Universal credit your claim journey toolkit English - Mossbank.org.uk

Your claim journey (From April 2013 only in the Pathfinder area)1. Claiming Universal Credit from April 2013The Universal CreditPathfinder starts in April2013. This will test theservice before it rolls outnationally from October2013. You will be able toclaim Universal Credit onlineat GOV.UK.There will be links to thissite on existing governmentwebsites includingwww.dwp.gov.uk.There will NOT be a paperclaim form for UniversalCredit, but in exceptionalcircumstances a claim can bemade by telephone or faceto face.The early introduction ofUniversal Credit begins inthe Greater Manchester andCheshire area from April2013. This is known as aPathfinder, and it will trialUniversal Credit six monthsbefore progressive nationalroll-out begins in October.It will be delivered throughthe four local Jobcentres inselected areas of Ashtonunder-Lyne,Oldham,Warrington and Wigan.If you are eligible to receiveUniversal Credit you will beable to apply for it.If you are not eligible forUniversal Credit you will beable to apply for existingbenefits such as Jobseeker’sAllowance.Universal Credit will beclaimed online.A telephone number will beavailable Mon to Fri, 8am to6pm, for help and advice onmaking an online claim.If there are technicalproblems with the GOV.UK site a webpage willbe displayed that givesalternative contactarrangements. This will alsobe the case if you are usingan internet browser thatcannot properly access thesite.

2. New claim online activityWhen making a claim youwill be asked to input yourpersonal details includingyour National InsuranceNumber.You will need to have all theinformation ready that youneed to make the claim, asit must be completed in onesession. The website will tellyou what type of informationyou will need to have withyou.You will go through a securityprocess that will ask you totype in some letters and/or numbers as they appearon screen. This is a standardprocess that DWP has put inplace to make sure that yourpersonal information is safeand secure.You will then be asked aset of questions that willdetermine whether you areeligible for Universal Credit.If you are not eligible forUniversal Credit a messagewill appear on the screenthat tells you this and directsyou to further informationabout benefits and creditsthat you might be eligible for.When you make a UniversalCredit claim you will submitmost of the requiredinformation about youand your circumstancesonline. However, if you havequestions about your claimafter this stage, or want totell DWP about changes inyour circumstances, this willbe done by phone or face toface.

3. New claim online activityOnce you have answered allthe questions on the claimform you will be shown asummary of the informationyou have entered and askedto confirm the details.You will be able to go backand correct any mistakes atthis stage before you givefinal confirmation that theinformation is correct.Straight away, a figurewill be displayed showingwhat someone in yourcircumstances is likely toget to cover their householdneeds. This will only bea guide based on theinformation you have given,and may be different to theamount you actually receive.Universal Credit is paid tothe household and, whereappropriate, includes housingcosts.If you are to receive UniversalCredit, you will need tomeet the responsibilities forreceiving it. This includesaccepting a personalisedClaimant Commitmentwhich will be your record ofwhat you will do in return forreceiving Universal Credit.Payments will be paidmonthly, with someflexibility possible in certaincircumstances. You will begiven more information onthis through an on-screenmessage.You will then submityour claim. The date ofclaim will be the date ofsubmission.

4. Telephony support and work search interviewAfter you make yourUniversal Credit claim, mostinteractions will be face toface, by telephone or bypost. In time the range ofUniversal Credit activitiesthat can be done online willincrease.A telephone helpline will beavailable, Mon – Fri, 8.00am –6.00pm.After submitting your claimDWP will contact you bytelephone to tell you the dateof your personalised worksearch interview and whatevidence you need to bring toit. A text message will be sentto confirm the appointmentdetails.At the interview you will:• confirm your identity andprovide documents thatsupport your UniversalCredit claim• sign a copy of your claimdetails• be advised of the supportthat is available, such asUniversal Jobmatch orpersonal budgeting• be reminded of yourresponsibilities and whatwill happen if you fail tomeet your responsibilitiesIf you do not sign theclaimant commitment theclaim will be closed.Looking for work is a full timejob!You will be informedthat your decisionletter can be used asproof of your claimwhen applying forother benefits that areavailable to UniversalCredit claimants. Thisletter will be posted toyou.• meet your adviser who willdiscuss job search and drawup a Claimant Commitmentwith you – you will be givena copy of this to take away

5. Change in circumstance and changing earningsYou are responsible fornotifying DWP of all changesto your circumstances,including any periods ofwork, which you can dothrough the Universal Credithelpline. When you tellDWP about a change ofcircumstances you will besent confirmation of thischange by post. This willinclude information aboutany effect this will haveon your Universal Creditpayments, to help youmanage your money.When you are working,either you or your employerwill need to report howmuch your take home payis on a monthly basis. Thisamount may change eachmonth, and the amount ofUniversal Credit you receivewill take those earnings intoaccount. You will not need toclose your claim down justbecause you have startedwork.Real Time Information (RTI)is the new system that willallow employers to provideHMRC and DWP with up todate information about theiremployees’ earnings.You will need to tell DWPwho your employer is whenyou are in work. DWP will tellyou if your employer isn’t onthe RTI system yet, and youwill need to report your takehome pay yourself.You should report the endof any employment bytelephone.You are responsible forreporting all changes ofcircumstances. If you tellDWP late about a changethat means that you areentitled to a higher UniversalCredit award, payments willnot be backdated. However,if you tell DWP late abouta change that reduces theamount you receive, moneywill be taken from yourpayments for a while so thatDWP can get back the extracash that you have received.

6. Change in circumstance, adding a partner and claim closureIf you become part of acouple, both you and yourpartner will be required toattend an adviser interview.If you are both able toreceive Universal Credit youwill get a single payment forthe whole household.If your new partner has anexisting benefit, that claimwill need to be closed.Once on UniversalCredit you will stay onUniversal Credit (unlessyou move out of GreatBritain).Once on Universal Credit, you will stay on it even if yourcircumstances change, as long as the conditions ofentitlement are still met.If your earnings reach the point where you are no longerentitled to Universal Credit, your claim will remain open. Itwill only be closed after six months of no Universal Creditpayments.If you move outside thePathfinder area but staywithin Great Britain (notethat Northern Ireland is notin Great Britain), you willcontinue to claim UniversalCredit.If you move out of thePathfinder area, faceto face delivery will bethrough the Jobcentre andlocal authority services atyour new location.