Universal Credit Full Service

Universal Credit The Government introduced the biggest welfare change for the last 60 years. It’s cornerstones include :

Rewarding work

Supporting aspiration

Helping those who need it most

Encouraging responsibility

Making work pay

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Universal Credit – is opening up work by… • Helping make sure you’re better off in work than on benefits • Allowing part-time and short-term work to act as a stepping stone into work • Enabling you to work more than 16 hours a week and still claim Universal Credit • Paying towards your childcare costs, giving you more flexible working hours This is enabled by a taper that reduces your Universal Credit as you earn more money instead of stopping all your support outright when you work a certain amount.

It’s a simplification of the benefit system Current benefit system

Universal Credit

Multiple benefits with multiple places to claim them

One benefit, one place to claim

Different benefits for in or out of work

One benefit that stays with you in and out of work

Different entitlement rules for different people

One benefit for everyone*

Complex rates for ESA

Simpler rates for limited capability (only two elements)

Different organisations (DWP, HMRC, Local Authorities)

All administered under DWP

Paper forms or clerical processes to claim

Claimed online*

The Government keeps your information / data

Claimants own and can see all their information / data using an online account

Changing details can be clerical or paper/phone based

Change circumstances online

Feels more individual

Is based on everyone in your household

*Full service only. Once fully rolled out, 7 million people will be affected by Universal Credit.

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Building a service in a new way • • • • • • • •

One service for work and benefit information. One service for all devices. User focused design means people can feed into its development. Every two weeks the service is improved with new features and/or improvements. Those improvements are continuously reprioritised based on everyone's needs. There’s a single service view for staff and claimants so we can help out. We cross check data automatically from trusted sources (HMRC etc.) When we use data from elsewhere we tell you.

• You can watch UC full service in action at: • www.youtube.com/UniversalCreditinAction • It’s available for all eligible claimants living in a Full Service postcode.

Natural Migration Triggers – a few examples Moving from out of work to sick or sick to out of work

Moving from out of work to in work or in work to out of work

Moving from in work to sick (reduction of hours due to sickness)

Current JSA(IB)/ IS claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to ESA(IR) if they live in a Universal Credit Full Service area and should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit. The same rules apply from ESA(IR) to JSA (IB)/ IS.

Current JSA(IB)/ IS claimants, or their partners, who increase their working hours or start work such that they no longer meet the conditions for JSA/IS cannot make a new claim to Tax Credits if they live in a Universal Credit Full Service area and should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit. Those with an existing Tax Credit claim can continue to claim Tax Credit but should they drop below 16 hours they will make a claim for Universal Credit instead of JSA(IB) or IS.

Current WTC claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to ESA(IR) if they live in a Universal Credit Full Service area and should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit.

Moving from sick to in work (or permitted work becomes permanent Current ESA(IR) claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Tax Credits if they live in a Universal Credit Full Service area and should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit. Those with an existing Tax Credit claim can continue to claim Tax Credit

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Natural Migration Triggers – a few examples HB claimant moves from LA into a Universal Credit Full Service LA

Existing HB claimants who move into a Universal Credit Full service area LA are no longer able to make a new claim to HB in the new LA area and should be advised if they wish to continue to obtain financial support with their rent to make an online claim to Universal Credit.

IS lone parent child under 5 reaches 5yrs old or leaves the household permanently Current IS claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to JSA(IB)/ ESA(IR) when their award to IS ends if they live in a Universal Credit Full Service area and should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit.

Separating claimants

Household becomes responsible for a child for the first time

Current joint Tax Credit claimants who separate and live in a Universal Credit Full Service area are unable to make a new claim to Tax Credits as a single person. Claimants should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit if they continue to require additional financial support if they have (a) child(ren) living with them or are on a low income.

Claimants living in a Universal Credit Full Service area are no longer able to make a new claim to Tax Credits and should be advised if they wish to claim for additional financial support because they have a child living with them to make an online claim to Universal Credit. Those with an existing Tax Credit claim can continue to claim Tax Credits.

Should someone have an existing claim to a legacy benefit when claiming via Universal Credit Full Service we will contact the appropriate department to terminate that claim.

Supporting claimants with complex needs

Assisted Digital Support Personal Budgeting Support Alternative Payment Arrangements Advanced Payments

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Personal Independence Payment - PIP • PIP replaced DLA for all new claimants aged 16-64 in June 2013 • From October 2013 DWP started to contact existing DLA claimants, who were between age 16 and 64 on 8 April 2013, to invite them to claim PIP. What is PIP? • PIP is to help towards some of the extra costs arising from a health condition or disability. It is based on how a person’s condition affects them, not the condition they have • DLA remains for children up to the age of 16 when they will be contacted to claim PIP • Claimants can receive PIP whether they are in or out of work and the benefit is not means tested or taxed. • There are two components to PIP – daily living and mobility. There are two rates of both components – enhanced and standard.

Personal Independence Payment Eligibility • The person would need to have had a disability or condition for three months and expect it to last at least nine months. This rule is ignored if someone is terminally ill. • They will be assessed against 12 activities (10 for the daily living part and 2 for mobility). • For many people the PIP will include an assessment of the individual’s needs by a health professional. How to make a claim for PIP • To start a claim for PIP, the claimant telephones DWP on: Ø 0800 917 2222 • Or for claimants who cannot speak or hear clearly by Ø Textphone: 0800 917 7777 (Lines are open between 8am and 6pm, Mon to Fri) • Basic information (name, address, GP details etc) is gathered over the phone and the date of claim is set. A clerical form is then issued (PIP2) to collect more information about how the person’s health affects their daily living and mobility

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DLA to PIP reassessment – key facts • People aged between 16 and 65 can no longer make a new claim for DLA • We are currently contacting existing DLA claimants who were age 64 or under as of 8th April 2013 to invite a claim for PIP • Even those who have an indefinite DLA award will be included in this process • Once the claimant gets their letter inviting them to claim PIP the clock starts ticking…. • They have 4 weeks to claim before a reminder is issued • If they still haven’t claimed PIP their DLA claim will end (regardless of whether it was an indefinite award or not due to end yet) • If they claim PIP on time their DLA continues until the PIP decision is made • Cutting edge technology is being trialled to make it easier for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) customers who are deaf, or who have a speech impediment, to communicate with DWP. Next Generation Text allows customers to communicate with advisers using an app on their smartphone, tablet or PC. A relay assistant acts as an intermediary to convert speech into text

Carers Allowance • Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who are providing care for someone with substantial caring needs. • The carer must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week providing care • The carer does not need to be related to, or live with, the person who needs care in order to claim carers allowance. • The person needing the care must be in receipt of PIP (daily living component), DLA care (middle or high rate) or Attendance Allowance. • Carer’s Allowance is taxable. It can also affect entitlement to other benefits and the benefits of the person you are claiming for. • There is an earning limit for Carer’s Allowance, i.e. the carer must be earning less than £116 per week after tax/expenses.

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Carers Allowance • People in full time education or studying for more than 21 hours per week are not able to claim Carer’s Allowance • Carer’s Allowance is currently £62.70 a week (most people will need to claim Universal Credit as well if this is their only source of income) • Some people will not receive payments of Carer’s Allowance if they get certain other benefits. They will however maintain ‘underlying entitlement’ which may result in an increase to any means tested benefits claimed. • Carer’s Allowance can be backdated for up to 3 months and only one person can claim Carer’s Allowance for looking after the disabled person • REMEMBER – if someone is not entitled to Carer’s Allowance they may still be able to apply for Carer’s Credit to protect their NI record providing they are caring for at least 20 hours per week and the disabled person or persons are receiving the relevant disability benefits or have a ‘Care Certificate’ within the application form signed by a health or social care professional

What is Access to Work? Access to Work (AtW) is a programme that: • gives support to people with disabilities or long-term health conditions who are moving into or retaining employment • focuses on the individual needs of the disabled person to help them overcome barriers in the workplace AtW works by providing: • advice to disabled people and employers • an assessment of a person's disability needs in the workplace • a financial grant towards the cost of any necessary support, such as special aids and equipment or a support worker AtW encourages more employers to recruit and retain disabled people by offering practical help. It also encourages greater independence for disabled people and allows them to work on a more equal basis.

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Disability Employment Adviser The DEA forms partnerships and commissions employment and provision opportunities with Partnership Managers, Employer Engagement, Third Party Provision Teams and external organisations. • The DEA provides up-skilling and support to Work Coaches by DEA skill/case conferences, informational support, three way interventions (WC, DEA and claimant) and group work coach conferences. • Conducts a number of observations of claimant support in interventions. • Provides support to operational colleagues. • Works with the work psychologist to provide additional up-skilling/awareness to work coaches where a need has been identified. • Creates and commissions opportunities with the employer engagement and Third Party Provision teams and external organisations. • Raises awareness and acts as a point of contact for GPs, NHS and disability charities. • Works with EA’s, disability employment provision, Access to Work and work psychologists to support effective employment and provision for claimants complex needs and health conditions.

Small Employer Adviser The Small Employer Offer is a new, voluntary programme to help support eligible people with a disability for health condition find an opportunity or a job with a small local company. • This applies to businesses with 25 or fewer employees in North Yorks (not franchise or chains). • Job matching service. • Information about job vacancies, work experience and work trials. • In work support for claimant and employer for 12 months. • Support to complete Access to Work application. • Work in Partnership with EA’s, DEA’s, WC’s and Community Partners. • Case Conferencing. • Advice and support for any work adaptations to meet applicants needs. • Changing Employer’s perceptions and dispelling myths. • Tailored and personal package of support.

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