Universal Credit

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!

5 reasons Universal Credit will help you move back into work and #makeyourmoneygofurther

1. Universal Credit is a single monthly payment that will be paid similar to a wage, this will enable you to prepare for the world of work.
2. Universal Credit claims are assessed using a real time information system which tracks your earnings through the Pay as You Earn (PAYE) system. This means your monthly payment will be amended to top up your benefit should your earnings drop.
3. Universal Credit applicants are more attractive to employers. This is because you are not at risk of coming off one benefit, and moving onto another, and creating complex in and out of benefit systems. Universal Credit tracks your earnings from employment and adjusts to top up your benefit should your earnings drop. This means you are now able to consider working on a varied hours contract, safe in the knowledge this will not create complex in and out of benefit situations. Your Universal Credit will just track your earnings and adjust accordingly.
4. Universal Credit applicants can benefit from a financial health check via the Local Authority. Instead of checking various money saving websites, we have enlisted the help of Citizens Advice to help you #makeyourmoneygofurther. Simply discuss making your money go further with your work coach and you will be given a free meeting with Citizens Advice.
5. Universal Credit accounts will be available to view online similar to online banking. This will enable you to notify of changes to your circumstance in real time and allow you to check payments and awards as and when you can, rather than having to phone or make an appointment with your work coach.

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:

• North East Suffolk Citizens Advice
• Leiston, Saxmundham and District Citizens Advice
• Felixstowe Citizens Advice

Further information

• Understanding Universal Credit
• Universal Credit information on the GOV.UK website
• Universal Credit and you - an introduction to Universal Credit for people who are claiming it
• The Money Advice Service also offers useful information and have developed an online tool that provides practical support and advice
• Information about Universal Credit for homeless people, those at risk of homelessness and the organisations supporting them

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:

1. Getting ready for Universal Credit
2. How to choose a bank account
3. How to open a bank account
4. How to make payments using your bank account
5. How to use your bank account to make budgeting easier
6. Worried about paying your rent

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