Universal Credit Scam Alert

There are reports of some fake sites appearing and operating claiming to be Universal Credit Claim sites.

Genuine Gov.uk only 

Only apply online using https://www.gov.uk/ and in ‘search’ type “apply Universal Credit”

Or use https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

DO NOT USE ANY OTHER WEBSITE TO APPLY! 

New claims 

Whilst making your new claim which is divided into sections, under the Account Details section - you will only be asked for your bank account, sort code, number and name of account holder as it appears on bank card.

If any other details are required – this is not a genuine UC claim website or application.

Advance Payments 

These can only be applied for online using your own personal journal and account. You should know your own username, password and security information – NEVER share these or write them down.

Only access your online account via https://www.gov.uk/ with the address: https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit

UC WILL ALREADY HAVE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS so you will not need to enter them.

REMEMBER 

UC, DWP or JCP WILL NEVER ASK YOU FOR:

• the long number on your bank card
• three-digit number on the back of your card

These would allow other people to use your card online for purchases. This would not happen during a genuine Universal Credit claim or appointment.

NEVER give your account details out by telephone. If you are asked for your account details:

• Refuse
• Look up the number on the internet (you can search for your local Jobcentre here: https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentreplus)
• Call the department or agency back using a genuine number to report issues of attempted fraud

Genuine numbers to call back:
UC Helpline 0800 328 5644 or use https://www.gov.uk/contactjobcentre-plus

Universal Credit – Fraud Warning

There have been a number of reports within Derbyshire of people falling victim to Universal Credit fraud. This follows an emerging national trend. We are seeking to warn local residents to be aware of the potential risks.

There have been different variations of the fraud reported within Derbyshire, and nationally. Fraudsters advertise “Government Loans” or pose as DWP officials promising an increase in benefit awards.

Loans are being advertised online and on social media and people are being asked to provide enough information for the fraudsters to make a claim for Universal Credit and obtain an advance payment. Then, either the money is paid directly to the fraudsters or the victims are asked to pay a fee for applying for the loan.

In some cases, smartly dressed people have turned up at victim’s addresses and stated that they are from the DWP and are trying to increase benefit income. They then proceed to start a claim for UC and obtain the advance payment with the information provided by the victim.

The result for victims is that their benefits stop and they may not be able to return to them. Victims may still have to repay the money despite not having benefited from it. In some cases the DWP are investigating victims under caution for benefits fraud, the ultimate penalty for which could be imprisonment.

There remains uncertainty as to whether the DWP will restore a victim’s previous benefit entitlement in cases where claims for Universal Credit have been created in their name.

We are advising all local residents to take the following steps:

• Never disclose Universal Credit login details to anyone
• Do not provide sensitive details (National Insurance number, date of birth, bank details etc.) to any third party
• Exercise caution when seeing loans advertised online, especially social media
• Treat any claim to help increase income from someone purporting to be from the DWP with suspicion

If you think that you have been a victim of such a fraud contact the police and Action Fraud as well as notifying your local Job Centre.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48887753

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/crime/derbyshire-residents-warned-about-universal-credit-scam-1-9908412

Demystifying Universal Credit

This week further announcements were made about the Universal Credit. In this post we will look at what was announced and what it means for claimants.

Roll-Out of Universal Credit by Managed Migration

Managed Migration means the process by which the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to transfer people in receipt of the six existing benefits (which have been incorporated into Universal Credit), onto Universal Credit. The six benefits are: Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and, Housing Benefit. The DWP now calls these ‘legacy benefits’.

The DWP plans to begin Managed Migration in 2019. This will involve asking people already in receipt of legacy benefits to make a claim for Universal Credit. There has been a lot of comment about this roll-out being postponed but at present it is still going ahead as planned. The DWP are proposing to limit the managed migration to an initial number of 10,000 test cases before going back to Parliament for permission to begin fully migrating claimants onto Universal Credit.

Currently, if a claimant receiving legacy benefits has a change of circumstances (such as a new child or a separation) they may need to claim Universal Credit as new claims for legacy benefits are not being accepted except for a few limited exceptions. This process of claiming after a change of circumstances is known as Natural Migration. So for example if a claimant has their ESA stopped, they can no longer claim JSA and must claim Universal Credit.

Claimants in receipt of a Severe Disability Premium

A Severe Disability Premium is an extra payment added to a benefit claim for people in receipt of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment or the care component of Disability Living Allowance. Universal Credit does not include Severe Disability Premiums so claimants who have had to claim have been losing out financially.

From today (16 January 2019), any claimant who is receiving, or entitled to, a Severe Disability Premium as part of their legacy benefit claim will not be able to claim Universal Credit and will not be affected by Natural Migration.

This change only affects claimants from today. People who have already transferred to Universal Credit and lost a Severe Disability Premium have been promised compensation by the DWP but this has not been passed in law so no further information is available.

Families with more than two children

Due to an error with the way the Universal Credit system was created, any family with more than two children has been unable to make a claim for Universal Credit. This has meant that families with three or more children have been able to continue making a claim for legacy benefits even if they have had a change of circumstances.

This loophole has now been resolved and from 1 February 2019 families of any size will have to claim Universal Credit if they make a new claim or have a change of circumstances.

However, Universal Credit payments will be limited to two children. There will be no extra payments for families with more than two children if the children were born after 6 April 2017.

This means that families with any number of children born before 6 April 2017 will receive Universal Credit payments for all of those children. No additional payment will be made for any children born after that date. For families with one or two children, their Universal Credit payment will be limited to two children regardless of how many more they have after 6 April 2017.

People of pension age with younger partners

In a long-expected move, the DWP has announced a date for changes which affect claimants where one partner in a couple is of pension age and the other is working age.

Currently if a person is of pension age but they have a partner of working age, the couple can make a claim for Pension Credit rather than Universal Credit. Pension Credit is usually preferable to Universal Credit.

The DWP has announced that from 15 May 2019 the rules will change. In cases where one person in a couple is under pension age the couple will be obliged to claim Universal Credit until the younger partner reaches pension age.

Further information

For more information or advice on how Universal Credit may affect you visit the Citizens Advice website or the gov.uk website. Alternatively for face to face advice visit your local Citizens Advice drop in session.