7 day waiting period-
From 3/8/2015, a waiting day period of 7 days is introduced for Universal Credit claimants where the claimant(or either the claimant or their partner in a couple) are subject to all work-related requirements or have limited capability for work. This will mean that entitlement to benefits and the assessment period will not start until 7 days after the date of claim.
Here's the law with a list of exempt claimants where the 7 waiting day period won't apply. Some examples are- where a new award of universal credit is made for a single claimant as a consequence of a previous award having
ended when the claimant ceased to be a member of a couple or to joint claimants as a consequence of two previous awards having ended when the claimants became a couple; or where a client reactivates their UC claim within 6 months of not being paid because of their earnings.
Alsowheretheclaimant(oreitherofjointclaimants)— isterminallyill; hasrecentlybeenavictimofdomestic violence; is a care leaver; is aged 16 or 17 and without parental support; has been a prisoner within the month endingontherelevantdate;orsomeclaimantswhowereentitledtoajobseeker’sallowance, incomesupport or an employment and support allowance within the 3 months ending on the relevant date.
Trusted Partner status- In May 2015 First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) began a ‘Trusted Partner Status’ pilot where they were given powers to identify
vulnerable tenants who they believe will be unable to manage their money. The DWP will give those tenants identified an Alternative Payment
Arrangement(APA) automatically without the need for an application process.
However, if the DWP discovers a landlord is putting large numbers of tenants onto APAs merely to make it easier to collect rental income under Universal Credit, the landlord could lose their Trusted Partner Status.
Cost of UC escalates-
The Major Projects authority was created under a Prime Ministerial mandate in 2011 to improve the delivery of major projects in government. In its
annual report 2014/15 it estimates that the cost of implementation will now be £15,844.02 million and have an end date of 30/04/2020.
Latest on the role out & Sutton digital test - Priti Patel Minister of State(DWP)- 'Universal Credit is now operational in over 40% of jobcentres and will cover the whole country by Spring 2016. The Digital Solution is currently being tested in Sutton and is gradually being widened to take increased volumes in line with the test and learn approach, ensuring safe and secure delivery. Official statistics are not currently available for Sutton given it is a limited, controlled test.'
Cut in Help with Mortgage costs- this is the first cut in the Interest rate payable when someone has a mortgage. The rate falls from 3.63% to 3.12% on 6/7/2015 for those on Universal Credit, IS, ESA(IR), JSA(IB) and State Pension Credit.
Click here for our updated Universal Credit 2015 course.