Universal Credit Full Service
Changes for claimants Make claim online Single household payment Paid monthly Housing costs paid direct to tenant Claimant Commitment Cohesive support
Universal Credit What s it about?
Universal Credit - conditionality groups Claimant Characteristics Working Enough Regime: Those whose earnings are over either the individual or household Conditionality Earnings Threshold (CET) OR selfemployed and Minimum Income Floor applies No Work-Related Requirements Regime: Those not expected to work at present: This includes those too sick to work, over State Pension Age, those with significant caring responsibilities and lead carers with a child under 1yr old Work Focused Interview Only Regime: Those expected to work in the future but are currently nominated lead or responsible carers for children. This includes lead carers of a child over 1 and under 3 year old Work Preparation Regime: Those expected to work in future but not expected to look for work at this stage. This includes those assessed as having Limited Capability for Work (LCW) and those who are the lead carer for a child 3 or over and under 5yrs old Conditionality Group No work related requirements Work focused Interviews Work preparation Light Touch Regime: Those whose individual or household earnings are above the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) but insufficient to take them above the relevant individual or household CET Intensive Work Search Regime: For those not working and those who are working but earning very low amounts who can work and are expected to take intensive action to secure work or more work. All work related requirements 4
Universal Credit full service (continued)
Supporting claimants with complex needs Assisted Digital Support Personal Budgeting Support Alternative Payment Arrangements Advanced Payments
Alternative Payment Arrangements consideration factors Tier 1 - 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 Tier 2 - 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
Sent from TPD to landlords account Housing element sent to TPD system 25 December Assessment period start Third party payment cycle explained The claimants assessment period for Universal Credit is calendar monthly. Managed payments to landlords are sent to the Third Party Deduction system monthly. Third party payments are on a 28 day cycle therefore there are thirteen cycles each year Payments are released from CPS into landlords accounts at their next 4 weekly cycle date, so there will always be one 4 weekly cycle in which a third party is not paid. 31 Jan Claimants first payday 28 Feb Claimants next payday. 31 March Claimants next payday 30 April Claimants next payday 31 May Claimants next payday 30th Jun Claimants next payday. 31 July Claimants next payday 31 Aug Claimants next payday. 30 Sept Claimants next payday. 31 Oct Claimants next payday. 30 Nov Claimants next payday. 31 Dec Claimants next payday 28 day cycle ends 4 Feb MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 1 Apr MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 27 May MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 22 July MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 16 Sept MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 11 Nov MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 6 Jan MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 4 Mar MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 29 April NO MPTL PAID 28 day cycle ends 24 June MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 19 Aug MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 14 Oct MPTL paid 28 day cycle ends 9 Dec MPTL paid
Landlord Portal The portal allows social landlords to verify a UC claimants rent and request an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) directly to UC full service. Account Managers will be responsible for ensuring Trusted Partner landlords have the knowledge and support to register onto the Landlord Portal. They will also provide effective and professional support to Trusted Partner landlords ensuring that they have the information and tools to enable implementation of the Trusted Partner model and the UC landlord portal. The Account Manager will work with a Single Point Of Contact (SPOC) from each Trusted Partner landlord to gather the necessary information to enable the landlord to be enrolled on the UC Landlord Portal. The Account Manager will provide ongoing support on Trusted Partner or Portal once an organisation is enrolled.
Landlord Portal Landing Page
Landlord Portal To-do list
Landlord Portal Tenant list
Landlord Portal APA Application
Support for claiming universal Credit www.gov.uk Universal Credit in Action You Tube Videos use the online Personal Planner at http://ucpp.dwp.gov.uk/universal-credit-preparation/ They can use a simple monthly budget planner, like the one available on the Money Advice Service website www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk 14
15 Poll Questions
Universal Credit Full Service Karen Wenlock, Revenues & Benefits Manager Revenues & Customer Support (R&Cs) Leicester City Council (LCC) 16
Aim of session Give an overview of what Leicester has done to prepare:- - the likely impacts for Leicester as a result of UCFS roll out - what steps have been taken to help mitigate any risks identified - Importance of partnership working and stakeholder engagement - support in place for city residents - the help and guidance material produced to support effective referral and signposting NB) This presentation is just about Leicester, each area has to determine what is the best way for them. 17
Introduction Leicester goes live on 13th of June Asked to share our experience so far in relation to our preparation and planning Each local LA will have a very different experience. Leicester s advantage - learnt lessons from experiences of other LA s & stakeholders, including some of our social landlords We have also benefited from the changes announced the budget, and the subsequent 3 month delay in roll out Gave us the opportunity to build on the work already done and benefit from the changes 18
UC Project Strategy To understand the impact on the Local Authority, as a result of the move to UCFS, and develop a plan to ensure the roll out is successfully managed. Research Contacted other LA s, registered Social Landlords, CAB, and reports from organisations and other published information. Housing and Council Tax collection - operational issues administration, customer contact, discretionary awards, council tax Other Services Rent (collection, arrears, homelessness) free school meals, care leavers, supported accommodation, mental health. UC awareness - sessions offered to:- LCC service areas and external providers to raise awareness of the changes and impacts of UCFS and encourage services to undertake a review of their provision 19
Main Financial Impacts Identified Challenges Council Tax Reduction to collection, increased costs Increase in Rent Arrears Homelessness Housing Benefit Overpayment recovery OGB ends Increase in customer contact both telephone and face to face Increased need for discretionary funding:- Community Support Grant, DHP s, Council Tax Discretionary Award Mitigation Training with JCP on promotion of Council Tax Support and overview of collection processes. MI data, KPI s, monitoring Council Tenancies Appointed Housing Project lead Rent Management Advisors, (co located in JCP ) L/L portal. Private L/L engagement. MI monitoring and review Procedures reviewed. Monitoring & review Procedures reviewed. Monitoring & review Provision, policies & procedures reviewed. Monitoring & review 20
Partnership working (Crucial) LCC in partnership with DWP Strategic Meetings (Open to all LCC Services) Operational Meetings (R&CS) Revenues & Customer Support UC Corporate project lead (SPOC for DWP) Joint events, identification of issues and working together on mitigation. Housing Project Lead, Awareness, Rent Management Advisors, Housing Options (Homeless Reduction Act) Other council Services Complex Needs Plan, led by DWP but supported by UC lead* Identifying issues and finding solutions/mitigation/ agreeing pathways External Stakeholders Awareness sessions, signposting to information, identifying issues /mitigation 21
Main Customer Impacts Challenges 5 week waiting period for first payment (impacts other areas eg CT,DHP) Application process and management of the UC claim is all done on line Payments for living costs and rent are normally monthly into a bank account Housing costs not paid direct to landlord, including council tenants Arrears of rent likely to increase Support Advance payments, HB run on Wi-Fi and use of PC s. Free Assisted digital support (confidence building & complex need) DWP Alternative arrangements Help to set up bank accounts and free Personal Budgeting Support (PBS). Alternate Payment Arrangements (APA s) Awareness & Support, On site JCP, APA (Managed payments to Landlord) Social LL s Landlord Portal Private LL s DWP web site, application. Free PBS and APA s (direct to landlord) Greater likelihood of failing into debt/crisis Discretionary funding (limited funds) 22
Complex Needs Plan This is the DWP s plan. They have led the work to update it for the city. A person with complex needs is recognised as a person who has experienced difficult life events or someone who is unable to deal with the process and demands that DWP are asking of them. Areas of need includes: Language, Literacy & Numeracy, mental health, domestic abuse etc. (Can be short term or indefinite) Aim To have one city wide agreement Agree single points of contact for the DWP and the local authority to ensure quick resolution of issues. Already developed Protocol for Children in/leaving Care. Priority Areas in development:- Homelessness / Mental Health / Domestic Abuse / Children s services/ Prison & Probation service Proactive changes as a result of plans Care leavers protocol DWP work coaches located in local homeless hostel Development of a referral process to DWP from GP s 23
How it works Complex Needs Plan JCP Subject Matter Expert Vulnerbale applicant JCP Single Point of Access Leicester City Council Liasion Point Other support providers 24
Assisted Digital Support Free Wi-Fi available in all public council buildings Free to use Wi-Fi & PC s available in the 3 JCP sites 168 bookable, free to use PC s in city libraries 20 free to use PC's in the CSC, Granby Street Assisted Digital Support 1. Access 2. Confidence 3. IT skills & support UC Digital Coordinator Role Identify and provide digital support in LCC customer service and community venues LCC offer combined digital ESOL/literacy skills courses. Leicester College plus other providers Also able to support those with disabilities and complex needs into learning IT skills referral via JCP 25
Personal Budgeting Support Personal Budgeting Support Start journey to financial capability How to manage monthly payments and prioritise essential bills Referral can be :- self, via a support worker or JCP JCP at first appointment 26
Communication Universal Credit is administered by the DWP Main method of communication web site Gov.UK Agile roll out, constant changes. LCC web site simplified information with links to Gov.uk Role of Leicester City Council To support the role out of UCFS so communications have concentrated on signposting residents to:- The date of the change / signpost to the latest information How to prepare for the changes Where to find the support they might need 27
Summary of Communications Requirement Notify UCFS is coming to Leicester 13 th June How to prepare Latest information How to access Support to apply for UC and manage the claim How to access discretionary funding (Financial support) Publicity Produced LCC Web site - www.leicester.gov.uk/universalcredit links to GOV.UK Posters in libraries AV Screen messages Stakeholder engagement & Awareness LCC web site referral and signposting Leaflets Welfare advice provision Posters - IT skills courses LCC web site referral and signposting Leaflets Help and Support Community Support Grant Help to pay your council Tax 28
Finally Reminder this is a snap shot of the preparation Leicester City has done Each Local Authority will have to develop their own strategies and plans. This partnership work will not end on 13 th June. The complex needs plans will evolve as we deal with live situations 29
Poll Questions 30