opted out of the default arrangement and subsequently falls into arrears a landlord can request the default arrangement is reinstated. PAYMENT SCHEDULES AND BACKDATING Following an application for Universal Credit, the housing element payment will be backdated to the beginning of the assessment period. This will then be paid every 28 days to the landlord in arrears. The DfC have confirmed that if there are delays during the application process, the first payment of housing element will still be backdated to beginning of the first assessment period and cover right up to the end of the latest assessment period. Payment of the housing element for all tenants on Universal Credit will be paid to landlords in one single payment every 28 days; this will be accompanied by a payment schedule. This schedule will detail each tenant s payment amount, their National Insurance Number and the period in which the payment applies. Housing associations will be able to identify Universal Credit payments by National Insurance Number. This may belong to the tenant, joint tenant or their partner if they are making a joint Universal Credit claim. The Universal Credit team has advised that they are seeking clarity from DWP as to which National Insurance Numbers will be used on payment schedules. It is however advised that landlords collect the National Insurance of all tenants, joint tenants and any partners who are part of a joint claim. 12

13 RENT AND SERVICE CHARGES When an applicant is applying for Universal Credit, they are responsible for entering their rent and service charges onto the online portal. Once this has been completed, the Universal Credit team will contact the landlord to verify these charges. Currently this will be done by or a paper verification form. When tenant s rent changes, they are expected to inform Universal Credit of this change themselves; the landlord cannot do this. Tenants will be required to upload a copy of their notification increase letter within the assessment period in which the new charges will apply. The Universal Credit team will then contact the landlord to verify these charges. NIFHA are currently liaising with the Universal Credit team to explore options for housing associations to verify rent, service charges and that the claimant occupancies the address they have provided. At present the default option will be for Universal Credit to send a verification form via post to the housing associations to complete and return. An online solution is being explored with NIFHA and details of this will be shared when they have been agreed. SERVICE CHARGE ELIGIBILITY For service charges to be paid by Universal Credit, they must first meet the following four conditions: 1. The right to occupy the accommodation depends on the tenant paying service charges. 2. The service charge wholly falls into one or more of the following categories: a. Maintaining the general standard of the accommodation; b. Areas of communal use; c. Basic communal services; d. Tenant accommodation-specific charges. 3. The costs or charges are reasonable and they relate to such services as it is reasonable to provide. 4. Any charges for meals, medical services, personal services of any description do not apply to the service charge. The Department for Work and Pensions has produced guidance for landlords on service charge eligibility, this is available online at Housing associations will need to review their service charges and understand which costs will be covered by Universal Credit and which won t. Where a service charge is levied against a tenant that includes eligible and ineligible aspects, only the eligible aspect will be payable by Universal Credit, the rest will have to be paid for by the tenant. Landlords will need to make their tenants aware of what they need to pay and put in place suitable measures for payment to be made. 13

14 THE CLAIMANT COMMITMENT Everyone who receives Universal Credit will be placed in a work-related activity group based on their circumstances and work capability. The group they are in will determine what is expected of them during their claim. There are four groups: No Work-Related Requirements The claimant does not have to engage in any activities to prepare or look for work. Work-Focused Interview The claimant must go to regular interviews with a work coach at the Jobs and Benefits Office to avail of support with preparing for work in the future. They do not have to look for work, be available for work or prepare for work yet. Work Preparation The claimant must engage in activities to prepare for work, such as attending training, doing work experience, writing a CV, or going to interviews with a work coach at the Jobs and Benefits Office. They do not have to search for work or be available for work yet. All Work-Related Requirements The claimant will have to do all they can to find a job or a higher paid job. This includes looking for jobs, applying for jobs, going to interviews, etc. They must be ready and available to take up work straightaway. SANCTIONS The Jobs and Benefits Office may carry out checks to see that the claimant is carrying out all the activities they are required to under the Claimant Commitment. Claimants may be required to attend a Jobs and Benefits Office interview or give information or evidence about what they have been doing. Claimants must co-operate with any checks that are made or they may be sanctioned. A sanction is a cut in their benefit if they fail to meet their Claimant Commitment without good reason. The length of a sanction depends on which work-related requirements must be met, what the Jobs and Benefits Office say the clamant failed to do, and whether they have been sanctioned before. There are four different levels of sanction: Higher 91 to 546 days Medium - 28 to 91 days Low - 7 to 28 days Lowest - until failure is corrected For higher, medium and low-levels, the sanction is 100% of the standard allowance or 50% if part of a couple. For lower level, the sanction is 40% of the standard allowance or 20% if part of a couple. During a sanction, claimants may apply for a hardship payment (loan) amounting to 60% of losses. To be eligible, the sanction must be for 100% of the standard allowance and the claimant must demonstrate that they are unable to meet basic and essential needs. Landlords will not receive notification that a Universal Credit claim has been sanctioned: it will be the responsibility of the claimant to inform their landlord of this. 14

15 WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS Households affected by the Social Sector Size Criteria and the Benefit Cap may be eligible for welfare supplementary payments until April New legislation is required in Northern Ireland, however, for these supplementary payments to continue. Given the current political situation, there are no clear indications of how this will happen. The DfC have stated, nonetheless, that they are working on the assumption that a solution will be found. BENEFIT CAP Under Universal Credit, households with children who are affected by the Benefit Cap will have their supplementary payment paid directly to them and not the landlord. This is due to the housing element of Universal Credit being protected. Any deductions because of the Benefit Cap will be taken from the other Universal Credit elements. The DfC have confirmed that households with more than three children will not be able to be assessed for Universal Credit. This is due to the IT system being unable to process the housing element for households of this size. It is anticipated that the system functionality to process the housing element for larger households is planned for November Meanwhile, these households will continue to claim Housing Benefit. SOCIAL SECTOR SIZE CRITERIA Households affected by the Social Sector Size Criteria (Bedroom Tax) will still have their supplementary payment paid directly to the landlord. This is due to the Bedroom Tax only being deducted from the housing element of Universal Credit. 15

16 COMMUNICATION WITH UNIVERSAL CREDIT COMMUNICATION WITH CLAIMANTS As Universal Credit will be serviced through an online portal, claimants will not receive letters about their claim. Claimants have a responsibility to regularly log into their online Universal Credit account to access any communications about their claim. For security reasons, claimants will never be sent details regarding their claim by text, or letter. Unlike Housing Benefit, where the landlord has implied consent to speak to Housing Executive regarding a claim, Universal Credit requires the landlord to seek consent from the claimant. Consent is required on each occasion a landlord wishes to discuss a claim. This consent can only be given by the tenant via telephone or if they make an entry on to their Universal Credit journal online, this is called explicit consent. MPs and MLAs will retain implicit consent as is currently the case with legacy benefits. Landlords will not be made aware if a Universal Credit claim has been sanctioned or if the claimant has chosen to have the housing element paid to directly to themselves. It will be the claimant s responsibility to inform the landlord of this. A Universal Credit telephone service will be available for claimants. The number is This is a chargeable number to encourage the use of the online service. Call charges to the service will be up to 0.10/minute from a landline and 0.03 to 0.55/minute from a mobile. Telephone lines will be open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. COMMUNICATION WITH LANDLORDS The Universal Credit team has informed NIFHA that there will not be a dedicated line or service for landlords to make queries regarding the housing element of Universal Credit. A landlord portal is currently in development by the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) for the verification of rent and service charges, however this will not facilitate landlord queries. PAYMENT SCHEDULES Payment of the housing element of Universal Credit will be paid to landlords every 28 days; this will be accompanied by a payment schedule. This schedule will detail each claimant s housing element amount, their National Insurance Number (NINO) and the period in which the payment applies. Payment schedules will either be sent electronically or via paper. Electronic schedules will be XML files and shared through a generic file transfer service set up by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If your housing association currently receives a paper schedule for third party deductions, you are not yet set up to receive electronic schedules with DWP. This means that, as it presently stands, you will receive a paper payment schedule for Universal Credit. NIFHA are liaising with the Universal Credit team to establish whether electronic schedules can be set up by DWP for all Northern Ireland housing associations. Further details of this process will be shared as and when information becomes available. 16

17 RATES Rates for tenants are administered by the Housing Executive and are applied for through the Housing Benefit application form (HB1). Rate relief is paid direct to the landlord. Rates support for working age social housing tenants receiving Universal Credit will be moving to a new Department of Finance Rate Rebate scheme administered by Land and Property Services (LPS). This will be applied for separately from Universal Credit. Award of Rate Rebate will also be made separately from Universal Credit. To be eligible for Rate Rebate, the claimant must be of working age and in receipt of Universal Credit. Pensioners and non-universal Credit claimants will continue to receive Rate Relief as before. CLAIMING RATE REBATE The new system will be digital by default (online applications), with a telephony service for those with a disability, no access to internet or who are not able to use a computer. Communication will be via , or mail for those with no internet access. The application for Rate Rebate will need to be made within three months of entitlement to Universal Credit being established. When making the application, claimants will be asked six or seven questions online. It is currently envisaged that LPS will be able to receive Universal Credit information for any claimant from DfC. If a Universal Credit is cancelled, suspended or resumed, the Rate Rebate payments will follow. Once a claim has been made for Rate Rebate, this will continue indefinitely and will only end in the event of the claimant s death or if their Universal Credit claim ends. PAYMENT OF RATE REBATE Payments will be made monthly and will not necessarily align with Universal Credit. Payments will, however, align with the rating year. In conjunction with the monthly payments, a remittance advice file will be produced and sent to NIFHA to format for each of its members. The information required for the monthly remittance will include: Payment date (start/finish); Client reference; Payment amount. Overpayments will be deducted from the monthly payment schedule on the month they have been brought to the LPS s attention. This will be detailed in the monthly remittance advice in the same manner as payments. Payments of Rate Rebate can only be backdated to three months from a claim being made. 17