UNIVERSAL Credit claimants could be missing out on extra financial help to ease the stress of bills and other expenses this winter.
This time of year can be financially tough for families who are struggling to make ends meet, with Christmas just around the corner and the additional cost of keeping your home warm.
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This includes those on Universal Credit, with around 2.3million people in the UK currently claiming the new-style benefit.
But many of these households might not realise they could be entitled to additional help.
If you’re not sure what you can claim, we’ve checked out what schemes are available from the government.
Some of the help mentioned below is available all-year round so be sure to check exactly what you’re entitled to.
Welfare charity Turn2Us also suggests checking your eligibility for free grants.
Sara Willcocks, head of communications at Turn2us, told The Sun: “We recommend anyone who is struggling to check out the Turn2us Grant Search to see what they are eligible for.”
Cold weather payment
Keep an eye on your thermostat this winter, because you might get a cold weather payment.
You can get £25 every time the average temperature in your area drops to, or is forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or less.
To get cold weather payments, you must be claiming Universal Credit and currently not working.
One of the following must also apply:
- You have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work.
- You have a child under the age of five living with you.
You may also be able to claim if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, regardless if you’re working or not.
The good news is you don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically.
The scheme is due to start again on November 1 and will run until March 31.
See the GOV.uk website for more information.
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Affordable warmth grant
Universal Credit claimants might be able to claim money towards the cost of energy-saving improvements to their home through an affordable warmth grant.
This can include insulation work to stop warm air escaping from your home, or replacing and repairing your boiler.
You may also be eligible for money towards upgrading your heating system.
The grant can cover all, or part of, the cost of the works and it’s available to those living in either private or social housing.
Although if you’re renting, you will need your landlord’s permission to carry out any work.
If you live in social housing, you may be able to claim if you have an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G.
To apply, visit affordablewarmthgrants.co.uk.
Free NHS prescriptions
Winter is the time of year where illnesses are rife, but you might be able to claim free NHS prescriptions if you’re getting Universal Credit.
One of the following must also apply:
- You had no income or net earnings of £435 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period.
- You had no income or net earnings of £935 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period, and had a child element included in your award or had limited capability for work.
It’s worth noting that if you’re in a couple, the net earnings applies to your combined income.
To prove you qualify for free prescriptions, you must bring a copy of your Universal Credit notice when going to get your prescription.
Some health forms don’t have a tick box for Universal Credit, so the GOV.uk website recommends ticking the box for Jobseeker’s Allowance instead.
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Warm home discount
The warm home discount is a government scheme that pays £140 towards your electricity bills.
It’s paid directly to your energy supplier who will then take the money off your bills.
The discount applies between September and March and can also be used towards a gas bill if you have the same supplier for both gas and electricity.
Split into two parts, Universal Credit claimants might qualify for the “broader group” – but each energy supplier has different criteria.
The “broader group” is essentially for those who are on low-income, so you’ll need to contact your energy provider to see how they award the discount.
All of the Big Six energy suppliers have opened their applications for the 2019/20 winter.
Do this as early as possible as the number of discounts suppliers can give are limited.
You can use the following online forms to apply:
Advance payments
We’ve seen how some families have been plunged into debt during the five-week wait for their Universal Credit payment.
That’s why The Sun has been calling for this time frame to be cut to just two weeks as part of its Make Universal Credit Work campaign.
In the meantime, families who are struggling this winter and beyond can apply for an advance loan.
You can borrow up to 100 per cent of your estimated payment to see you through the transitional period, but remember – you will be expected to pay it back.
The money is interest-free but it will come out of your Universal Credit payments until the full amount has been reimbursed.
Make sure you’ll be able to afford to pay the money back before considering an advance payment.
You can either speak to your work coach at the job centre or apply by calling the helpline on 0800 328 5644, Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm.
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Hardship payments
If you’ve been sanctioned, you might qualify for a hardship payment.
A sanction is where you’ve had your Universal Credit payments stopped or reduced if you’ve failed to meet your responsibilities or what you’ve agreed in your “claimant commitment”.
Claimants can get roughly 60 per cent of the amount they were sanctioned by in the last month to cover the costs of rent, heating, food or hygiene needs.
Like the advanced payment, you’ll need to pay a hardship payment back through your Universal Credit payments.
To apply, contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 9344.
Find out more about how you can appeal unfair benefit and Universal Credit sanctions.
Alternative payment arrangement
Your landlord might be able to apply for an alternative payment arrangement (APA) if you’re falling behind on your rent.
The type of help you could get includes:
- Getting your rent paid directly to your landlord.
- Getting paid more frequently than once a month.
- Receiving split payments, if you’re part of a couple.
You’ll need to talk to your work coach at the JobCentre Plus to apply for an APA.
The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work
UNIVERSAL Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment.
One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2023, nearly 7 million will be on it.
But there are big problems with the flagship new system – it takes 5 weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year.
And while working families can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront – we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money.
Working parents across the country told us they’ve been unable to take on more hours – or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount they get their benefits cut.
It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the Government to:
- Get paid faster: The Government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt.
- Keep more of what you earn:The work allowance should be increased and the taper rate should be slashed from 63p to 50p, helping at least 4 million families.
- Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears.
Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.
Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email UniversalCredit@the-sun.co.uk to share your story.
Budgeting advance
If you’ve been hit by an unexpected expense or a sudden change in circumstances, you might be able to get a budgeting advance.
This only applies in cases of emergencies, such as a broken down boiler or covering the cost of a funeral, as well as if you need help covering the costs of a new job.
You can borrow:
- £348 if you’re single.
- £464 if you’re part of a couple.
- £812 if you have children.
You must also:
- Have been getting Universal Credit for six months or more, unless you need the money to help you start a new job or stay in work.
- Have earned less than £2,600 (£3,600 for couples) in the past six months
- Have paid off any previous budgeting advance loans.
Like the hardship payments and advanced payments, this will be paid back through your Universal Credit payments.
Contact your local Jobcentre Plus work coach to apply.
Charity grants
Charities often help those need, and you may be eligible for a charitable grant to support you.
These grants are given by charitable funds, and do not have to be paid back.
You can use the Turn2us online grant search to find what grants you can get.
To see what’s available, you’ll need to pop in your post code, age and gender, then pick a category for the type of help you’re looking for.
This week, MPs heard how one mum on Universal Credit said she’s been forced to perform sex acts in exchange for money for food.
If you’re struggling, we explain what a Universal Credit advance payment is, how do you apply and when you have to pay it back.
You may also qualify for a Universal Credit Flexible Support Fund payment that you don’t have to pay back.
