Universal Credit replaces six benefits:

Transcription

1 Universal Credit replaces six benefits: Income Support Income-Based JSA Income-Related ESA Child Tax Credits Working Tax Credits Housing Benefit

2 To be eligible the claimant must:

3 Accommodation remaining under Housing Benefit Hostels which exclusively accommodate offenders and criminal justice referrals; Care homes; Accommodation provided by a housing association/registered charity/voluntary organisation, where the tenant also receives care, support or supervision; Hostel accommodation owned by NIHE, where claimant receives care, support or supervision; Refuge or hostel accommodation used wholly/mainly to provide temporary accommodation for those who have left homes due to domestic violence; Any accommodation where the claimant, or both joint claimants, are over State Pension Credit age.

4 Digital by default

5 Universal Credit Calculation: Standard Allowance Single Claimants Joint Claimants Under 25s Over 25s Elements Child Element Childcare Element + - Disability Element Carer Element Housing Element - Other Income Earnings Savings and/or capital over 6,000 Other income (pension/take-home pay) Advances, sanctions, overpayments or third party deductions

6 Period Waiting Days (7 Days) Period (1 Calendar Month) Payment (7 Days) Claim Submitted Period Starts ( Date) Period Ends Payment Made to Claimant

7 Rollout in Northern Ireland 27 September 2017 Limavady 15 November 2017 Ballymoney 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

8 Northern Ireland Arrangements Payment of housing element direct to landlord Twice monthly payment Split payment

9 However

10 Operational issues with Universal Credit Payment of housing element direct to landlord Explicit consent - No feedback so landlord doesn t know if arrears are technical or nontechnical No landlord portal to verify rent and occupancy Issues with payment reconciliation No direct link between UC and Rate Rebate Changes of circumstances

11 New Claim Universal Credit Payment Schedule 27/09/17 04/10/17 03/11/17 10/11/17 27/11/17 Waiting Days (7 Days) Period (1 Calendar Month) UC Calc (3 Days) Payment Generated (4 Days) Claim Submitted Period Starts ( Date) Period Ends Payment Made to Claimant Payment to landlord (monthly amount) Cycle 2 04/10/17 03/12/17 10/12/17 25/12/17 Period (1 Calendar Month) UC Calc (3 Days) Payment Generated (4 Days) Period Starts Period Ends Payment Made to Claimant Payment to landlord (monthly amount)

12 Changes of Circumstances 04/10/17 03/12/17 10/12/17 25/12/17 Period (1 Calendar Month) UC Calc (3 Days) Payment Generated (4 Days) Period Starts Period Ends Payment Made to Claimant Payment to landlord (monthly amount) Relevant legislation: UC, PIP, JSA & ESA (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (NI) Changes of circumstance in Universal Credit are treated as taking effect on the first day of the assessment period in which they occur. So if housing costs change partway through any assessment period, this change is treated as happening on day one of assessment period.

13 Scenario 1 Transfer of Social Tenancy NIHE Housing Association NIHE tenant is claiming UC, and receiving UC housing costs of 390 per month. Tenant moves to housing association tenancy on day 25 of their assessment period. Housing association rent is 425 per month. This change of circumstance is treated as happening on day one of their assessment period. Housing association receives full month s rent of 425. NIHE receive no UC housing costs for this assessment period.

14 Scenario 2 UC to Housing Benefit Universal Credit Housing Benefit Some accommodation is not payable by UC this will remain with HB Housing association tenant is claiming UC, and receiving UC housing costs of 425 per month Tenant moves into supported accommodation on day 20 of their assessment period. This accommodation is payable by HB. This change of circumstance is treated as happening on day 1 of their assessment period. Housing association will receive no UC housing costs for this assessment period.