Universal Credit (UC) is the new system for welfare benefits, with different ways to apply for, manage, and receive benefits. UC started in April 2013 but currently applies to small numbers of claimants in certain geographical areas.
Help the people you support prepare for welfare change
With a raft of new products and terminology, the changes to welfare are a maze. To help you navigate it, we have produced this series of factsheets, designed for users of homelessness services. Each one reviews a specific change, and explains what it means in practice.
Understanding Universal Credit
Understanding Local Welfare Assistance
LWA replaces some parts of the social fund including most Crisis Loans and all Community Care Grants.
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Understanding Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being phased out. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the new disability benefit and was introduced in April 2013.
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Understanding the Shared Accommodation Rate
The Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) is the level of housing benefit that applies to single people in the private rented sector who are aged 34 years and under. Housing benefit for private sector tenancies is called Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
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Understanding Local Housing Allowance
Housing benefit for private rented housing is called ‘Local Housing Allowance’ (LHA). If you live in a private rented property and receive help with your rent because you cannot work, are unemployed or on a low income then you maybe eligible for LHA.
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Understanding the Benefit Cap
Since April 2013 there has been a limit to the total amount of money you can receive from all your benefits added together, such as Job Seekers Allowance and housing benefit.
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Understanding Council Tax Benefit
CTB is support for people on benefits or low incomes which helps with their Council Tax bill.
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Understanding Budgeting Advances and Short Term Advances
Budgeting Advances replaced Budgeting Loans from April 2013 but only for people on Universal Credit. Short Term Advances replaced Crisis Loans from April 2013 for relevant benefit claims.
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Understanding Exempt and Specified Accommodation
Changes to Supported Accommodation contained in the “The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Supported Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.”
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Understanding Changes to Welfare for Migrants
On Tuesday April 1st 2014, new rules came in restricting EEA migrants’ access to housing benefit. This briefing explains what these changes mean and how they will affect both new and existing claimants.