Money matters
Your benefits and your rights answered
Knowing what benefits you’re entitled to can be difficult. Are you still eligible for other benefits if you already receive Universal Credit? What are the implications if you have adult children living with you? Additionally, is there any support available if you're experiencing financial difficulties?
Our Welfare, Benefit & Debt Officer, Jane, talks about the questions she gets asked the most and how she can help.
I have grown up children in the household. Will this affect my benefits?
I’ve been told I must claim Universal Credit instead of my existing benefits. Is this true?
Universal Credit is replacing some old or 'legacy' benefits for people of working age. You have the option to claim Universal Credit instead of your old benefits at any time if you want to. You may have to move to Universal Credit if you have a change in your circumstances through a process called ‘Managed Migration’. When this happens, you will receive an official letter from the DWP called a ‘Migration Notice’. The letter will tell you that your legacy benefit awards are ending and that you must make a claim for Universal Credit to continue receiving support. It’s important not to ignore the Migration Notice, as it will have a deadline date on it for when you need to make your claim for Universal Credit.
Given the variations in how Universal Credit and other benefits are calculated, some individuals may find themselves in a more favourable financial position on Universal Credit, while others may experience a decrease in their benefits. This is why the timing of your claim is crucial. If you transition through Managed Migration and make a timely claim, your income can be safeguarded by a mechanism known as Transitional Protection.
I’m State Pension age and struggling financially. Am I entitled to any help?
If you’re aged 66 or over and your income is low, you may be able to claim a top-up benefit called Pension Credit.
Many people are eligible for this benefit but do not claim it.
Pension Credit can top up:
- Your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single.
- Your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.
Some types of income are not taken into account when determining if you qualify for Pension Credit. For example, even if you have savings or a higher income, and you receive disability benefits, are disabled, or have caring responsibilities, you may still be eligible for Pension Credit.
Receiving Pension Credit guarantee will also mean eligibility for the Warm Home Discount, free NHS dental care and a free TV license for over 75’s.
It’s worth seeking advice from a benefit advisor to see if you’re eligible for Pension Credit.
Your stories
We’ve had some great feedback from residents on how Jane has helped them with their issues. Here are a few stories.
State Pension age
One of our residents had worked hard his whole life, with just a few gaps in employment and reduced hours for sickness due to this disability. He reached State Pension age and continued to work a few hours a week until retirement, receiving his State Pension in full and his Personal Independence Payment (PIP), but no other income. When he applied for Pension Credit, which helps top up income for pensioners, his claim was rejected. They said his income was too high, higher than the amount the Government says someone with his circumstances needs to live on. Once he stopped working, our Welfare, Benefit & Debt Officer, Jane, calculated that he should now be eligible, but the claim was again rejected. We called the Pension Service to query this and found out they still included earned income wages in their calculation. This was corrected, and the Pension Credit was backdated which was a success.
Catalogue and credit cards debts
A resident who suffers from mental health problems and struggles to manage their affairs received a letter from the bailiffs with a staggering amount of money owed for catalogue debts and credit cards. They had ignored all previous correspondence from the bailiffs and these extra costs almost doubled the initial debt owed. We called the relevant party managing the debt recovery, and with the resident’s permission, we explained their circumstances. We removed the debt from the courts, all court costs and bailiff fees were removed, and the debt was reduced to more than a third.
An affordable payment plan has now been set up to pay off the remaining debt. This debt will now be cleared within months rather than years. Best of all, the resident has stated that their mental health improved due to the reduced stress.
Rent arrears
A single mum of a child with special needs was struggling on basic Universal Credit, receiving less than £500 per month after rent to live on. Her debts were mounting and she had accumulated rent arrears, struggling to top up her gas and electric meters. She was relying on food banks, and she was suffering from a low mood and anxiety, which affected her ability to increase her earnings through work. We worked together for five months. During this time, we successfully applied for a Disability Living Allowance for her son, Personal Independence Payment for herself and the sickness component of Universal Credit. We cleared her utility debt with £250 worth of vouchers and applied for 50% off her water bills and a Discretionary Housing Payment to clear the rent arrears.
Six months later, her income has increased to over £1600 per month after rent. She is managing her bills and has not incurred any further rent arrears. She now feels in the right ‘head space’ to start counselling with a view to returning to work as a beauty therapist.
These are just a few examples of how we’ve helped residents in times of need. If you face similar challenges, don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 0800 054 6710 or emailing customers@ccha.biz. One of our team members will connect you with Jane, our Welfare, Benefit & Debt Officer.