Households across the country are battling with the cost of living crisis as everyday food prices rise, energy and fuel prices stand at record highs and inflation continues to edge upward. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging people on Universal Credit to ask for additional financial support if they find themselves struggling to manage.
Around 40 percent of all those on Universal Credit are already in work, with the benefit topping up low wages. However, if day-to-day costs are increasing, claimants may still be struggling to make ends meet as everyone faces a real-term cut in income, as incomes are not keeping pace with inflation.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's research said, according to Birmingham Live, the below-inflation benefits rise that happened in April represented "a real-terms cut to the incomes of some of the poorest families in the country, at a time when the UK’s main out-of-work support is already at a 30-year low following a decade of cuts and less than six months on from the £20 per week cut to Universal Credit."
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The DWP said: "If you’re in financial difficulties, you can get help and advice from the Government, local councils and other organisations." It has detailed a series of options people receiving Universal Credit can explore to boost their income - these are on top of the £650 cost of living payment boost, which is being paid in two instalments (£326 and £324).
Here are some of the income boosts currently available subject to eligibility. Criteria applies so check what you could apply for.
1. Alternative Payment Arrangements
If you are in financial difficulties or are behind on your rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply to the DWP for an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA). This means the way your benefits are paid could be adjusted to help you manage the household budget more easily. You could:
- get your rent paid directly to your landlord so you don't have to worry about having enough left to pay for it
- be paid more frequently than once a month if it helps you manage your spending
- receive split payments if you are part of a couple
2. Advance payments
Those who are new to Universal Credit have to wait around five weeks for their first payment. If you don't have enough to live on during this time, you can ask for an advance payment straight away so you can pay your rent and buy food. But note that this advance has to be paid back in instalments from future Universal Credit payments.
You can also apply for an advance if you are already on Universal Credit and have told the DWP of a change in your circumstances which means you are entitled to more money but haven't yet received the increased amount. To apply for a Universal Credit advance you can speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach, apply through your online account or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
3. Hardship payments
You can ask for a hardship payment if your benefit payments have been reduced or stopped as a result of a sanction. A sanction means you have been penalised for breaking the rules of your benefit claim such as by not attending an appointment with a work coach.
Turn2Us says the DWP works out your Hardship Payment based on 60 percent of the amount you are losing in benefits each day multiplied by the number of days the sanction lasts.
To get such a payment, you must be unable to meet immediate and most basic essential needs or those of a child you are responsible for. These include rent, heating and food. And you have to prove you have tried to get alternative sources of support, such as from a charity.
You have to reapply for a new Hardship Payment for each Universal Credit assessment period in which you are affected by a sanction. As with an advance, a Hardship Payment has to be repaid in instalments from future benefits.
4. Budgeting Advance
Universal Credit claimants may be able to get a Budgeting Advance of up to £812 to help with things like emergency household needs (such as replacing a broken cooker) or the costs associated with getting a job or staying in work (such as clothing or equipment you're expected to have).
This is effectively a loan that you have to repay through your usual Universal Credit payments. The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to £348 if you’re single, £464 if you’re part of a couple, or £812 if you have children.
In order to qualify, you also need to have earned less than £2,600 (£3,600 together for couples) in the past six months and must have paid off any previous Budgeting Loans you received. Apply via your Universal Credit account, at the nearest jobcentre or via the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
5. Other state benefits
You may be able to get more than just Universal Credit. For instance, if you want to claim a benefit without your savings, your partner's savings or their income being taken into account, you can apply for either new-style Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or new-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
With new-style ESA, your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get in ESA so you won't actually end up with any more money. But ESA is paid more regularly (every two weeks) and gives different National Insurance credits. Those on Universal Credit get Class 3 NI credits, while those on ESA get Class 1 NI credits which count as a contribution to many more different types of benefits including Maternity Allowance, Bereavement Support Payment and Additional State Pension.
If you have a health condition or disability, you could receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on top of your Universal Credit. Use a benefits calculator such as this one at Turn2Us to find out what other state support you could get.
6. Reduced water bills
Those living in a household where someone claims benefits such as Universal Credit may be entitled to get their water bills reduced. The WaterSure scheme enables customers to have their bills capped so they will pay no more than the average household bill for their company, even if they use more than the average amount of water.
In order to qualify, people need to be responsible for three or more children under the age of 19 and in full-time education living in the property, or have (or someone living in the property must have) a medical condition that requires significant additional use of water.
In addition to that, the Consumer Council for Water says all water companies offer reduced tariffs to low-income customers. In some cases, bills can be cut by as much as 90 percent. CCW has a guide to these tariffs. Among them, Severn Trent runs a Big Difference scheme that can cut bills by between 10 percent and 90 percent, depending on circumstances.
7. Cheaper broadband
There are more than four million households on Universal Credit who are missing out on £144 a year off their broadband bills. Ofcom said only 1.2 percent of people who could take up the discounted broadband have done.
It is all to do with social tariff broadband packages, which are specially discounted. BT, Community Fibre, G.Network, Hyperoptic, KCOM and Virgin Media O2 all offer the discounted rates.
Social tariffs are for broadband customers who receive income-related Government benefits, such as Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance. Some 16 million people in all are estimated to be eligible for the tariffs, but as little as one in six (15 per cent) apply for them, according to research by Uswitch.com.
There are eight Department for Work and Pensions pay outs that qualify for low-cost tariffs on broadband. But two-thirds of financially vulnerable people aren't even aware the special deals exist.
The average monthly spend on broadband among those eligible for social tariffs is £34.50 - so applying for BT Home Essentials at £15 a month could save eligible customers £19.50 a month, or £234 a year.
8. Warm Homes Discount
Those on a low income and in receipt of certain means-tested benefits can apply directly to their energy supplier for a Warm Homes Discount. It gives £140 off your electricity bill. You may be able to get a discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Check with your energy company if you are eligible.
9. Affordable Warmth grants
It is also worth asking your energy supplier what other forms of help they provide or recommend. Affordable Warmth Scheme, for instance, provides assistance via a grant for the installation of central heating systems or a boiler. You'll need to satisfy certain criteria, but this is part of the Government’s ECO Scheme to help fight fuel poverty and to help reduce carbon emissions and the effects of climate change.
10. Discretionary Housing Payments
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs. You can apply for a DHP if you currently claim either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and need extra cash to keep a roof over your head. A discretionary housing payment can help with covering a rent shortfall, rent deposits, or the rent you have to pay in advance if you move to a new address. You have to apply through your local authority.
11. Help if you're pregnant or have a child
The DWP says those on Universal Credit might be able to get:
- free early education for two-year-olds
- free school meals
- Healthy Start vouchers (in England and Wales) if you’re pregnant or have a child under 4 years old
- a Sure Start Maternity Grant in England and Wales
12. Free prescriptions and other health care
Those on Universal Credit can get free prescriptions if they either had no earnings or had net earnings of £435 or less in the last four-week assessment period. They may also qualify if their Universal Credit payment includes an additional amount for a child.
Free prescriptions are also usually available if you (or your partner) are on UC with limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA and either had no earnings or net earnings of £935 or less in your last assessment period.
Not all forms for an exemption from medicine charges have a tick box for Universal Credit. If that's the case, tick the box for income-based Jobseeker's Allowance instead. In some cases, you might have to pay the charges and then get a refund later, for instance if your Universal Credit claim is still being assessed.
You may also get help towards other medical costs such as dental treatment, eye tests, new glasses or contact lenses, travel to hospital appointments, and new wigs and fabric supports.
13. Funeral Expenses Payment
Those on Universal Credit can get a Funeral Expenses Payment, providing they are the partner, close relative or close friend of a deceased person; the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy; or the parent or person responsible for a deceased child who was under 16 (or under 20 and in approved education or training).
This payment is also available to those on other benefits including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, the disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit.
There is no fixed amount given. The payment can cover such things as burial or cremation fees, some of the costs of moving a body or transporting a coffin and bearers to the service, one return journey for you to attend the funeral, and up to £1,000 for related expenses such as the funeral director's fees, the coffin, cars or flowers.
14. Legal costs
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit, you might be able to get help with prison visiting costs, money towards the costs of using courts or tribunals, and legal aid.
15. Travel discounts
You might also be able to get a Jobcentre Plus Travel Card for discounts on:
- rail travel
- Stagecoach buses
- Transport for London (TfL) buses, tubes and other public transport in London
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