What is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is a single monthly payment designed to support people of working age who are on a low income or out of work. Administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), this new benefit is designed to give people the support needed to prepare for work, to move into work, or earn more.
It will replace the following benefits:
If you are of Pension Credit age, Universal Credit will not affect you. However, if you have a partner who has not yet reached Pension Credit age and they need to claim one of the above benefits, they will have to claim Universal Credit instead.
If you are currently claiming any of the benefits that Universal Credit will replace, you will carry on receiving these benefits as normal. You will not be moved onto Universal Credit unless you have a change in your circumstances.
Universal Credit does not include any help to pay your Council Tax bill. If you need help, you can apply for
Council Tax Support
Can I claim Universal Credit?
If you need to make a new claim for any of the above benefits you will have to apply for Universal Credit instead.
If you live in supported accommodation (such as a hostel) you will still need to claim Housing Benefit to help with your housing costs.
More information about
Universal Credit and how to claim can be found on the DWP website.
If you are not eligible to claim Universal Credit and you need help with housing costs, you should apply for
Housing Benefit instead. You can also visit
www.gov.uk for information about other benefits you can claim.
How do I claim Universal Credit?
If you are eligible to claim Universal Credit, you will need to
apply online. Guidance on how to do this can be found on the
gov.uk website. If you need help to apply, assistance is available at various places across the district.
Get help to claim from Citizens Advice Bureau
The Citizens Advice Wakefield District can support you to make a new claim for Universal Credit, from opening your account to receiving your first full payment.
Their trained advisers can help you to:
- Set-up your Universal Credit account
- Complete your claim to-dos
- Verify your identity
- Make sure you're providing the right evidence to the Jobcentre
- Understand what Universal Credit will mean for you
If you're not sure what help you need, contact them on:
You can find more information on Universal Credit
on their advice pages.
Get help to claim from Wakefield Council
You can get help to make a claim for Universal Credit in our Customer Access Point at Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2DA. The opening times are 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
If you just need to use a computer, or need some help in using a computer, you can call in to any of our libraries. Please note that libraries can only provide help in getting you online – they cannot help with your actual claim for Universal Credit
Wakefield Council cannot help with questions about your Universal Credit entitlement or payments. You should discuss these issues with your Work Coach at your Job Centre or call the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 9344.
Get help to claim from WDH
If you are a WDH tenant, you can get help in making a claim from WDH. Please telephone 01977 724651 to book an appointment or call into any of the following locations:
|
Where |
When |
WDH
Wakefield Hub
The Bullring
Wakefield, WF1 1HA | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday, 9am - 12 noon |
WDH
Pontefract Hub
1 Horsefair
Pontefract, WF8 1PE | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday, 9am - 12 noon |
WDH
Airedale Service Access Point
Stansfield Road
Airedale, WF10 3BY | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm |
WDH
South Elmsall Service Access Point
Exchange Street
South Elmsall, WF9 2RD | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm |
Advance Payments of Universal Credit
If you think that you will struggle to manage while you are waiting for your first payment of Universal Credit, you can ask the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a short term advance.
More information
Alternative Payment Arrangements
You may be able to have your Universal Credit paid more frequently than monthly, or have it paid direct to your landlord. Speak to your Work Coach at the Job Centre to see if you are eligible for Alternative Payment Arrangements.
Managing your money
The following support is available to help you manage your money.
If you are receiving Universal Credit, you can get help in managing your budget. You may be referred by your Work Coach for a personal budgeting support meeting or you can request this yourself.
These meetings are by appointment only.
Please telephone any of the providers during the days/times below to book an appointment.
Please do not telephone Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) on a Saturday morning, although appointments can be made for those times, as indicated below.
Your meeting can be held at any of the locations shown below or, if you prefer, by telephone. In addition, WDH can arrange to meet you at your home, in a local library, community centre or at a WDH
Work Club if this is more convenient.
WDH will provide personal budgeting support to
any Wakefield resident – you do
not need to be a WDH tenant to access this support from them.
The location of the meeting will be agreed when you book your appointment.
|
Where |
When | |
Wakefield Council
Wakefield One
Burton Street
WF1 2EB
Tel: 0345 8 506 506 | Monday to Friday | 8:30am - 5pm |
WDH
Wakefield Hub
The Bullring
Wakefield, WF1 1HA
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday
Saturday | 9am - 4:30pm
9am - 12noon |
WDH
Pontefract Hub
1 Horsefair
Pontefract, WF8 1PE
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday
Saturday | 9am - 4:30pm
9am - 12noon |
WDH
Airedale Service Access Point
Stansfield Road
Airedale, WF10 3BY
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday | 9am - 4pm |
WDH
South Elmsall Service Access Point
Exchange Street
South Elmsall, WF9 2RD
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday | 9am - 4pm |
The Career Cabin
17 Bank Street
Castleford
WF10 1JD
Tel: 01977 808800 | Monday to Friday
Saturday | 10am - 5pm
10am - 2pm |
Money Smart
This is a free Council service to help you become smarter at managing your money and making the most of your income. Money Smart may be able to help you to:
manage your money and help you save or control your debt
access benefits
reduce your fuel bills and other costs
make your home warmer with home insulation and heating improvements
get back in to employment or improve your job skills
Contact the Money Smart Team now to find out more:
Telephone: 01924 307272
E-mail:
moneysmart@wakefield.gov.uk
The Money Advice Service
The Money Advice Service offers free and impartial advice on how to manage your income. If you need to claim Universal Credit, or are already receiving it, their website has a lot of useful information and guidance that will help you make the most of your money.
Additional support
WDH can help you to manage your household budget. Its Cash Wise team provides district wide support to help you get back on track with your finances, understand your priority payments, create a household budget and access any other services suitable for your needs. This help may be particularly beneficial if you are claiming, or applying for, Universal Credit.
The Cash Wise website is a useful tool to help improve your financial confidence and provides lots of information on Universal Credit, managing your money, help with benefit issues, healthy eating and job advice.
Website :
www.getcashwise.co.uk
You can contact the team on the website or by calling 01977 724651, or you can call in to any of our Service Access Points shown below:
|
Where |
When |
WDH
Wakefield Hub
The Bullring
Wakefield, WF1 1HA
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday, 9am - 12noon |
WDH
Pontefract Hub
1 Horsefair
Pontefract, WF8 1PE
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday, 9am - 12noon |
WDH
Airedale Service Access Point
Stansfield Road
Airedale, WF10 3BY
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm |
WDH
South Elmsall Service Access Point
Exchange Street
South Elmsall, WF9 2RD
Tel: 01977 724651 | Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm |
Information for landlords
More information about
Universal Credit for landlords is available on the DWP website.