North West Landlords Forum Universal Credit June 2014 Universal - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

North West Landlords Forum Universal Credit June 2014

Universal Credit Current position Universal Credit Current position • Universal Credit live in 10 sites • North West Expansion Tranche 1 starts in June • Trafford • Bolton / Sefton • Wirrall • Bury / Preston / South Ribble • Salford / St Helens / Knowsley • Couples live in July (non North West live locations) • Tranche 2 for remaining 22 ‘North West’ Local Authorities late summer • Change to Gateway in early July for new claims (those on legacy benefits can make a new claim for UC) • Families early 2015 Confident Place, Confident People.

Universal Credit Migration Universal Credit Migration • Developing an ‘End State’ Service • Balance of old and new technology • By 2016 all areas of Great Britain for new claims only – no new claims to existing benefits • 2017 – Migration starts of existing benefit claimants • ESA will not be moved over until 2018 • ¼ million per month during migration period Confident Place, Confident People.

Universal Credit Scope Universal Credit Scope Confident Place, Confident People.

Conditionality and Sanctions Conditionality and Sanctions Confident Place, Confident People.

Conditionality and Sanctions Conditionality and Sanctions • Claimants put into four conditionality groups and what level of sanctions would apply if they do not comply • Daily amounts of sanctions ranging from £1.80 to £9 per day • The daily reduction amount will be set to the standard allowance amount included in the maximum amount i.e. 31 days • Where the claimant is sanctioned to the maximum amount it will never reduce the Universal Credit housing element Confident Place, Confident People.

Alternative Payment Arrangements Alternative Payment Arrangements • Alternative Payment Arrangement made • 3 types • Split payment • More frequent payments • Housing costs direct to landlord Confident Place, Confident People.

Alternative Payment Arrangement – Alternative Payment Arrangement – Housing Costs Housing Costs • Considered on a case by case basis • Can be requested by Landlords as well as claimants • Can be requested from day 1 where a new UC claimant is in existing rent arrears which will put their tenancy at risk • 1 month arrears – early intervention, review and make a managed payment arrangement if appropriate • 2 months rent arrears – DWP will pay housing element direct to landlord and if requested recover rent arrears through deductions from their remaining UC payment Confident Place, Confident People.

Alternative Payment Arrangement – Alternative Payment Arrangement – Housing Costs Housing Costs • 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 ‘exempt’ accommodation • Homeless • Domestic violence / abuse • Mental Health condition • Currently in rent arrears / threat of eviction • Claimant is young either a 16/17 year old and/or a Care leaver Confident Place, Confident People.

UC and Housing Costs Progress UC and Housing Costs Progress • The DWP have made a number of changes to managing housing costs in Universal Credit: – setting up a dedicated team to manage “alternative payment arrangement” cases; – provision of single point of contact details to local authorities and social landlords through a dedicated phone line; – better designed and simpler notifications and forms; – a new dedicated external email address for social landlords; – seconding a local authority housing benefit expert to the UC service centre; – setting up a dedicated network of named contacts within each local authority within current pilot sites Confident Place, Confident People.

Process – Housing Costs paid Process – Housing Costs paid Direct Direct • New form on www.gov.uk to apply for housing costs to be paid direct • Contact DWP Service Centre for rent to be paid direct and general enquiries – 0845 6000 723 • Direct email address for Landlords for specific housing issues – escalate issues landlords have with APAs and payments. Not for new APA request • If there is threat of eviction subject field should be noted ‘Potential Eviction’ – Uc.servicecentrehousing@dwp.gsi.gov.uk • Direct telephone number for Landlords for escalation routes only e.g. no response from email – 5 days non complex – 1 day complex Confident Place, Confident People.

Any Questions? Confident Place, Confident People.