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Click here and here for an example from the North West of a client who claimed Universal Credit and started a job soon after. 

 

What can we tell from the assessments?

  • He gets to keep a lot more of his wages under the Universal Credit system than under the current JSA/ Housing Benefit system.
  • Client A’s date of claim was 8/9/2014 and their first assessment period runs from 8/9/2014- 7/10/2014.
  • All future assessment periods should run from the 8th of the month to the 7th of the following month.
  • Payments are due to be made 7 days after this,  that is the 14th of each month.
  • Client A is a single person aged 25 or over  with no dependents,  caring responsibilities or child care costs and is not sick.  Housing costs allowed under the Universal  Credit system are £340.34 per month.
  • Entitlement before starting work was £655.01 per month.  This would equate to the equivalent rates under Job Seekers Allowance and probably Housing Benefit.
  • Starting work has seen his Universal Credit drop from £655.01 to £224.11 per month.  He now also has wages of £773.92 per month.  His total income is now £998.03 per month.
  • We also need to think about Council Tax Support.  It is likely that now he has started work that he has extra council tax to pay.  This is because his Council Tax Support will be reduced.  We don’t know what his local scheme says- each council runs a different scheme.  If they run the original scheme as Council Tax Benefit(or similar) it is likely that his Council Tax Support will be reduced by around £87.70 monthly or £20.24 weekly.

Rent Arrears-

Previously the client had no rent arrears and the rent was paid direct to his landlord.  Now all his benefit is paid directly to him.  Even though the client has more money coming in,  he immediately went into rent arrears due to the delay in payment of benefit(even though this was on time).  The client was unsure how much Universal Credit he was due and failed to budget during the first month.

 

In House Training for you-

  • We are specialist trainers in Welfare Benefits and can help you build your understanding in all areas of Welfare Reform. 
  • We have developed software to allow you to calculate and learn the Universal Credit system accurately.  Become a member to gain full access including consultancy help with your cases and access to online resources.  Please quote voucher code SOC107 by 10/12/2014 to obtain the reduced rate of £95 £49 for your team.
  • Our training is based on legal rights and how to enforce and is CPD accredited solicitors regulation authority.  

Please contact us now to explain your requirements.

 

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