Universal Credit is a new benefit that supports people who are on a low income or out of work. In time will replace the following 6 working age benefits:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
For more information, go to: www.gov.uk/universal-credit (opens in new tab)
Universal Credit is being rolled out slowly throughout Britain.
It has been available to some of Gwynedd’s residents since 26 October 2015.
If you’re already receiving one of the 6 benefits named above, you don’t need to do anything yet.
Since 12 December 2018, Gwynedd is a Universal Credit Full service area.
Full Service:
- Universal Credit full service is available to all types of working age claimants.
- You will have an online Universal Credit account to manage your claim. You can use your account to report changes, send messages to your work coach and find support.
For more information, go to: www.gov.uk/universal-credit (opens in new tab)
To claim Universal Credit you must apply on-line (no paper forms available).
Before you start making a claim you’ll have to make sure that you have the following:
- your National Insurance number
- details of a bank, building society or Credit Union account into which your Universal Credit will be paid
- your rent agreement (if you have one)
- details of any savings and other capital
- details of any non-work income - for example income from an insurance plan
- details of any other benefits you already receive
The government’s website (opens in new tab) also contains details of how to contact their helpline and links to various other pages containing information about Universal Credit.
The Council can help you to make claim for Universal Credit by providing free access to computer facilities and the internet at different sites throughout Gwynedd.
At some of these sites we will have trained staff present to help you make the claim.
For further information please contact us.
People that receive Universal Credit will not receive Housing Benefit. Their Universal Credit may contain a Housing Cost element, and tenants will be responsible for using this money to pay their rent, even if there’s a shortfall between the money they receive and the actual rent.
The Government have prepared advice and guidance for both tenants and landlords on their website, which includes the procedures to follow to request direct payments if a tenant has rent arrears. Direct payments can be requested by contacting the Universal Credit Service – all these details are available on the Government’s Universal Credit and rented housing (opens in new tab) website.
For further information, please contact us:
E-mail: budd-daliadau@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Phone: 01286 682689