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Understanding UC

May 01 2019
Will Quince is MP for Colchester. Here he explains how homeless people have a right to Universal Credit. © DWP Will Quince is MP for Colchester. Here he explains how homeless people have a right to Universal Credit. © DWP
In the last issue of the Pavement, the Glasgow News Group wrote about their trauma from being moved on to Universal Credit. This is the Department of Work and Pension’s advice for people who are homeless. It’s written by Will Quince MP, the Minister for Family Support, Housing & Child Maintenance at the DWP

In the last issue of the Pavement, the Glasgow News Group wrote about their trauma from being moved on to Universal Credit. This is the Department of Work and Pension’s advice for people who are homeless. It’s written by Will Quince MP, the Minister for Family Support, Housing & Child Maintenance at the DWP

Whether you’re sleeping on the streets, sofa surfing, or living in temporary accommodation, support is in place in jobcentres across the UK to help you claim benefits and get advice on a whole range of issues.
Navigating a complex benefits system can sometimes feel overwhelming. I want people to feel reassured that Universal Credit has been designed to simplify the system, by rolling up six benefits into one payment.
Our jobcentre staff don’t have targets to meet – their focus is to support each individual in a way that works best for them. All work coaches receive training to support a range of people claiming Universal Credit, and to address other issues they might be facing.

Universal Credit is now available in every jobcentre, and here are some handy tips to help with your claim:

  • Universal Credit replaces the old benefit system and is for people who are on low income or are out of work. How much you’ll get depends on your circumstances. For example, if you’ve got children or a health condition. 
  • You don’t need a permanent address to access Universal Credit. To make a claim, you can use: your hostel address, the address of a family member or trusted friend, or the jobcentre address.
  • Computers are free to use in all our jobcentres, and staff can help you set up an email address when making a Universal Credit claim. You can save your application and come back to it later, so you don’t have to complete it all in one day.
  • You can bring a friend or helper along to any of your jobcentre appointments if you want extra support.
  • You don’t need formal ID to make a claim – we can check your identity in other ways. You can find out more about this by talking to jobcentre staff.
  • We can help you set up a bank account so you can receive payments, or they can be made by other methods if needed.
    – DWP says: People don’t need a bank account to receive benefits. There are other methods of us paying people such as into a Post Office Card Account, or payments can be made into someone else’s bank account. Payments can also be made using the HM Government Payment Exception Service. We will assess someone’s situation when they come into the jobcentre. Work coaches can also help people through the process of setting up a bank account, including applying for ID.
    – Pavement tip: if you are happy on line you could try getting a Monzo account (ID is a selfie and scan of a passport or driving licence).  https://monzo.com
  • Finding a home is prioritised over finding work, and jobcentres can pause any requirements to look for work while you find housing. This sort of help is also available if you are at risk of homelessness. If you need more housing support, we can also refer you to a Local Housing Authority.
  • If you need extra support with managing a single payment, we can help with budgeting, and set up different ways of paying your Universal Credit (including bimonthly or straight to your landlord).
  • Visit your local jobcentre or https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-homeless-people to find out more. Follow twitter @DWP to keep up-to-date with the latest news.

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December 2024 – January 2025 : Solidarity

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