1. Universal Credit in Dorset – Lets Talk!
LA Perspective
Tina Frampton

2. Housing Benefit gateway
The Housing Benefit gateway closed for most working age customers when UC Full Service went live
This means that we CAN NOT accept a new HB claim from a working age customer unless they:
Are Pension Age – can not claim UC
Have 3 or more children – can not claim UC
Live in Specified Accommodation – can not claim Housing Costs under UC
Live in Temporary Accommodation (from 11 April 2018)- can not claim Housing Costs under UC
We triage all new claims received daily to ensure they are eligible to claim HB

3. 11 April 2018 changes
Customers living in Temporary Accommodation arranged by the LA Housing Team can now claim HB again – this includes B&B and Leased/Licensed accommodation.
Customer already in receipt of UC housing costs for Temporary Accommodation can reclaim HB if they have a change to their rent liability EG: rent increase or decrease.
Prior to 11 April 2018 customers already in receipt of HB would have their claim be cancelled from the date of the UC application. Now we can award an additional two weeks HB to customers who transition for HB to UC.
The additional two weeks payment will be at a rate equal to their maximum eligible rent and not their calculated entitlement.

4. Temporary Accommodation
Local Authorities (LA) have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for unintentionally homeless people
Where LA has accepted a duty and provided temporary accommodation then HB can be claimed to cover the rental liability
Temporary accommodation can include Bed and Breakfast as well as accommodation provide by a Registered Housing provider under a lease or license.
Universal Credit may still be claimed for basic living costs.

5. Specified or Exempt Accommodation
HB can still be claimed to cover housing costs for Specified/Exempt accommodation
LA determines if the accommodation meets the criteria to claim HB
Landlord must be:
Registered Housing Provider
Registered Charity
Non-Profit Organisation
Non-metropolitan County Council

6. Specified or Exempt accommodation continued
Care, support and supervision (CSS) must be provided and REQUIRED
It must be more than minimal (case law indicates more than 3 hours per week)
Exempt Accommodation- CSS must be provided by or on behalf of the Landlord
Specified Accommodation- CSS can be provided by care provider arranged through Adult Social Care but tenant must have been placed in the property in order to receive the CSS

7. Intensive Housing Management
CSS is not defined in legislation but there is much case law available that provides guidance
Intensive Housing Management can be deemed to be CSS
This mainly consists of the Landlords providing housing related services over and above those provided in general needs accommodation eg:
Support around claiming HB
Adaptations required after letting
Dealing with appointees/support workers
Extra time dealing with tenancy related matters

8. HB for UC customers
For Pension age and customers with 3 or more children HB claims are straight forward because they will not be in receipt of UC at all.
Customers living in Specified/Exempt or Temporary Accommodation could still be getting UC for their living costs but must claim HB for housing costs
HB will be paid at maximum eligible rent (less any non-dependant deductions) for customers receiving UC

9. Personal Budgeting Support
LA staff provide Personal Budgeting Support to UC customers
Work Coaches will discuss budgeting at initial interview and make a referral to LA where appropriate
LA contacts customer by telephone initially and then a face to face appointment is made
LA looks at income and expenditure and offers advice about priority expenditure and managing income
During the appointment budget plans are completed with the customer
LA will refer customers with serious debt issues to CAB or other debt advisory services

10. Discretionary Housing Payments
The LA is still responsible for administering the DHP budget helping those struggling to meet housing costs
For customers in receipt of UC this must include the Housing Costs element in order for DHP to be considered
The application process is still the same and a form must be completed and submitted to the LA
If no UC award is in payment we have to wait for the outcome to confirm Housing Costs are being paid within the award.
Since UC Full Service went live we have awarded DHP to 47 UC customers paying out a total of £33,

11. Impacts on LA Benefits Team
We receive electronic files daily from the DWP which advise us of UC awards for customers in our area. These files will advise us of new awards to UC as well of any changes to awards of UC.
Officers have to check all files received daily and where required they revise the LCTS in line with the UC award details provided. This will result in an amended Council Tax bill being produced as the amount payable will change as the LCTS changes. 
Since UC Full Service rollout the volume of files received is increasing month on month. The below table shows how many files have been received in the last 6 months:
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
WDDC
268
474
666
688
639
951
WPBC
245
592
772
849
812
1262
PDC 43 75
161
274
295
405

12. Impacts continued…
We are currently paying LCTS to 272 customers in receipt of UC
We are currently paying HB to 183 customers in receipt of UC (these will be those in Supported Accommodation or Temporary Accommodation)
WDDC
WPBC
PDC
UC GO LIVE
5481
5264
2417
April 2018
5117
4844
2303

13. Customer Feedback – most common issues
Confusion about how their UC award has been calculated
Housing costs not being included at all within the calculation of their UC award
Confusion over what they should be claiming – UC or HB – particularly in supported accommodation
LCTS being adjusted each month due to changes in UC – confusion over what they need to pay for Council Tax

14. LA Help and Support
The Benefits Team can help customers submit a claim online. Also signposting to wi- fi/computer access points (e.g. Council Offices, Libraries, etc).
Funding two CAB Caseworkers to assist customers across the Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland areas.
Providing funding to the Dorset Superfast Broadband Team to help meet the costs of providing digital champions to improve digital skills.
Benefits Team are providing ongoing advice and support to customers in relation to claiming UC and helping with resolving issues with the claim process or payments
Undertaking Personal Budgeting Support interviews for those customers who have budgeting difficulties
Administering Discretionary Housing payments for UC customers receiving the Housing costs element.