How landlords can prepare for managed migration workshop
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The document discusses preparations by landlords and local authorities for the managed migration to Universal Credit, detailing key aspects of the transition process, challenges, and strategies for supporting tenants. It highlights concerns surrounding the implementation of Universal Credit and the need for proactive action plans, while also emphasizing the importance of working closely with claimants and community organizations. The information also includes specific statistics and examples regarding the impact on various groups, as well as the mechanisms for transitional protection and changes affecting legacy benefits.
How landlords can prepare for managed migration workshop
- 1. Policy in Practice Universal Credit Advice How landlords can prepare for managed migration Wednesday 8 January 2020
- 2. Housekeeping • Fire alarm and fire test • Toilets • Please ask questions • Develop your action plan to take away
- 3. Agenda • Background to Universal Credit managed migration Zoe Charlesworth, Policy in Practice • The view from the frontline Nadine Burns and Michelle Birley, The Guinness Group • Key challenges to smooth delivery of managed migration Bill Irvine, Universal Credit Advice • Transitional Protection Louise Murphy, Policy and Data Analyst, Policy in Practice • Best practice advice for preparing tenants Bill Irvine, Universal Credit Advice • How Royal Borough of Greenwich is preparing for managed migration Corin Hammersley, Royal Borough of Greenwich • Develop your own proactive action plan for managed migration
- 4. 444 Welcome and introductions Zoe Charlesworth, Head of Policy, Policy in Practice Bill Irvine, Founder, Universal Credit Advice
- 5. 5 Give the best support you can to help people
- 6. A team of professionals with extensive knowledge of the welfare system who are passionate about making social policy work We help local authorities use their household level data to identify vulnerable households, target support and track their interventions We develop engaging software that helps people to increase their income, reduce their costs and helps them to build their financial resilience
- 7. 777 Background to Managed Migration Zoe Charlesworth, Head of Policy, Policy in Practice
- 9. What is “Managed Migration”? • The move to Universal Credit for claimants who have not “naturally migrated” by the start date of managed migration • The start date of managed migration will depend on learning from a pilot commencing in July 2019 in Harrogate of up to 10,000 claims. The rollout is likely to start in 2020 (subject to meeting tests and passing of new regulations in Parliament) • Completion is hoped for by December 2023 • Who is affected? • 36% ESA • 54% tax credits • 10% other means-tested benefits • Approximately a third of eventual UC claimants will move through managed migration (around 2 million households) • Those in receipt of Severe Disability Premium are protected against natural migration
- 10. How will it happen? The Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 Provides for a pilot and includes provision for: • Migration notice • Specified deadline date (at least 3 months from notice) • Deadline date can be cancelled or extended • Legacy benefits cancelled following deadline • Automatic backdating if within one month of deadline • Two week run on of ESA, JSA, IS (from July 2020) • The creation of a one year grace period from the Minimum Income Floor for self-employed (for managed migration)
- 11. Transitional protection Transitional protection is based on the monthly rate of existing benefits compared to UC award on the deadline date Cessation of transitional protection will occur in the following circumstances: • a sustained (more than three months) earnings drop • the formation or separation of a couple • the ending of the Universal Credit award (where this was due to an increase in earnings and a new claim is made within 4 months of the Universal Credit award ending, the claimant will have their Transitional Protection re-awarded as part of their new award of Universal Credit) Transitional protection will reduce through uprating Particular concerns regarding the housing element
- 12. SSAC Consultation 2018 The SSAC received a record number of submissions …”particularly struck by the degree of anxiety that was conveyed to us in the submissions” …”it is evident that any weakness within the Universal Credit system will be brought into greater relief when managed migration gets underway” Submissions showed particular concerns about: • People living in unstable accommodation • People at risk of domestic violence • People living with disability which impaired engagement / access • People unable to understand and act on information • People without fluent English • People without digital access • Impact of tax credit overpayments
- 13. Changes prior to Managed Migration • An additional £1.5 billion to support those moving to Universal Credit • Advance payments more generous (up to 100% of the claimant’s expected Universal Credit award) plus an extension of repayment of advance payments from 6 months to 12 months • Removal of the seven day waiting period at the start of a claim • Provision of an additional two weeks of Housing Benefit transitional payments which do not need to be repaid • A £1000 annual increase in the Work Allowances from April 2019 • A reduction in the cap for deductions from 40% to 30% to soften the burden of repayments of debts • Advances can be repaid over 16 months (Oct 2021) • An extension in the surplus earnings disregard exception for up to £2500 for another year from 2019 to 2020
- 14. Preparation for Managed Migration The DWP is co-designing the process with claimants, charities, experts and other stakeholders through webinars and workshops. Much of this will be “tested” through the Harrogate pilot. • Pilot includes all case types including “complex” claims • “Anxiety” of claimants informs the “Who knows me?” approach • Starting with support through JSA (and later HAs and other organisations) • Terminology change: “Move to UC” rather than “Managed Migration” • Testing of IT readiness for Transitional Protection through the pilot • Testing pre-population from HMRC “at some point in the pilot” • Testing engagement in the pilot (claims not terminated)
- 15. What happens next? Expansion to full rollout if tests are met: • IT • Delivery partners readiness • Trained staff • Assumptions and contingencies if assumptions not met • Claimant understanding • Claimant support But depends on new regulations being passed Delivery partners are preparing independently • Identification • Engagement • Support
- 16. 161616 The view from the frontline Nadine Burns, Customer Support Team Manager Michelle Birley, Customer Support Manager The Guinness Group
- 17. <Insert title using Ariel 26pt> <Insert date using Arial 18pt> Universal Credit & Migration Planning Michelle Birley - Customer Support Manager Nadine Burns - Customer Support Team Manager
- 18. The Guinness Partnership Top 10 local authorities Homes Cheshire East 5,428 Milton Keynes 5,203 Havant 3,896 Manchester 3,847 Sheffield 2,378 Rochdale 2,110 Stockport 1,680 Hackney 1,652 Oldham 1,355 Gloucester 1,231 North: 32,035 homes South: 18,619 homes West: 15,521 homes 170+ LAs / 650+ Job Centres
- 19. We’re here to improve people’s lives and create possibilities for them. Our social purpose We describe ourselves as a customer service organisation because it’s our tenants and residents that we’re here for.
- 20. Successful homes Fuel • Not in fuel poverty • On the right (social) tariff • Energy efficiency and advice • Confident to switch • Accessing support from utility Finance • Able to pay rent • Financially confident & able to budget • Right benefits at the right rate • Manageable debt • Employed / seeking employment • Not sanctioned Food • Not reliant on food banks • Able to identify and buy affordable food • Have the equipment to prepare food Furniture • Has the basics, at least – beds, chairs, bedding, table • Safe white goods – fridge, cooker, washing machine Empowering customers to have a successful, independent tenancy in their home
- 21. • In 2014 – 2016 housing facing significant welfare reform • Universal Credit Live • Did not know who was claiming Universal Credit • Small numbers, but 21% arrears • DWP limited housing knowledge • In-house systems being developed • Learning as we went along Our Universal Credit journey Date Number of UC Claimants (TGP) Arrears as a % of debit (UC customers) % on direct payment to TGP October 2017 1,222 22.0% 35% October 2018 4,644 12.6% 33% October 2019 10,530 10.3% 28%
- 22. 7535 8050 8466 8964 9379 9801 10230 10578 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 April May June July August September October November UC Customers £850 £813 £776 £778 £840 £790 £782 £777 £720 £740 £760 £780 £800 £820 £840 £860 April May June July August September October September UC Customers average arrears Customer Numbers and Average Arrears
- 23. 11.78% 11.14% 10.44% 10.41% 11.46% 10.63% 10.31% 10.22% 9.00% 9.50% 10.00% 10.50% 11.00% 11.50% 12.00% April May June July August September October November Arrears as % of Debit Benefit Type Number of claimants % arrears £ arrears Housing Benefit 18,026 2.65% £2,640,275 Universal Credit 10,230 10.31% £5,147,556 Arrears UC & HB
- 24. • DWP Trusted Partner Status and access to the Landlord portal • System changes • Customer support – guidance, help, advice – 85% need help • 8,000 customers supported in this financial year • Cross team working • Budgeting calculator • Training and e-learning for all staff • Prevention – pre-tenancy, week 1, week 5, week 8 • Alternative Payments Arrangements vs Direct Debit • Universal Credit tracker • Speed, efficiency and intervention How have we achieved this?
- 25. Harrogate – Move2UC pilot • Around 1,000 homes in Harrogate • 388 customers already in receipt of UC • 210 customers on HB • Self Payers and tax credits – high employment – not just housing costs • DWP ‘Who knows you best’ model
- 26. • Payment analysis • Migration tracker • ‘Untidy tenancies’ • APA versus Direct Debit? • Get to know our UC Project Team – co-design • Stakeholder meetings • Targeted Communications – benefit claimants, self payers and homeowners • Planned migration versus natural migration Planning for Migration
- 27. • Customer understanding ( weekly benefit, fortnightly, 4 weekly ) • DWP getting it right • Erosion – rent increases, wage increases, changes in circumstances Challenges of Transitional Protection
- 29. 292929 Networking and coffee break
- 30. 303030 Key challenges to smooth delivery of managed migration Bill Irvine, Universal Credit Advice
- 31. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K Universal Credit for “Working Age” claimants Tackling the challenges of Natural & Managed Migration UC Advice & Advocacy Ltd Policy in Practice London January 2020
- 32. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 32 Natural & Managed Migration concerns What % of your “working age” tenants have already transitioned to Universal Credit? Of those still to migrate what % are: a) Unemployed; b) Sick/Disabled; c) Part of full-time workers d) Self-employed What, if anything, concerns you about the expansion of the rollout and, in particular, Managed Migration?
- 33. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 33 Transition from “Live to “Full Service” delivery Should you be concerned? DWP’s Directorate believes the transition from “Live” to “Full Service” overall, was very successful, with only a few problems occurring. Can you recall what happened to: Your tenants’ existing UC awards? Why did they have to make a “new” claim when one already existed? Were all APAs you had previously negotiated transferred automatically to Full Service? Did any of your tenants fail to make their online claim on time and lose out as a result? Did the transition add significantly to demands for advice & support? Did this phase have any affect on tenants rent arrears? What have you made of DWP’s “payment system”?
- 34. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 34 Problems associated Migration exercise To date there’s 2.8 million UC recipients; most of whom are single or childless couples, and unemployed; around 40% have NO housing costs; nearly 7 years into the migration process! DWP is currently adding around 130,000 new “natural migration” awards every month & hopes to add, in total, a further 4.5 million recipients by December 2023. Most of these cases will be more complex, and time consuming, than those earlier awards; most will include housing costs and 40-60% should be entitled to Transitional Protection. Legacy Benefit claimants affected MUST make a New Claim for Universal Credit within 3 month prescribed period. Delay or failure to do so, could result in NO payments whatsoever! Around 20% of claims fail, due to non-attendance at “Work-Coach” interview or through failing to produce ID validation or make “claimant commitment” or respond to periodic “To-do’s” Each UC claimant expected to use “online journal” as main means of communicating with DWP, including reporting “changes in circumstances”. Is that working well? DWP’s poor lines of communication and insistence on “Explicit Consent” impedes & frustrates attempts to assist tenants. Do you agree?
- 35. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 35 Managed Migration Notice & Process Original anticipated start date; July 2020, operating on an area by area basis. Step 1 – Issue of Migration Notice to each claimant & partner, giving them a deadline date to claim Universal Credit AND advise “legacy awards” cancelled the day before deadline with or without a UC claim having been made Example – Mr Couling (55) receives his MM Notice dated 1st July 2020 with a deadline date of 30th September. If Mr Couling makes his claim for UC on any date before or up to 30th September 2020 his UC will be awarded from that date. The day before that, his “legacy claims” will end. If he fails to claim UC by 30th September 2020 his legacy claims, including Housing Benefit, end, in any case! However, if he makes his claim for UC by no later than 30th of October (2nd deadline date), his claim for UC will start from 1st October 2020 DWP have also agreed to pay a 2 week run-on of Housing Benefit (but not in Supported Accommodation) and the Claimant’s personal benefits like Income Support, ESA(IR), Tax Credits at the initial point of transfer!
- 36. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 36 Managed Migrant’s “Transitional Protection” An award, paid as a separate UC “element” designed to offset “actual losses” at the point of transition to UC Full Service. The TP is purely temporary and may be reduced or cancelled, due to changes in the claimant’s level of UC award, variations in their earnings and other changes, including cancellations, which may occur. For example: Jane & Graham had a “legacy benefit” entitlement of £1100 pcm. Their UC equivalent amounts to £1000 – leaving £100 of a difference to paid as TP. The following April their UC rate increases to £1050 – at the same time their TP reduces by £50. 2nd Example – Same couple. Graham’s earnings increase reducing his UC entitlement and TP at the rate of the 63% taper until his earnings leave him with no entitlement. “Significant changes” can wipe out TP immediately and include: Partner leaves/joins your household Claimant or partner’s earnings drop beneath the level expected of them in their claimant commitment (for three months in a row) The Universal Credit award ends Claimant or Partner stop working
- 37. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 37 Transitional Payment Protection Example: Akeel is 37 and under legacy claims he qualifies for PIP (Daily Living), ESA (IR) of £194.30 (£73.10 +SDP £65.85 + EDP £ £16.80 + Support Component of £ £38.55) + £400 Housing Costs = £1241.97 Under UC, he would qualify for: £317.82 Personal + £336 .20 Disability element + £400 Housing costs = £1054. Difference amounts to £187 which is paid as a separate TP element each month. He moves address and is required to pay £500pcm (increase of £100) for his housing costs. In effect, he has to absorb increase by using his TP.
- 38. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 38 Advice & Support Mr X, one of your tenants, makes his claim for Universal Credit on 20th December 2019 but fails to keep his appointment with the job coach on 27th December. DWP immediately cancels his claim. What can he do, if anything? Mr X is advised by his Job coach that his initial online claim, dated 28th December is incomplete as he’s failed to produce bank statements showing the £7500 stated on his claim for UC. He’s given 1 week to produce or his claim will be cancelled, with no right of appeal. Can his work coach cancel his claim and/or deny him appeal rights? Miss X & Mr Y are joint tenants of Paragon Asra and have been claiming UC “full service” since March 2018. They’re paid on the 18th of each month and have a BAP covering the 13th-12th of each month. The couple separate, with Mr Y moving back to live with his parents on the 10th December. Miss X and her two kids, aged 7 & 5, plan to keep living at your property. How, and from what date, would their separation impact on their joint claim for UC and what must each do to ensure the continuation of payments going forward?
- 39. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 39 Severe Disability Premium (SDP) Exclusion! From 16th January 2019 anyone in receipt of SDP or who was otherwise entitled, in the past month, cannot claim Universal Credit; and “Gateway” preventing access to UC will continue until Transitional Payment scheme is introduced which would compensate all such claimants on their eventual transition to Universal Credit SDP awarded primarily to single claimants, living on their own, who are also receiving DLA(Care) or PIP (Daily Living). Regrettably, there is no equivalent element under Universal Credit. Gateway introduced by the Government, following a successful Judicial Review appeal by two claimants, June 2018. Court found both had been unfairly discriminated against and should be compensated for the loss. Case Report - https://universalcreditadvice.com/articles/high-court-win-no-2-for-severe-disability-premium- laimants/ Both had been forced to claim UC, due to a change in their circumstances, discovered SDP was not a feature of Universal Credit, and there was NO Transitional Protection to offset their significant financial loss. Council Housing Benefit teams advised they need to check for SDP entitlement when they receive DWP’s STOP NOTICE! Example of breach - https://universalcreditadvice.com/news/dwp-gateway-howlers-causing-substantial-losses-to- vulnerable-tenants/ Where the Council discover SDP in place, the Stop Notice will effectively be rescinded, permitting the continuation of Housing Benefit or any associated legacy award. Compensation scheme introduced in May 2019 to compensate earlier SDP cases that transitioned before January 2019. Arrears paid are ignored for 12 months.
- 40. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 40 DWP’s “untidy tenancies” DWP use the term to explain two types of tenancies Joint tenancy, where those named, are jointly & severally liable for the contractual rent; and One leaves the household e.g. male partner leaves or brother & sister tenancy, where either one leaves. Where one leaves the other liable person can be paid 100% of the rent The other scenario is where there’s only one person named on the tenancy and they die, move away e.g. to hospital, residential care or nursing home leaving son, daughter brother, sister etc in the house on their own Where the remaining person can demonstrate this is their normal home and they need help with their housing costs DWP can pay the “housing costs element” even where there name does not appear on the tenancy. See bulletin https://universalcreditadvice.com/bulletins/dwps-untidy-tenancies-and-impact-on-housing-costs- element/
- 41. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 41 Reviewing “untidy tenancy” rental costs By letter or inserted in journal: I write to request a revision of my UC award as I believe you have wrongly underpaid my “housing costs element”. As I told you in my “journal entry” my partner, who was a joint tenant with me, left the property on XXXXXXX, is now living with his parents and has no intention of returning to our home. As a consequence of this and our “joint & several” liability to meet Connect Housing’s monthly rental charge, I will now need to assume liability for the full amount of rent, otherwise, I’m in danger of accruing rent arrears, putting my tenancy in jeopardy. It’s my understanding, that in this situation DWP staff have been advised they should pay me the “housing costs element” previously paid to us as a couple, to avoid the situation mentioned above and permit me to continue residing in the property with my two children. DWP issued a bulletin to this effect. I would draw your attention to Paragraph 2.7 as it specifically deals with the set of circumstances I’ve alluded to I realise I may be late in making this request but I had no knowledge of this and only through speaking to my HAs Welfare Rights officer, did I realise your mistake and consequently, I’m only now able to respond in detail. Please revise your earlier decision in my favour or, if not, issue your decision, in relation to my request, so that I might pursue this matter with the Tribunal Service. Many thanks Tenant’s name
- 42. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 42 Housing Costs Contributions (HCC) Monthly deduction amount of HCC is £73.89 HCC amount deducted from “eligible rent”. In the case of a couple, potentially 2 HCC deductions @ £72.16 can be made. No deduction applies if: Renter (liable person) and/or partner is in receipt of middle or higher rate of DLA Care or Daily living component of PIP Registered Blind No deduction applies where non-dependent: Under 21 years old; Single Parent Member of armed forces In receipt of middle or higher rate of DLA Care or Daily living component of PIP In receipt of Pension Credit and/or Carer’s Allowance In prison No Earnings Rule applied to income of Non-Dependent Under 21 years old; Single Parent Member of armed forces In receipt of middle or higher rate of DLA Care or Daily living component of PIP In receipt of Pension Credit and/or Carer’s Allowance In prison
- 43. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 43 “Revision” – award incorrectly assessed! By letter or inserted in journal: I write to request a revision of my UC award as I believe you have wrongly underpaid my “housing costs element” by deducting a non-dependent charge of £73.89 As I’m the tenant and in receipt of Higher Rate of DLA (Care) I should be exempt from this deduction. I realise I may be late in making this request but I had no knowledge of this and only through speaking to my HAs Welfare Rights officer, did I realise your mistake and consequently, I’m only now able to respond in detail. Please revise your earlier decision in my favour or, if not, issue your decision, in relation to my request, so that I might pursue this matter with the Tribunal Service. Many thanks Tenant’s name
- 44. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 44 Change in circumstances? What would happen to Universal Credit in the following scenarios? In each example, the Benefit Assessment Period (BAP) covers the period from 22nd November to 21th December 2019 If Deborah, single parent, had a 2nd child, born on 20th December, how & when would this affect her Universal Credit award? If her HA landlord moved her to a larger property, on 21st December, with an extra £200 per month rental charge, how & when would this affect her award? If she, without notice, permanently vacated her home, on 20th December, without giving her landlord notice what would happen to award? Akeel (36), your tenant, starts working part-time (20 hours) for ASDA on 15th December and is being paid £10 per hour. His first salary is due on 28th December. What must he report? When should he do that? If Akeel’s wage, after deductions, exceeds his UC entitlement (including housing costs) what happens, if anything, to his award? George (56) who lives with wife dies on 20th December 2019 leaving her alone in the home. How would this affect UC & housing element? Would it make any difference if George lived alone at time of death?
- 45. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 45 April 2019 - Rent Increase Change! DWP guidance placed expectation on tenants reporting the change in rent after 1st April 2019 SRS landlords expected to validate, in most cases, the new rent level via portal DWP advice & guidance seriously flawed – It suggests only the tenant can provide update and must do so in writing or via their online journal DWP previously accepted (2014) that Landlord receiving APAs could and must do the reporting otherwise any overpayments could be recovered due to failure to disclose material change Change must also be reported during the course of tenant’s Benefit Assessment period, not after the event as DWP’s guidance suggests Delaying reporting could lead to tenants being under or overpaid. DWP stubbornly digging their heels in – But see https://universalcreditadvice.com/articles/is-dwp-right-on- insisting-only-tenants-can-notify-rental-charge-changes-no-is-the-answer/
- 46. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 46 “Late Revision” of 2019 Rent Increase Dear DWP I write in connection with the tenants detailed in the attached spreadsheet. Despite our best attempts to make contact and prompt them to notify you of their April 2019 rent increase, they still haven’t done this. As a result, they have accrued an amount of rent arrears which continues to mount every month. If this continues we’ll be forced to pursue recovery action, which we would prefer to avoid. As landlord, and recipient of each tenants’ “housing costs element” we are obliged to notify DWP of any material change that could affect benefit entitlement. As such, we would ask you to review and revise each of their current awards to reflect the correct rental charge recorded on the spreadsheet. In the event you are unwilling to act on this request for what, in effect, is a supersession of an existing claim, please explain why, as we plan to encourage and support our tenants to appeal your decision. Signed
- 47. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 47 Examples of recent client referrals involving DWP “howlers”! Cairn 1st Case - https://universalcreditadvice.com/news/tenant-rejects-dwp-advice-and-is- rewarded-by-25000-windfall-2/ Cairn HA 2nd case - https://universalcreditadvice.com/news/another-dwp-howler-picked-up-and- remedied-by-cairn-housing-staff/ “Live to Full Service” – APA “Drops off” says DWP! - https://universalcreditadvice.com/articles/2824/ DWP found guilty of maladministration by Independent Case Examiner after 2-3 years wait for Complaint outcome - https://universalcreditadvice.com/news/dwp-guilty-of-maladminstration-in- 100-of-cases-but-no-penalties-applied/ Universal Credit’s impact on Council HB administrations - https://universalcreditadvice.com/bulletins/council-backdates-7000-to-clear-off-sheltered- housing-rent-arrears/
- 48. W W W . U C A D V I C E . C O . U K 48 Key threats to tenants' entitlement and Landlord’s income management! Based on what you’ve learned today, identify: Key threats to: Tenants’ incomes; and Your organisation’s Income & Debt Management? Which of your tenants are “highest risk”? What preparations have you already made to mitigate the potential problems that could be faced by tenants? What further actions, if any, could you take to mitigate the potential harmful effects of the rollout to the organisation?
- 49. 494949 Transitional Protection Louise Murphy, Policy and Data Analyst, Policy in Practice
- 50. Transitional protection Transitional protection is based on the monthly rate of existing benefits compared to UC award on the deadline date Cessation of transitional protection will occur in the following circumstances: ● a sustained (three months) earnings drop; ● the formation or separation of a couple; ● the ending of the Universal Credit award (where this was due to an increase in earnings and a new claim is made within 4 months of the Universal Credit award ending, the claimant will have their Transitional Protection re-awarded as part of their new award of Universal Credit).
- 51. Our research: impact of UC (1) ● 40% of households lose support under UC, 60% gain support or see no change. ● 72% of all low-income self-employed households will lose support, losing on average £51/week. ○ 78% of low income self-employed people have earnings such that they would be affected by the minimum income floor. ○ The impact of the MIF will be greater after April 2020 when the National Living Wage is set to rise by 6.2%. ● Those that are living with disability and are in receipt of PIP/DLA, but are not too ill to work, will overwhelmingly be worse off under Universal Credit
- 52. Our research: impact of UC (2) ● Tax credits recipients with savings >£16,000 will receive no UC ○ 90% of homeowners currently in receipt of tax credits only will be worse off under Universal Credit ● Working lone parents are more likely to lose support under Universal Credit: 50% lose support due to the removal of additional in-work support for lone parents that existed under tax credits ● Those in receipt of some types of unearned income lose out under UC ○ A person working part time and in receipt of £450 monthly spousal maintenance would be £297.85 per month worse off under Universal Credit ○ A person in receipt of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit who works part time and has 70% assessed level of disability would be £414.30 per month worse off under Universal Credit ○ A student lone parent in receipt of a maintenance loan, childcare grant and parents’ learning allowance would be £277.08 per month worse off under Universal Credit
- 58. Deciding when to move to UC Transitional protection is based on the monthly rate of existing benefits compared to UC award on the deadline date For households in work (or in receipt of CA, contributory ESA/JSA or other income), you can work out the best time for them to claim UC in order to maximise their TP.
- 59. Supporting people during the move to UC Budgeting support during the transition to UC Looking ahead We’ll be acting on feedback from Guinness advisors in Harrogate. So far: • Add an option for households who have received a migration notice but have not yet moved onto UC • Update the UC calendar to include more personal information e.g. start of the school year, family birthdays We’ll also be adding a ‘Next month’s UC’ screen to the calculator
- 60. 606060 Networking and lunch break
- 61. 616161 Best practice advice for preparing tenants Bill Irvine, Universal Credit Advice
- 62. 626262 How Royal Borough of Greenwich is preparing for managed migration Corin Hammersley, Royal Borough of Greenwich
- 63. Name of presentation Preparing for Managed Migration 8th January 2020 Corin Hammersley Training, Policy and Welfare Rights Manager Royal Borough of Greenwich Corin.Hammersley@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
- 64. Name of presentation Welfare Rights Service • 2nd Tier support (training, publicity, adviser line) • Public Advice Line & online queries • Joint work with Council services such as: • HB assessment • Emergency Support scheme • Housing Inclusion Service • Public Health • Outreach at local advice hub, Council Tax court summons sessions • Take up initiatives, e.g. mixed age pensioners; private sector households
- 65. Name of presentation Universal Support Team • Aim of the team is to help clients improve their financial stability and being able to maintain their UC claim independently. • Support includes helping clients to understand and manage their claims, maximise their income and budget their money. • Service is for clients once they are on UC (to compliment CAB’s Help to Claim Service). • Cases from direct referrals from advisers & self referrals • Outreach & publicity around borough • 600 cases since April 2019 • Average 6.5 contacts per client
- 66. Name of presentation To enable residents to manage their Universal Credit (UC) claim independently & improve financial stability Identifying additional financial support Resolving legacy benefit problems (jointly with Welfare Rights Service) Establishing UC Claim* Review UC claim for appropriate deductions/ APAs / claimant commitment Assisted digital support Budgeting advice, including support for appropriate banking and debt advice Joint working with other teams and departments Identify safeguarding needs Refer/signpost to other support in the borough Universal Support Team
- 67. Name of presentation RBG Benefit Safeguarding Alert What is it? • Developed following our improved understanding of internal DWP safeguarding guidance • Form enables residents to self declare that they have a health condition or vulnerability to DWP/LA How does it help? • DWP/JCP and LA to consider appropriate safeguarding procedures where it is in place • For UC: Work Coach to take into account when considering conditionality and discretion (help to prevent sanction risks) • HB Assessors should take extra steps to contact client before suspending/ending benefit • CTAX seek proactive contact and to avoid enforcement action where at all possible
- 68. Name of presentation Managed Migration Case study SC was on UC Live Service. She failed to engage with DWP to move to UCFS. UC claim stopped. She was evicted from PRS accommodation three months later. She intermittently attended JCP drop in, but could not follow through to engage. History of non engagement to various services emerged (DWP, GP, Council services). Extent of mental health discovered, has been in temporary accommodation eight months. DWP notifications for LCTS HB Stop New Claim First Payment/CIC Termination We therefore potentially will know when HB stops but UC claim hasn’t been made = indicator to consider proactive intervention
- 69. Name of presentation What works? Utilise data - gives LAs the advantage Holistic services Build relationships, joined up / joint working
- 70. 707070 Interactive session: Develop your proactive action plan for managed migration Break into groups to discuss: 1. what you still need to know 2. what actions your organisation should take 3. what barriers you may face
- 71. 717171 Feedback on action plans Final questions and answers
- 72. Next steps • Feedback forms • Slides will be emailed to you • Keep in touch via webinars and newsletters
- 73. 737373 Thank you Bill Irvine, Universal Credit Advice Zoe Charlesworth, Policy in Practice Michelle Burley, The Guinness Group Nadine Burns, The Guinness Group Louise Murphy, Policy in Practice Corin Hammersley, RB Greenwich You
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- #6: We help organisations to support vulnerable families using the software we’ve created Like you, these organisations want to give the very best support they can to help people --
- #7: Analytics – Software – Policy
- #19: Overview of where our stock is The context in which we work Large northern footprint Stock in some of the top 1% most deprived communities Challenge of working across lareg number of LA’s and job centres
- #20: What we stand for, how we deliver our service style
- #21: When you get a successful tenancy right
- #22: 1% rent cut, LHA Cap, no housing costs for 18 – 21 year olds – dark times for housing
- #24: 10 weeks payment, 32 weeks for rent account stabilise, was 26 weeks
- #25: Sugar was needed Being a trusted partener improved verification In house system changes so we can record who is on UC – basics Work of our Customer Accounts Team Better off a calculator Affordability Assessments Pre tenancy checks Improved our own knowledge Our inhouse customer support team But this takes resource
- #51: Earnings drop = below the single/couple administrative threshold.
- #54: Less than a year vs more than a year - used to work out the capital disregard for those entitled to TC with capital over £16,000. and MIF for self-employed
- #59: The transitional element is calculated by comparing the total amount of all existing benefits to which the claimant or joint claimants are entitled (the total legacy amount) with the total amount of UC to which they would be entitled (the indicative UC amount) based on the same circumstances as the existing award on migration day. Where the total legacy amount is greater than the UC indicative amount, the difference is included in the calculation of the UC award as a transitional element1 . Where the indicative UC amount exceeds the total legacy amount, no transitional element is included. If you have a decrease in your Universal Credit entitlement, for example because of an increase in your earnings, your transitional protection amount will not be reduced straight away. This is to make sure that work incentives are protected.Your transitional amount won't be reduced until your Universal Credit entitlement falls to £0. Even then you won't lose all your transitional protection amount at once, it will be removed at the set taper rate, currently 63%. This means you will lose 63p of your transitional protection amount for every £1 you earn.
- #67: Read out case studies
- #68: Working on webpage for RBG website We need feedback for who does use it on how they are seeing it work in practice We have had conversations with DWP/Caxton House on how it could be adopted more widely. We are working with other LA departments on how it can be incorporated, i.e. Housing departments.