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 Conditionality Claimant Characteristics Group • Working Enough Regime: Those whose earnings are over either the No work individual or household Conditionality Earnings Threshold (CET) OR self- employed and Minimum Income Floor applies related • No Work-Related Requirements Regime: Those not expected to work at requirements 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 • Work Focused Interview Only Regime: Those expected to work in the future but are currently nominated lead or responsible carers for children. Interviews 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 Work expected to look for work at this stage. This includes those assessed as preparation having Limited Capability for Work (LCW) and those who are the lead carer for a child 3 or over and under 5yrs old • Light Touch Regime: Those whose individual or household earnings are All work above the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) but insufficient to take them above the relevant individual or household CET related • Intensive Work Search Regime : For those not working and those who are requirements working but earning very low amounts who can work and are expected to take intensive action to secure work or more work. 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
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. 28 Feb 31 Aug 31 Oct 30th Jun 30 April period start 31 Dec 25 December Claimants Assessment Claimants Claimants Claimants Claimants Claimants next payday next payday next payday next payday next payday next payday . . . . 30 Sept 30 Nov 31 Jan 31 July 31 March 31 May Claimants Claimants Claimants Claimants Claimants Claimants next next payday first payday next payday next payday next payday payday . . element sent to £ £ £ £ £ TPD system £ Housing £ £ £ £ £ £ 28 day 28 day 28 day 28 day 28 day 28 day 28 day Sent from TPD to landlords cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends account 4 Feb 1 Apr 22 July 11 Nov 27 May 16 Sept 6 Jan MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid 28 day 28 day 28 day 28 day 28 day 28 day cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends cycle ends 29 April 4 Mar 24 June 19 Aug 14 Oct 9 Dec NO MPTL MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid MPTL paid 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
Poll Questions 15
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 Mitigation Council Tax – Reduction to collection, Training with JCP on promotion of Council increased costs Tax Support and overview of collection processes. MI data , KPI’s, monitoring Increase in Rent Arrears Council Tenancies – Appointed Housing Project lead – Rent Management Homelessness Advisors, (co located in JCP ) L/L portal. Private L/L engagement. MI monitoring and review Housing Benefit – Overpayment recovery Procedures reviewed. Monitoring & OGB ends review Increase in customer contact both telephone Procedures reviewed. Monitoring & and face to face review Increased need for discretionary funding:- Provision , policies & procedures Community Support Grant, DHP’s, Council Tax reviewed. Monitoring & review Discretionary Award 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
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