Universal Credit - Welfare Reform continues....

[Mdaisy]

Universal Credit (UC) is a means-tested benefit, which means the amount you get depends on how much income and capital you've got. Capital means things like savings and some kinds of property

UC is being introduced in a very limited number of areas only from April 2013, and rolled out gradually in more areas after this (Citizen Advice Bureau)

adviceguide.org.uk/england/...

UC replaces the following benefits of people of working age ie: under the age you can claim pension credit.

Income Support

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Child Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit

Housing Benefit

Budgeting loans - an advance payment of UC will replace these.

You can find more information here is a link about the places in the UK where UC is due to start & when;

adviceguide.org.uk/england/...

Here's more information from Disability Rights UK:

disabilityrightsuk.org/univ...

I think many people are worried in a reduction of benefits in the already difficult times, however in the factsheet it talks of a Transitional period;

You will not lose out immediately when you are moved onto universal credit if your circumstances remain the same. You will get ‘transitional protection’ if your universal credit is less than what you would get under the old system. This will be an extra amount to make up the difference between the old and the new. You will continue to get this until you are entitled to receive more under universal credit than under the old benefits (Disability Rights UK) - disabilityrightsuk.org/univ...

Is anyone currently applying for UC? Anyone (possibly unlikely due to backlog) who is currently receiving UC?

I am looking forward to reading comments about any experiences of UC

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[TheAuthor]

Thank you so much for this information, it is very useful and will help so many members.

Take care

Ken x x

[Ian123]

From what I have read so far the pilot schemes were plagued with computer system faults which have severely altered further roll out of the scheme. With blame thrown around like confetti the view amongst computer systems contractors was the complexity of the system was changed so much by political interference there was very little resemblance to the original core program.

Similar in many respects to the farce of getting all computers within the NHS communicating, by the time a system has gone through planning stage (often taking years) it has become obsolete wasting fortunes in tax payers spending.

[Ginsing in reply to Ian123]

Hi Morning every one!

I agree with you there have been too many examples of pilot schemes becoming obsolete as they are re-written argued over taken out and replaced. We must remember all the people employed to make the systems work with out these schemes there would be less jobs.

So once again we wait for the introduction of means testing I am against it but that is a purely personal opinion.

[Hidden]

I feel for the people who have to work on these systems and try to keep up with everything. Must be a nightmare.

[bowlerc67]

This will affect JSA first, they say 6 week turn around but it could be 3-4 months without any money! You DON'T apply for it....It is automatic and will apply to EVERYONE on benefits!!!!! So start saving now......

[bowlerc67]

It's coming to Swindon VERY soon!!!!!!