The Budget announced Universal Credit changes

The Budget announced Universal Credit changes

10:45 AM, 23rd November 2017, About 7 years ago 4

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Philip Hammond the Chancellor of Exchequer has announced the summer budget today, detailing some changes in the controversial flagship benefit Universal Credit.

Some, but not all of the concerns that have been highlighted in the press were addressed such as the wait for the claimants first payment will be cut from six weeks.

An additional £1.5 billion will earmarked for Universal Credit to cut the waiting period for payments and make it easier for claimants to receive an advance.

The seven-day waiting period will also be removed meaning that universal credit starts on the day that the claimant makes the claim and a full months advance can be accessed within five days of applying for universal credit.

Claimants will stay on Housing Benefit for the first two weeks of their Universal Credit Claim.

David Gauke, the Work and Pensions Secretary, will be outlining further details on changes in the Commons on Thursday, which I’m sure we all cannot wait to hear!!!

I would be interested to hear on what your thoughts are and what you are expecting to hear from David Gauke and whether you are happy with the announcement.

I personally think it is a step in the right direction as it was ridiculous claimants not being paid for the first 7 days of their claim  this automatically put claimants in 7 days rent arrears and contributed to debt.

Contact Sherrelle for offline Universal Credit advice

Sherrelle is an independent consultant and is recommended by Property118 for landlords who require professional advice and assistance in regards to dealing with Universal credit related matters


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Mick Roberts

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12:29 PM, 23rd November 2017, About 7 years ago

It's all rammel.

Making someone wait more than 2 weeks is diabolical. Most people are claiming UC 'cause they have no money. JSA was bad enough having to wait for 2 weeks, why change some'at fot the worse that was already not great?

And these advance payments loads of codswallop. We know you skint & can't eat 'cause we taking too long to pay u, so we'll let u APPLY for a loan. You cun't make this up.

Someone ought to do a costing or Freedom of Information requests to the Councils to how much this UC is costing in people in Travelodges etc. up & down the country that the Govt are excluding from their figures.

It won't be fit for purpose, till they pay at 2 weeks, & give choice of direct payment to Landlord for the Housing element 'rent'

Rob Crawford

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13:32 PM, 23rd November 2017, About 7 years ago

I am sure this will help but unless the payout is increased to be more competitive against the whole PRS market, I don't see landlords who have left the benefits market switching back.

Shirley Harvey

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15:41 PM, 23rd November 2017, About 7 years ago

My daughter had the misfortune to lose her job and applied for UC. She was told the waiting time was 6 weeks. She had very little savings so she was unable to eat, pay her rent or her mobile phone bill (which she needed wifi for to look for jobs). She was offered 1 voucher for the food bank (which she gratefully used). Her application for an emergency payment was refused (apparently the threat of eviction from the mobile caravan park she lived on was "not their issue") and it wasn't until I wrote to her MP, in Hertfordshire, for help that she finally got a payment after 4 weeks. The worst of it was that she then received a "sanction" of no money because she couldn't prove she had been searching for work for up to 7 hours each day and they deducted 1 weeks payment for that. She tried explaining that she hadn't been able to search for work for that period of time each day because she didn't have wifi in her caravan and that the local library didn't have computers, but again "not their issue". I think the sanction was really unfair because I am positive that the majority of people on UC do not have to "prove they are looking for work for 35 hours per week". Luckily she was able to find employment after a few weeks, but I feel sorry for those who are not so fortunate.

Mick Roberts

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17:48 PM, 23rd November 2017, About 7 years ago

Further to my last comments, below is part of a letter I have just sent to UC, which needs addressing by everyone who gets to meet anyone from UC/DWP:

I sent you this UC 47 form by email 4 Nov 17. Why has it took you THREE weeks to ask for my bank details?
Why don’t you use common sense & see the existing claims I have with yourself TO SEE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE MY BANK DETAILS.
Why are you asking for my bank details again?
Why can’t you ask for my bank details on the UC47 form? Do you not agree this would save lots of time?
How much longer would you like to delay this?
So tenant is already over 8 weeks in arrears 27 Oct.
You delay things by not doing the common sense things above, her next Housing element ‘rent’ is due 27 Nov. Do you know what date it is today?
Who’s paying the mortgage? Not rocket science is it.
My 5 year old kid could run this process better.
Please don’t tell me the above is policy. Why not? Tell the policy makers this needs changing. Go learn off Housing Benefit & Local Housing Allowance. The mistakes they have made & corrected, you are now doing & it’s costing millions of pounds & man hours to you, the Govt, DWP, UC, Me, tenants.
You can solve this in one swoop by asking HB about the problems direct payment caused when LHA came in, in 2008. And how most councils solved that about 4 years later.
Don’t you learn from history?

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