Push Back To Full Roll Out Of Universal Credit

The full roll out of Universal Credit has been pushed back to 2023 giving government time to implement a series of changes to the ‘reform’. In a written statement to the Commons, Esther McVey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announcing four additions to the way UC was expected to work. To support the transition for those claimants living alone with substantial care needs and receiving the Severe Disability Premium, the change is intended to ensure such claimants won’t be moved to UC until they qualify for transitional protection. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/push-back-to-full-roll-out-of-universal-credit/

500,000 Disabled People Could Lose Out Under Universal Credit

Up to half a million disabled people and their families - including children and disabled adults living on their own - will be worse off under Universal Credit if current plans go ahead, finds an inquiry led by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and supported by The Children’s Society, Citizens Advice and Disability Rights UK.  Disabled people and their families warned that cuts to the child disability additions and to the Severe Disability Premium are likely to result in them struggling to pay for basic essentials such as food and heating.

Many disabled people who are already finding it difficult to make ends meet face further hardship under the new benefit system, leading to potentially disastrous consequences. This includes up to 230,000 severely disabled people who do not have another adult to assist them getting between £28 and £58 less in support every week. The inquiry report, ‘Holes in the safety net: The impact of Universal Credit on disabled people and their families’ also reveals that:

    *100,000 disabled children stand to lose up to £28 a week.

    *116,000 disabled people who work will be at risk of losing up to £40 per week from help towards additional costs of being disabled.

Read more on the Disability Rights UK website.

Shared Accommodation Rate - Exemptions

*Local Authority and Housing Association tenants—Social sector tenants normally have their rent met in full (less deductions for non-dependants and earnings) as rents are generally below market rates.

*Tenants in certain supported accommodation—Tenants who are in accommodation where the landlord is a county council, voluntary organisation or charity and provides care, support or supervision. These cases are assessed under pre 1996 rules which recognise that their housing costs may be more expensive.

*Claimants entitled to the severe disability premium—customers in receipt of middle or higher rate care component of disability living allowance provided no one gets a carer's allowance for them.

*Claimants under the age of 22 who were formerly in social services care—Allows care leavers some leeway to become settled and establish links whereby they could share accommodation with others.

The Government has added two further exemptions for those aged over 25:

*A small group of ex-offenders subject to active multi-agency management under the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Offenders subject to MAPPA are in the main 25 years or over. This is considered appropriate in order to safeguard the public rather than relying on discretionary housing payments.

*People who have spent three months or more in a homeless hostel specialising in rehabilitating and resettling this group within the community. The three month qualifying condition is designed to target people receiving sustained rehabilitation rather than those who have sporadic, short term stays. Targeted at people aged 25 years and over as there is increasing prevalence among this age group of rough sleeping.