For claimants who were receiving one of the following benefits on 25th May 2022, the first instalment of the Cost of Living Payment - £326 - should be paid to them between 14th and 31st July.

• Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Pension Credit 

On Universal Credit?
For UC claimants they will be entitled to the £326 payment if they were entitled to a payment of Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 26th April 2022 to 25th May 2022.
This means those whose UC award had dropped to nil for this assessment period, eg due to a spike in earnings, will not receive this first cost of living payment.

What about Tax Credit claimants?
Those who were not receiving any of the above benefits, but who were receiving Working Tax Credit and / or Child Tax Credit on 25th May 2022 will also be eligible for the £326 payment - although they won't receive theirs until the autumn, according to the latest guidance. We believe this is to avoid duplication of payments.

Can only one payment be made per household?
Couples will get one payment of £326 between them.

What about non-dependants?
Non-dependants who are eligible should receive a payment too.
So more than one payment can be made to a household where more than one benefit unit live in the same property.

Example:
Joseph claims Income-Related ESA for himself and partner Marie. Their two adult sons, Ashley and Kane are both currently unemployed and claim Universal Credit. So there are three separate benefit units living in the same property. All were on their qualifying benefits on 25th May 2022. This means that Joseph, Ashley and Kane should each receive a payment of £326 by the end of July.

What if the claimant was part of a couple in April/May but is now claiming as a single person?
Only one Low Income Cost of Living Payment for this former couple will be made. The guidance says: 'If you had a joint claim between 26 April and 25 May 2022, a single payment of £326 will be sent using the same payment method used between these dates, if you’re eligible.'
This could mean that where a claimant was part of a couple claim between 26th April and 25th May 2022 but has now separated, they will only receive the Low Income Cost of Living Payment if they were the one receiving the low income benefit payments.

IMPORTANT!
These payments will be made automatically - the DWP are warning people that if they receive a text message or email claiming that they need to apply for the money, it could actually be a scam to steal their information.

The second payment
There will be a second payment of £324 in the autumn (or winter for Tax Credit only claimants) - with a different qualifying week (so some people will not qualify for both payments if they are not on a qualifying benefit on both qualifying dates).

Other Cost of Living Payments
In addition to the Low Income Cost of Living Payments, there are some other one-off payments for certain people:
£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment - paid in September 2022 
£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment - paid in November/December. 

Expansion to new areas

The 'discovery phase' started in Bolton and Medway on 9th May, where the first groups of claimants have been issued with their migration notices (and reminders) for their managed move from legacy benefits onto UC.

Initially, 500 claimants were selected: 250 in Bolton and 250 in Medway. The DWP have recently confirmed that they would be issuing further migration notices in Bolton and Medway, on a similar scale to the initial test to enable them to test an alternative version of the migration notice.

Expansion to Falmouth and Truro
The DWP also announced that 'In addition to this further work in Bolton and Medway, we also plan to commence work in Cornwall - specifically in Truro and Falmouth - to initially invite 250 claimants to move to universal credit from the 25th July, in order to test our approach in a different type of location.'

During the 'discovery phase', which could last some time, the DWP are closely monitoring how claimants engage (or not) with the process. It is likely that more areas will be added and the DWP will want to test it in Wales and Scotland, so that the testing and learning can continue for different claimant groups and characteristics. 

Amending Regulations

Amending regulations come into force from 25th July. These make some small changes to the existing UC Transitional Regulations that govern the managed migration process, including:

They remove the limit of 10,000 claimants who can be manage-migrated.

• those who receive a migration notice when claiming legacy benefit/s as a couple but who claim UC as a single claimant, or with a different partner. 
• those who receive a migration notice when claiming legacy benefit/s as a single claimant, but who make their UC claim with a new partner.
• those who receive a migration notice when claiming legacy benefit/s as members of a polygamous marriage and are a couple or are single persons for the purposes of UC.

Check with your local Council what is available and how to apply!

England
Those who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals can apply for their children to attend the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF), where they will be able to do activities and receive at least one free meal per day. The HAF runs for four weeks during the school summer holiday (or three if the school holiday is shorter than six weeks).
Some councils are providing food vouchers too.

Don't forget the Household Support Fund that was set up during the Covid pandemic has been expanded with extra funding available until 30th September 2022 with 50% of the extra funds being ringfenced for families with children.

Wales
Welsh councils are offering money, food vouchers or packed lunches to those eligible for free school meals. This varies from area to area; those eligible should check in with their local council about how to get the help (in some areas it is not automatic and people will need to apply). (Announcement here.)

The School Holiday Enrichment Programme is running too - people should contact their local council for information.

Scotland
Councils give vouchers or food parcels to all children whose parent/carer is on a qualifying benefit and they are eligible for free school meals.

Additionally, there is a Child Bridging Payment for all those who claim free school meals. This is £130 at the start of the summer holiday, paid automatically.

Northern Ireland
The Department for Education in Northern Ireland provides those eligible for free school meals with a summer holiday food grant of £13.50 pw per child. Payment should be automatic (by bank transfer or cheque). (Announcement here.)

Delegates who attended our Destination UC Conference went away with a great list of action points and all learnt something new including:

How to secure extra UC for some couples
Where the older member of a couple on IR-ESA is due to turn pension age and will need to claim UC, they should make that claim before their IR-ESA ends so that the work capability decision is transferred over to UC from the start of the award.
Click here for more information.

Which IR-ESA claimants can go straight to appeal and get their payments re-instated
Many claimants on IR-ESA who have been found fit for work can appeal straight away and get their Income-Related ESA re-instated and so avoid claiming UC.
Click here for more information.

Need to watch out for poor advice being given to some moving out of supported housing
A move from 'specified accommodation' into general needs housing rarely triggers the need to claim UC.
Click here for more information.

How to maximise entitlement to the Transitional SDP Element
Some claimants who have to claim UC due to  a change in circumstances (such as moving home or separating) can maximise their UC award by taking advantage of the Transitional SDP Element rules. By delaying their claim for UC they may become entitled to a Severe Disability Premium in their legacy benefit award, and therefore a Transitional SDP Element in their UC award.
Click here for more information.

Much to consider when working out if someone is better off on UC
When using online calculators to work out if someone would be better off on UC don't forget to factor in any deductions as this can change the outcome.
Click here for more information on the deductions that can be taken from UC.
 

Watch out for our next Conference in November.