Universal Credit is a new benefit which brings together six benefits and replaces them with a single monthly payment. It is a working age benefit for those who are either out of work or in work and on a low income.
Universal Credit will replace:
Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Housing Benefit
Any benefits you receive which are not in the list above will continue to be paid separately – for example Child Benefit, Carer’s Allowance and the Personal Independence Payment.
There are some important differences between Universal Credit and the benefits you might have previously received.
Universal Credit;
Tell us straight away if you are claiming Universal Credit so that we can help you avoid rent arrears.
Universal Credit is paid once per month. You will be given a payment date and will receive your payment on the same date each month.
If you receive financial help to pay your rent, this will be included in your Universal Credit payment. This is called the Housing Costs Element. There will no longer be a separate Housing Benefit payment which means that you will pay your rent directly to us as your landlord.
Your Housing Costs Element might not cover your full rent. If this is the case, you will need to top-up the payment from your personal allowance. If you have arrears, these will also need to be paid from your personal allowance.
From your date of claim it may be 5-6 weeks before you receive your first payment. If you will find it difficult to manage during these weeks you can ask the DWP for an advance payment. Advance payments are deducted from future Universal Credit payments.
The easiest and most convenient way to pay your rent is to set up a direct debit or standing order. These methods will help you to avoid getting into rent arrears through missed or late payments.
You can set up a direct debit or standing order very quickly by calling our customer services team on 01785 312000 or email us to request a call universal.credit@ssha.co.uk
You can find our more on our paying your rent page.
Always make rent your top priority. If you don’t pay your rent in full and on time, you risk losing your home.
If you are having difficulties paying your rent, are concerned about debt or are worried about losing your home, please talk to us – there may be ways we can help.
| POSTCODE | AREAS | LAUNCH DATE |
| DY | Swindon Himley Kinver |
July 2017 |
| WV4, WV8, WV9 | Lower Penn Bilbrook CodsaLL Oaken Coven |
13 December 2017 |
| TF11, TF12, WV15, WV16 | Shifnal Blymhill Broseley Bridgnorth |
7 February 2018 |
| WV6, WV10, WV11 | Pattingham Perton Brinsford Featherstone Hilton Shareshill Essington |
14 February 2018 |
| WV5 | Seisdon Trysull Wombourne |
7 February 2018 14 February 2018 |
| WS | Huntington Rugeley Wedges Mills Great Wyrley Cheslyn Hay Cannock |
November 2018 |
| ST15, ST17, ST19 | Stone Acton Trussell Brewood Penkridge Wheaton Aston |
November 2018 |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 SSHA Universal Credit leaflet.pdf | 294.46 KB |
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