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Lincoln Against Poverty

Universal Credit: The Future in Lincoln Martin Walmsley Head of Shared Revenues and Benefits City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council. #LAPC2015 @lincolnVpoverty www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk. Lincoln Against Poverty. Universal Credit (UC) – what is it?.

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Lincoln Against Poverty

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  1. Universal Credit: The Future in Lincoln Martin Walmsley Head of Shared Revenues and Benefits City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council #LAPC2015 @lincolnVpoverty www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk Lincoln Against Poverty

  2. Universal Credit (UC) – what is it? ‘6 benefits into 1’: Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits, Housing Benefit (HB) Applications online Paid monthly in arrears Paid to claimant (not landlord) Claimant commitment Lincoln Against Poverty

  3. National UC rollout • April 2013: Universal Credit introduced in parts of Greater Manchester and Cheshire. • April 2014: DWP announced the expansion of Universal Credit to the rest of the north west of England. This expansion began in June 2014. • June 2014: Universal Credit started to become available for new claims from couples in live site areas across England, Wales and Scotland. • Autumn 2014: Extension of Universal Credit to families. Lincoln Against Poverty

  4. Accelerated national rollout of UC Accelerated rollout announced to single persons in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) – all areas to have UC in 2015/16, starting from February 2015 Tranche 1 areas – contains two Lincolnshire districts, Boston and South Kesteven Tranche 2 areas – contains two Lincolnshire local authorities, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Further 2 x tranches expected in 2015/16 Migration of legacy benefits 2016-2019 Once a customers is in receipt of UC, they stay on UC even if they move into another district… Lincoln Against Poverty

  5. Lincolnshire – ‘Ink spot’ UC rollout Lincoln Against Poverty

  6. Potential impacts on City of Lincoln Total HB caseload 9,150 • of which: • Working age claims 7,180 • Single JSA 1,036 Lincoln Against Poverty

  7. Universal Support Delivered Locally (USDL) formerly known as Universal Credit Local Support Services Framework – UC LSSF) Digital Inclusion Financial Inclusion ‘One Claimant Journey’ ‘Other’ e.g. Partnership working, Housing advice, Identifying vulnerable customers re direct payment Employment Lincoln Against Poverty

  8. USDL Trial Lincoln Against Poverty • ‘West Lincolnshire’ trial, running September 2014-August 2015, focuses on 4 main areas of Universal Support: • Partnership Working • Digital Inclusion • Financial Inclusion • Triage • Expectation that 2,000 claimants will be supported under the trial. • Trial will be closely evaluated locally and nationally to help inform subsequent roll-out. • Also – • Direct Payment trial, • Support for ex-offenders

  9. Partnerships Lincoln Against Poverty

  10. Triage Upon arrival at a partner organisation (such as Jobcentre Plus) the claimant will be identified as potential universal credit claimants. The triage form will help identify areas in which the claimant may need further support or training. • Computer Access • Form Filling • Training • Employment Advice • Volunteering • Saving/Budgeting • Income Maximisation Lincoln Against Poverty

  11. Digital Inclusion Abbey Children's CentreLincoln Baptist ChurchCroft StreetLincoln Free WiFi & Computer Use Must be a parent Opening Times Friday: 9 - 4 Thursday: 9 - 4 Wednesday: 9 - 4 Monday: 9 - 4 Tuesday: 9 - 4 Lincoln Against Poverty • If a client does not have access to a computer and/or internet, or requires support doing so, you can use the Lincs2Advice website to locate Computer Access Locations www.lincs2advice.org.uk/free-computer-access

  12. Financial Inclusion Lincoln Against Poverty Direct Payment of Housing Benefit Financial Education Support to identify and open suitable bank account

  13. Next Steps Lincoln Against Poverty • Accelerated UC national rollout 2015/16 • Preparation for UC customers/ support • Continuation of USDL trial • Local Universal Support Partnership (LUSP), links into USDL trial / Reports into USDL Steering Group • Ongoing communications –Communications Plan, around various ‘themes’ • Want to be involved? – please contact martin.walmsley@lincoln.gov.uk

  14. Useful links • Universal Credit Pathfinder Evaluation • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-pathfinder-evaluation • Policy Paper – Universal Credit at Work • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-at-work • Universal Credit for Local Authorities • https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-for-local-authorities • Gov.UK • https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit • USDL – Universal Support Delivered Locally • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-support-delivered-locally-information-for-local-authorities/universal-support-delivered-locally-information-for-local-authorities • As Universal Credit starts to rollout in Lincoln, keep an eye on: • http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/living-in-lincoln/benefits/welfare-reform • Discretionary Housing Payments • www.lincoln.gov.uk/dhp #LAPC2015 @lincolnVpoverty www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk Lincoln Against Poverty

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