1000’s should apply for Universal Credit or funds will cease
Those affected are to obtain a Migration Notice letter, which can inform them when their present profit funds will end.
The letter will even give them a deadline for when they should put in a declare for Universal Credit to allow them to proceed to obtain funds underneath the brand new profit.
People on DWP legacy advantages who don’t put in a declare for Universal Credit will proceed to get their funds for one more two weeks after the deadline as set out within the letter.
Those on tax credit who don’t make a Universal Credit declare by the deadline will see their entitlement come to an finish the day earlier than the deadline.
The rollout of Universal Credit was paused through the coronavirus pandemic however restarted final 12 months, being carried out in phases in numerous components of the nation.
In May 2022, 500 households in Bolton and Medway had been letters telling them they wanted emigrate to Universal Credit.
The scheme then expanded to Truro and Falmouth in July 2022, Harrow in August 2022, Northumberland in September 2022, and to all postcodes in Cornwall throughout February 2023.
People on legacy advantages will even be switched to Universal Credit in the event that they report a change in circumstances, resembling taking on a brand new job or altering their handle.
Legacy profit claimants whose funds will lower in switching to Universal Credit could obtain Transitional Protection, which means they get a top-up fee to cowl the distinction.
An individual can even request their first Universal Credit fee upfront in the event that they urgently want the funds to pay payments.
This quantity will then be repaid as deductions from the claimant’s future Universal Credit funds.
A report revealed in current weeks from Advice NI found many claimants in Northern Ireland struggled to get by when they were moved to Universal Credit.
More than half of these transferring to the profit fell into lease arrears whereas 47 p.c went into debt or needed to borrow cash from family and friends.
One legacy claimant mentioned: “Transferring is frightening and can cause a lot of worry and stress so I would need a support worker who could bring me through all steps and who I could contact when I don’t understand something.”
Advice NI known as for enhancements to the system together with ensuring claimants have easy accessibility to the monetary help obtainable.
The group additionally mentioned claimants ought to have real-time entry to Universal Credit workers so unbiased advisors can flag up circumstances the place an individual urgently wants assist.
A Department for Communities spokesperson instructed Express.co.uk: “Anyone moving to UC from legacy benefits or tax credits will have their benefit entitlement protected through Transitional Protection.
“This means that people with no change in their circumstances will not have a reduced entitlement at the point they move to UC.
“Legacy customers will continue to receive benefit payments for two weeks during the waiting time for their first UC payment (known as a two-week run-on).
“A similar run-on is already in place for those on housing benefits who move to Universal credit as a result of a change in their circumstances.”
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