Housing Systems: Combating poverty and sustaining tenancies.
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Welcome to


UCnotes



Working together to
resolve welfare benefit problems
























What we offer


Our website


You’ll find up-to-date and comprehensive information on Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and other benefits.

It’s quick and easy to access - with everything in one place.

Designed to meet the needs of housing and advice workers, each page is packed full of the commentary, references, examples and tools you need to help your customers deal with the complexities of the benefit system.


Our tools


There's over 300 standard letters on the website designed to save you time and get results. They are written in plain English but quoting the latest case law and relevant regulations.

With access to a suite of Calculators, Mapping Tools, Summary Sheets and Flowcharts that help navigate the benefit system and ensure your customers are receiving the right entitlement.


Our query service


Subscribers have access to our team of experts via our email query service.

They can help:

  • check your understanding of a benefit situation, decide the next steps when you are not happy with the response you’ve received from the DWP / HB Office.
  • to clarify or provide further information about a particular welfare benefit rule.
  • when you can’t find the answer to your particular query on the website.





What's new?



HOT TOPIC

Helping pensioners get the Winter Fuel Payment this year

The latest estimate is that 880,000 households who would be entitled to Pension Credit are not receiving it.

Click here to see the article.




WEBSITE PAGES

Have you seen our new Immigration and Residency section?

The rules on benefit eligibility for people coming to the UK from abroad are one of the most complex areas of welfare rights law.

Check out the new section here.




MOST RECENT NEWSLETTER

Have you seen our September 2024 newsletter?

Updates and commentary on the latest and most relevant in the benefit world and our newest and upcoming events.

Click here to see the newsletter.








Latest benefit news

NEW TOOL

Pension Credit Primer

This tool is to help you determine whether someone will be entitled to Pension Credit as quickly as possible.

Click here to see the tool.




E-LEARNING - NOW AVAILABLE

Managed Migration: How to calculated the Transitional Element

This E-Learning course gives learners the detail they need to understand how a manage migrating claimants Transitional Element is calculated.

It looks at how the DWP work out a claimant's Total Legacy Amount and Indicative UC Amount. It examines the rules for some 'special cases' - including Benefit Cap claimants. It highlights where mistakes are being made, and which claimants could be worse off on UC even with Transitional Protection.

Click here to find out more.




Household Support Fund Extended

Added on 3rd September 2024

The government has announced that the Household Support Fund will be extended to April 2025 with £421 million for England and £79 million for the devolved administrations. They have said that they will release more information in the coming weeks. Find out more about the Household Support Fund here and see the statement here.



Tax Credit Closure Notices Being Sent

Added on 15th August 2024

The DWP have confirmed that they have started sending out Tax Credit Closure Notices to State Pension age claimants on Tax Credits. The Notice tells them that their Tax Credits will be brought to and they can either stay on, or make a new claim for, Pension Credit. Some pensioners will be sent Migration Notices from September and invited to claim UC. Find out more about what will happen to pensioners on Tax Credits here.



Northern Ireland will Means-Test Winter Fuel Payment

Added on 3rd September 2024

The Northern Ireland Assembly has announced that it will be forced to follow the rest of the UK and only give Winter Fuel Payment to https://www.housingsystems.co.uk/Pension-Credit/Winter-Fuel-Paymentswho are receiving a qualifying benefit.Find out more about Winter Fuel Payment here and see the statement here.





Sign up now and try us for free

We'd like you to try our services completely free for two weeks. That gives you the chance to see what we do and how we can help you resolve benefit problems and maximise income.

Free Trial

"I have worked in housing for over 30 years and this is the best benefits training I have ever had."
Lincolnshire Housing Partnership
“Your website is my 'bible'. I use your standard letters on a regular basis and find that decisions are nearly always revised in the tenant's favour." 
Onward

"Your new look website looks brilliant and makes it easy to find exactly what I need. Over the past few months we've saved over £20,000 by using the information and tools you provide.."

Longhurst Group
"Using your website has made us massively more confident about challenging Universal Credit decisions.”
Riverside Housing
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