Universal Credit has to be applied for using the right web site

Universal Credit - the Government’s new welfare benefit scheme - has been introduced in the London Borough of Hounslow as an online only digital service.

This means most people living in the borough who need to make a new application for financial support or tax relief will now make a claim for Universal Credit; and this must be done online using the Universal Credit website.

Universal Credit is part of the Government’s wider welfare reform plans. It replaces six working age benefits into a single household benefit. These are:

• Jobseekers Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Income Support
• Employment and Support Allowance

Unfortunately, at the moment it’s not as straightforward as it might sound
The phasing in of Universal Credit hasn’t yet begun in some areas of the London Borough of Hounslow that have postcodes beginning UB, W4, W6 and TW14 8.

To check what benefit(s) a resident in the London Borough of Hounslow can apply for, the first thing they should do is to check if their postcode means they’re eligible to apply for Universal Credit. You can only do this by going to the Universal Credit website and starting an application.

After completing a simple security step, applicants are then taken to a page which tells them what they need to complete their claim; and a postcode checker. At this point, residents enter their National Insurance Number and their postcode. If a postcode is not covered by Universal Credit they will be told they cannot yet claim Universal Credit and will be directed to other benefit websites.

For most residents in Hounslow the next step will be to begin the actual online claim and they’ll be taken through the process of setting up an online account.

Hounslow residents who are not eligible for Universal Credit and who need support with paying rent will need to make a new claim for Housing Benefit through Hounslow Council.

Residents can also check if they’re eligible for housing or council tax benefit, and get an idea of how much they could receive, by using the council’s free benefits calculator. This calculation is an estimate only, based on the information that is supplied. For a full evaluation, people must make a formal claim for benefit. You can advice on claiming benefits

If you’re already claiming benefits, these separate benefit payments will continue and people will be told by the DWP when Universal Credit will affect them.

Why isn’t the whole borough switching to online Universal Credit?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for providing Universal Credit; not the council. Hounslow Jobcentre Plus manage the service locally.

Hounslow Jobcentre covers most areas of the borough but the UB, W4 and W6 postcodes are covered by other Jobcentres. It’s expected that these Jobcentres will switch to the Digital Service when the DWP fully roll out Universal Credit later in the year.

What are the other major changes involved in receiving Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is paid monthly to a household. This means that when there is more than one person in a household making a claim, for example a couple, Universal Credit will be paid jointly and not to each person individually.

Universal Credit is paid in arrears. If you need financial help before you receive your Universal Credit payments and you meet certain conditions; you can ask for an advance payment. Your future payments will be reduced to pay back an advance payment.

And, if part of a Universal Credit payment is to help you with your rent - replacing Housing Benefit – a major difference in the scheme is that it then becomes your responsibility to pay your landlord. No money from the Universal Credit payment will go directly to a landlord.

Some people may struggle to manage this aspect of the benefit payment.

Who can help me apply for Universal Credit and help me manage my monthly payments?
If you do not have access to the internet you can use a computer free of charge and get help with applying for Universal Credit at the Civic Centre, any Hounslow Library or at the council’s three local housing offices.

You need to be a library member to use the computers at the libraries. Joining a library is free and can be done at any of the boroughs’ 11 libraries.

A step by step guide to applying for Universal Credit and further information on the changes is available.

To help you manage your money, a free new online budgeting tool is now available. This will help you work out how much money you’re spending and how much money you have coming in. You’ll be able to create your own personal budget plan and it should only take minutes to complete if you have all your financial information to hand.

Personal budgeting support is available to Hounslow residents who the DWP think might struggle to manage their finances or to pay their rent and budget across the monthly period until their next Universal Credit payment. Staff at JobCentre Plus Hounslow will refer people to the Personal Budgeting Support team at the council. You cannot self-refer to this service.

Council Tax Support is still available for people who need help to pay their Council Tax charge. Council Tax Support is provided by Hounslow Council. Anyone living in the London Borough of Hounslow can apply online for Council Tax Support through Hounslow Council.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureaux in Hounslow, Chiswick and Brentford can also help people with managing their finances and personal budgeting.

February 2, 2016