Not sure how to apply for Universal Credit to help with living and housing costs? Citizens Advice can help with your first online claim. When Alex* contacted us she was stressed because she didn’t know where to start with a claim, and she had heard she might have to wait 5 weeks for her first payment. How would she pay her rent during that time?
Universal Credit is the new means-tested benefit for people aged between 18 and the State Pension Credit age.
UC helps with living and housing costs. If you are of working age, not working or on a low income, and you need to make a new claim for benefits, you are likely to have to apply for UC. You need to make and manage your claim online. There is a minimum 5-week wait between applying and receiving your first payments from DWP.
We know many people have problems making their first claim and then managing their money until they receive the first payment.
Citizens Advice is now providing a national service, called Help to Claim. It aims to help people at any stage in making their first claim right up to getting their first payment. We can help with:
> opening a bank account
> creating an email address
> checking supporting documentation and
> completing the online claim.
Alex rang Citizens Advice dedicated phone line and spoke with an Adviser who assessed her needs and checked her eligibility to claim. She didn’t have access to the internet and asked how she could set up the online claim. Our Adviser invited her to drop into one of our offices to use the computer we have available for the public. New claimants can use the computer to make and manage their claim, with or without support from Citizens Advice staff.
Our adviser went through Alex’s options with her.
She decided to apply for an advance payment for the estimated amount of her first month’s payment. Our adviser explained she would need to repay the advance which would be deducted from her UC payments over a period of up to 12 months. The advance payment arrived in her bank account 3 days after she applied for it. She was relieved when the Adviser also explained she could continue to get Housing Benefit for two weeks after she moved to UC.
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If you or a friend want help with your first claim for Universal Credit you can:
> Give Us A Call at CARBS
> Drop in to one of our offices or
> Call the free phone line, 0800 144 8 444
You can also get advice online via WebChat.
The Help to Claim service is offered in addition to Citizens Advice usual wide range of free, confidential, impartial advice on issues including benefits, debt, housing and employment.
CARBS Help With…The Series
* Name changed.