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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

New case law protects TSDPE when moving out of HB funded accommodation

Many Universal Credit claimants who were getting a Severe Disability Premium (SDP) in an award of Income-Related ESA, Income Support or Income-Based JSA, before they moved onto UC have a Transitional Element included in their UC award.

Here we are looking at new case law that protects TSDPE when moving out of HB funded accommodation.

Click here to see the article.




WEBSITE PAGES

Have you seen our improved page on the Manage Migration Transitional Element?

We have made improvements to this page on how the Manage Migration Transitional Element is worked out for those affected by the Benefit Cap on Universal Credit.

Click here to see the improved page.




MOST RECENT NEWSLETTER

Have you seen our March 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

Transitional Element Calculator

Our calculator is a guide to help you work out a Tax Credit-only claimant's likely Transitional Element amount.

It is based on the Regulations, Guidance and information provided by the DWP as at 5th February 2024.

Click here to see the calculator.




UPDATED E-LEARNING

Have you seen our updated Transitional SDP Element E-Learning?

We have updated the Transitional SDP Element E-Learning to take account of the changes from 14th February 2024.

Click here to see the e-learning courses.




Scottish Disability Benefit for Pensioners will be Piloted from October 2024.

Added on 17th April 2024

The Socttish Government as announced that from 21st October 2024, the Scottish equivalent of Attendance Allowance will be piloted in Argyll & Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland. This means that anyone of State Pension age who would have made a new claim for Attendance Allowance in these areas, will make a claim for Pension Age Disability Benefit instead. They expect to rollout the benefit out in 13 further Local Authority areas from 24th March 2025 with the benefit becoming available across the whole country by 22nd April 2025.

There are around 150,000 AA claimants who will have their awards automatically transferred to the new benefit from early 2025.



The DWP will not challenge erosion ruling.

Added on 17th April 2024

The DWP will not challenge a recent Upper Tribunal decision that found that a claimant's TSDPE should not be 'eroded' if they move out of 'specified' accommodation into a 'general needs' property. This means that the decision is final. 

You can see our latest article for more on the decision - here.  

For more on the TSDPE, come along to our next webinar - find out more here.



New groups of claimants receiving Migration Notices.

Added on 16th April 2024

Claimants receiving Income Support and those receiving Housing Benefit and Tax Credits (with no IR-ESA or IB-JSA) will start receiving their Migration Notices. The Managed Migration rollout is now progressing by benefit type rather than area. For more on the rollout, click here.





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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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