Universal Credit

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Universal Credit is a new single payment for working age people who are looking for work or on a low income. It replaces Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Income based Jobseekers Allowance and Income related Employment and Support Allowance.

Frequently asked questions about Universal Credit including new claim triggers (Opens a PDF document)
Find out if you should claim Housing Benefit or Universal Credit

Opening a Universal Credit account online

Working with students at Lowestoft College, we have produced a series of videos to promote and explain how Universal Credit works and how it can #makeyourmoneygofurther!

Preparing for Universal Credit

By completing the Universal Credit preparation questions, you'll know if there are important changes you need to make and get advice on what you need to do to prepare for Universal Credit. This should take about 5 minutes.

We teamed up with our colleagues at North East Suffolk and Felixstowe Citizens Advice to create a handy ‘Understanding Universal Credit’ video to help you get ready for Universal Credit.

Help to claim

If you need to claim Universal Credit, and need help making or managing an online claim, Citizens Advice can help. Visit the Citizens Advice website for further information, or contact the Citizens Advice helpline on 0800 144 8 444 to access ‘Help to Claim’. You can also visit your local Citizens Advice, there are three branches that cover the East Suffolk area:

Further information

Information about Universal Credit and finding work is now available by pressing the red button on the TV remote control. Sky and Virgin customers who have interactive TV can scroll through the menu to the relevant page to view a raft of information, including checking their eligibility for Universal Credit and learning how they can make a claim.

On Sky go to Channel 539 and press the red button
On Virgin go to Channel 233 and press the red button, or on the remote control chose Home, Interactive, Sports, News and Info, Looking Local

Looking Local has also launched an interface for the Wii games console, Wii users can now use this to view information regarding Universal Credit. And those who use their smartphone to connect to the web, can access the information via the new app, My Council. Further information can also be accessed via Facebook.

To access information on Universal Credit using these new services:

Download My Council from iTunes App Store or Google Play
On a mobile, internet-enabled games console go to http://www.lookinglocal.gov.uk

Money Advice regarding Universal Credit

Six animated videos to help you understand different aspects of Universal Credit are now available on the Money Advice Service website:

Universal Credit information for landlords

Our East Suffolk Universal Credit Guide for Private Landlords has been produced as a result of working in partnership with private rented sector landlords to raise awareness of Universal Credit and the support on offer locally. The pack also includes ways to prepare for Universal Credit, a guide to alternative payment arrangements and lessons learned from a local private landlord with tenants already getting Universal Credit.

For more information visit:

Universal Credit and rented housing guide from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Information for Landlords from the Money Advice Service
What Universal Credit means for landlords from GOV.UK

Looking for work?

Jobhelp is a good place to start. Jobhelp is a useful hints and tips website that has been launched by the Minister for Employment.

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