Royal Greenwich Begins Implementation Of Universal Credit Roll-out - Help For Claimants

by Benson Agoha | Wolwich

Huge changes to the benefits system begin this month with the start of Universal Credit, the single benefit that replaces six other benefits, rolling out across the country including the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Universal Credit is designed for people who are unemployed, too ill to work, or in work but on a low income and will replace income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working and Child Tax Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support.

In Royal Greenwich, this will start from Monday 18 January. The first people to receive it will be new single claimants who are unemployed, who would otherwise have claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance.

One of the changes under Universal Credit means that claimants will no longer have to make a separate claim for Housing Benefit. Help towards rent will now be paid as part of Universal Credit. However, the Universal Credit that is to help with rent will be paid direct to the claimant rather than to their council or housing association landlord, so tenants will now be responsible for paying their own rent in the same way that many private tenants already are.

If rent arrears build up for eight weeks or more, then the landlord can ask for the payment to be made direct – this applies to private landlords as well as council and housing association landlords.

All claims will need to be made online, and every claimant will have his or her own online account. People without easy access to a computer can use computers available in local jobcentre offices and the Royal Borough’s libraries.

Universal Credit will not be paid for the first seven days, and will then be paid monthly, in arrears. This means that it will usually take six weeks for people to get their money, but an advance payment can be made in some circumstances.

Cllr Denise Scott McDonald (top righ), Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, said: “This is a big change to benefits, and the Council wants to support people as much as possible so we have made sure that in Royal Greenwich there is a range of support available to help people cope with the changes.”

Help and advice for claimants

Advice is available to help people with the changes. If you are aged 16-19 or up to 25, have special needs or a disability, and you need help getting online to make your claim, you can get help at The Point in Woolwich New Road from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

If you are over 19, you can go to Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB) at The Old Library, Calderwood Street, Woolwich, between 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Help to make your claim

Anyone who needs help with their personal budgeting should tell the Jobcentre Plus office which will refer you to council’s Welfare Reform Team. You can also visit the Council’s ‘Help with Debt’ information at www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/helpwithdebt.

You can also call the Council’s Welfare Rights Service helpline for advice on benefits including Universal Credit, on 020 8921 6375.