Ongoing News

Important- From 1 February 2019, the government is-

1. removing the UC gateway that prevented claims for Universal Credit where a client has three or more children. And also- 

click here for the draft poster 2019/ 2020

All areas of England and Wales should now be taking new claims for Universal Credit(end of 2018). This is termed natural migration and is prompted by a change of circumstance such that a client needs to (but can no longer) claim a legacy benefit- Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance(IR), Job Seekers Allowance(IB), both Tax Credits and Housing Benefit.

The government is currently reviewing over a million claims for PIP where it had to backtrack on changes relating to the issue of safety and also the issue of psychological distress.

HMRC has written to the Treasury Committee about the risk for households where one parent does not work, due to childcare commitments, while the other parent works and is also the Child Benefit clai

'Universal credit claimants have to pay the considerable costs of childcare upfront, and then wait to be reimbursed.

These upfront costs for childcare are not only a disincentive to work: for some universal credit claimants they will

Ensure you get the next Benefit Rates Poster for 2019/2020 by checking you are subscribed to our free newsletter click here. All subscribers will be sent the new poster automatically free of charge by email(due in mid January 2019).

Alun Cairns, The Secretary of State for Wales, '...Food banks have a key role to play in bringing back into the state welfare system people who, for a range of reasons, have fallen out of it.'

The government say 'The NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) delivers the Prescription Exemption Checking Service and first began prescription exemption checks relating to Department for Work and Pensions benefits in June 2017....it

140,000+ per month Joining UC-

In November 2018, 1,426,540 claimants were on UC.

Esther McVey has resigned after 10 months in the post of Work and Pensions Secretary. Amber Rudd has replaced her.

Labour have criticized the appointment-

Latest statistics (2016/ 2017) show that the figures for unclaimed means tested welfare benefits remain extremely high. In the meantime clients continue to use foodbanks on an increasing basis.

More than half of all households receiving a payment of Universal Credit are entitled to support for housing.

UC is complex! These 3 courses will help you gain expertise (click on the course titles).

NEW Universal Credit- the tricky parts

Housing Costs and Universal Credit

‘Universal Credit is here to stay’ says the Chancellor Philip Hammond announced his latest Autumn Budget. The Welfare Benefit changes are spread out over the next few years.

Similar to the Budget last year , there are some useful changes for Universal Credit claimants in the pipeline.