UNIVERSAL CREDIT

 ONLINE WORKSHOP

Wednesday, 15th December, 2021.

Full-Day Workshop (9:30 - 4:30/4:45)
Workshop Fee: £220  + VAT.    4th Place Free.   

UNIVERSAL CREDIT - CURRENT POSITION & KEY ISSUES

 
(PROGRAMME CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW)  

A Training Workshop for both local authority HB staff and those in organisations who give benefits advice to claimants. The Universal Credit project has entered a relatively stable phase -  legacy benefit caseloads are gradually declining as claimants have changes of circumstance that prompt them to claim UC (so-called “natural” migration). But local authorities and advisers continue to discover tricky cases raising new questions. This Workshop keeps delegates on top of the emerging issues and equips HB staff and advisors with the knowledge to tackle the questions raised by a customer who is considering a claim, or already claiming, Universal Credit. 

The Notes Pack provided will include a table showing Universal Gainers ‘gainers’ and ‘losers’

to help advisors assist those with customers with ‘choices’ to make the right decision!

Mixed age couples: As working age claimants with legacy benefit awards “age into” mixed age couple status, they are likely to find that their legacy benefits terminate and that the only means-tested benefit available to them is UC (if they qualify), But this is not always the case and we look at the exceptions and complications affecting this cohort of claimants:

• Mixed age couples with a Severe Disability Premium;
• Transitional protection.

Severe Disability Premium: it is not possible to claim UC if the claimant is entitled to a legacy benefit including the SDP. Frequently asked questions include:

• What does “entitled to” mean;
• Is it possible to have an SDP within a “passported” award of maximum HB?
• Delay in establishing entitlement to PIP (often after an appeal):
  • Is it possible to make a protective HB claim pending the PIP decision/appeal, and to have HB awarded in arrears once PIP entitlement is established? Or       must the claimant be currently entitled to an SDP in “real time” on the day s/he claims HB?  
  • What is the effect of PIP being awarded (and entitlement to the SDP thereby being established) in arrears when the claimant has claimed UC in the meantime? Does       the UC claim become a nullity or can it no longer be undone?
• How to work out whether the claimant has income-related ESA when the award calculation shows amounts for both ESA(c) and ESA(ir);
• “Credits-only” cases.

Successful legacy benefit appeals give rise to further complications. A very common situation is where an ESA review results in the claimant failing a work capability assessment and losing his/her ESA. The majority of appeals against such decisions succeed, but what if UC has been claimed in the meantime? And what should the Council do if DWP puts the claimant back on ESA going forward? Should the outcome be different in cases where the successful appeal reinstates SDP entitlement?

Claiming UC without a change of circumstance: it is possible for almost any working age person to claim UCs at any time if s/he so wishes – there is no need to wait for a change of circumstance to “trigger” natural migration. For some people, UC is considerably more generous than legacy benefits. The pack includes a better off/worse off table suggesting who might want to consider a proactive UC claim and who would be best advised to delay claiming UC for as long as possible

Additional FAQs:

• Payment of salary early/late affects earnings: who gains, who loses? All permutations are featured in our ‘better off’/’worse off’ table;
• If a HB claimant is entitled to HB on two homes at the point when s/he  claims UC, should the two-week run-on cover both liabilities?
• Disputed supported accommodation status: When the Council has decided that the claimant does not occupy supported.

The above selection of FAQs are examples of the issues that will be tackled during this Workshop. The programme is constantly reviewed to feature newly emerging issues. Using examples and exercises we will provide you with our view as to the correct way to handle these cases … but our view is always backed up by references to the relevant legislation so that you may research the point and take your own view. The web of commencement orders, modification orders and transitional regulations can be very difficult to navigate – we will ensure that you know exactly where to look in order to decide whether a person may claim HB or continue receiving HB.

Contact us for In-House 'Zoom' booking information for this topic.   

We are always pleased to arrange most of our Workshops, such as this one, for staff from an individual organisation. Please email us with your requirements for details.