Rents and benefits
Important information
Paying your rent, claiming the right benefit, and the Coronavirus
Updates 24th March, 2020
Changes to Jobcentre appointments and Universal Credit
People receiving benefits no longer need to attend Jobcentre appointments. People will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the Jobcentre in person are suspended. These changes will be in place for three months from 19th March 2020.
Anyone already claiming Universal Credit who thinks they may have been affected by Coronavirus should contact their work coach by:
- using the online journal, or
- calling the Universal Credit helpline.
People applying for Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance or other benefits should not go to a Jobcentre but apply for them online. Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.
Suspension of face to face assessments for sickness and disability benefits
Face to face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits have been suspended.
This affects claimants of Personal Independence Payment, those on Employment and Support Allowance and some on Universal Credit, as well as recipients of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. These changes will be in place for three months from 17th March 2020. The suspension of face-to-face assessments also covers new claims to those benefits.
Updates 24th March, 2020
The UK Government has announced the following changes to welfare benefits.
- From the 6th April Universal Credit Standard Allowance will be increased by £1,000 per year, on top of the standard uprating.
- If you receive working tax credits (WTC) the basic element will also increase by £1,000 per year, over the next 12 months from the 6th April.
- From the 19th March 2020
- The Chancellor also has said that the Minimum Income Floor is to be suspended for those affected by the economic impact of the Coronavirus.
- Remember if you claim Universal Credit you can get help to pay for dentistry and optician bills (if your income is low enough).
- The government has launched an online ‘isolation note’ to be provided to employers. This stops you having to go to the GP surgery to obtain one. You can access it here at NHS 111 Online.
More important information about paying your rent and claiming the right benefit during the Coronavirus outbreak
If you are having difficulty paying your rent, or are worried about money during this extremely unsettling time, please call 01495 745910 and speak to one of our advice team. We will work with you to make sure you access all the correct financial help thatis available.
Our advice team are here to provide you with support at this uncertain time, if you are worried about:
- Paying your rent
- Paying your Council Tax
- Loss of income
- Self-employed earnings
- Paying your bills
- Paying for food
- Heating your home
Please contact us on 01495 745910 and ask for Money Advice – we are here to help. Or email moneyadvice@melinhomes.co.uk.
Coronavirus – Top benefit related facts
- If you need to self-isolate, you will be treated as having a 'Limited Capability for Work' if you claim Universal Credit. This means you will not have to provide a fit note but will have to provide evidence from 111.
(This includes those who have been diagnosed as having the virus, those who are showing symptoms of the virus, and those who are having to self-isolate because someone in their household has/could have the virus) - If you claim Job Seeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit – as a jobseeker you should let your work coach know if you are self-isolating and agree a new claimant commitment. You can do this on your journal.
- Statutory Sick Pay will be paid from day one of absence from work if self-isolating.
- If you are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay, you may be entitled to new style Employment and Support Allowance (which, if entitled, will be awarded from day one of your absence from work).
- Self-employed Universal Credit claimants who have to self-isolate will have the Minimum Income Floor removed from their award whilst they are self-isolating and for the whole of the Assessment Period in which they stop self-isolating.
- Those self-isolating who need to make a new claim for Universal Credit should contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644, to let them know that they are self-isolating. The DWP have said that they will not require these claimants to attend the Job Centre for their New Claim Interview or Advance Payment.
- Remember if you claim an advance payment, some of the costs will be for your rent.
- If you claim Working Tax Credit you will be entitled to a four week grace period. This is where you will be allowed to work fewer hours, and still claim.
- Do not worry if your Personal Independence Payment face to face assessment is cancelled. The Department of Work and Pension have advised you will either be offered an assessment over the phone, or a new appointment arranged in three months’ time. (Note this is the same for Disability Living Allowance, Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance).
Please note!
Someone whose income drops due to the Coronavirus may be advised to claim Universal Credit. However, this may not be the best option for them.
For example: Claire works 20 hours a week and claims Child and Working Tax Credits for her and her two dependent children. Her youngest child is showing symptoms of Coronavirus and so she is having to self-isolate for two weeks. During this period, she will only receive Statutory Sick Pay – so her income will drop by £100 a week and she is worried about how she will pay her rent. She has been told that Universal Credit can help with her rent.
If she claims Universal Credit her Tax Credits will stop straight away, and unless she gets an Advance Payment she won't receive any Universal Credit for around five weeks.
Depending on her circumstances going forward, she may receive less Universal Credit than she would have done in Tax Credits.
How we can help
Melin’s advisors are here to help you, please call us for advice on what to claim, and when. We are experiencing an unprecedented amount of calls at present, but we will call you back as soon as we can.
Food Banks
Please use the link above about to obtain further information on your local food bank. Please call in ahead to ensure they are open, as things are changing daily at the moment. We can provide a voucher for you in an emergency, but we cannot provide a collection and delivery service. The voucher will be sent via the post, and could take two working days to arrive.
Gas and Electricity
New from GOV.UK: Government agrees measures with energy industry to support vulnerable people through COVID-19
Customers with pre-payment meters who may not be able to add credit can speak to their supplier about options to keep them supplied. This could include nominating a third party for credit top ups, having a discretionary fund added to their credit, or being sent a pre-loaded top up card so that their supply is not interrupted. More information on the help which is available can be found at GOV.UK.
Any energy customer in financial distress will also be supported by their supplier, which could include debt repayments and bill payments being reassessed, reduced or paused where necessary, while disconnection of credit meters will be completely suspended.
For information on how the Big Six energy companies are dealing with coronavirus and what help they are offering customers visit Ofgem’s website.
Free school meals and education support
For information in your local authority about free school meals and education support, please check the links below:
Rent Payments by Direct Debit
We are asking residents to pay their rent by Direct Debit to help with social distancing, this will avoid you having to go outside to pay. For all the information on how you can make payments please visit our page on ways to make a payment.
Universal Credit (UC)
For information on Coronavirus and claiming benefits visit this Government UC page. It provides information about coronavirus and claiming benefits. It will continue to be updated.
NHS
For general information on Coronavirus visit the NHS website.
Public Health Wales
Public Health Wales statement on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (updated daily)
Courts and Tribunals
To limit the spread of coronavirus, the legislation will extend the availability of live video links across courts to allow proceedings to be conducted by video or telephone.
