Universal Credit: From warm home discounts to free NHS prescriptions – how to get extra help this winter
MILLIONS of Universal Credit claimants could be missing out on extra financial help to ease the stress of bills and other expenses this autumn and winter.
This time of year can be financially tough for families who are struggling to make ends meet, with Christmas coming up and the additional cost of keeping your home warm.
Many people's finances have also taken a hit this year due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis on job and pay packets.
There are now 5.6million people on Universal Credit, according to the latest government data, with 2.4million alone joining the scheme between March 13 and May 14 this year.
Around 9.6million people have also been placed on the government's furlough scheme, which protects 80% of wages, up to £30,000 a year, for those unable to work during the pandemic.
But many of these households might not realise they could be entitled to additional help with winter bills - and some help is even available all year round.
Here's what you need to know.
Cold weather payment
Keep an eye on your thermostat this winter, because you might get a cold weather payment.
You can get £25 every time the average temperature in your area drops to, or is forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or less over seven consecutive days.
The scheme is due to start again on November 1 and will run until March 31, 2021.
To get cold weather payments, you must be claiming Universal Credit, pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, or support for mortgage interest.
If you claim Universal Credit, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, or income-related employment and support allowance, you must also have one other reason to receive it.
This typically means you must have a child under the age of five living with you, or you have a disabled child, or you have a disability or health condition that means you struggle to work.
See for the full eligibility breakdown.
The good news is you don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically. But you should tell JobCentre Plus if your circumstances have changed meaning you could now be eligible if you weren't last year.
Warm home discount
The warm home discount is a government scheme that pays £140 towards your energy bills.
It's paid directly to your energy supplier which will then take the money off your bills.
If you have a pre-payment meter, you'll be sent a £140 voucher that you can use to top up your account.
The discount applies between September and March and there are two ways you can be eligible for the payment:
- if you get the guarantee credit element of pension credit you'll be in what's called the "core group"
- if you're on a low income and meet your supplier's criteria you'll be in what's referred to as the "broader group".
Universal Credit claimants might qualify for the "broader group" but each energy supplier has different criteria, so you'll need to contact your energy provider to see how it awards the discount.
All of the Big Six energy suppliers have opened their applications for the 2020/21 winter, so it's best to apply as early as possible as the number of discounts suppliers can give are limited.
You can use the following online forms to apply:
- (owned by OVO Energy)
Free energy saving improvements
You might be able to get help for energy-saving improvements to your home if you claim certain benefits, including Universal Credit, and live in private housing.
Renters who live in social housing with an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G may also be able to apply.
This could see you get free or discounted insulation work, for example to your loft or cavity walls, or replacements or repairs to your boiler, or other upgrades to your heating.
Whether you can get help is down to your energy provider's so-called Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which is a government obligation placed on the largest energy suppliers to support households install energy improvements.
There is no need to pay for an assessment for this, and you can decide not to go ahead if your provider asks you to pay more than you can afford, or more than you want to.
You can check if your provider is signed up using the , which also has a tool to check if similar local schemes are running in your area.
Meanwhile this year the Government has launched the Green Homes Grant scheme, which sees people on low income households and benefits improve their home with vouchers up to £10,000.
The government says the initiative could save households more than £200 annually on energy bills, as well as reducing their carbon footprint by cutting 700kg of CO2 a year.
The vouchers cover home improvements, such as insulation and draught-proofing your home.
Free NHS prescriptions
Winter is the time of year where illnesses are rife, but you might be able to claim free NHS prescriptions if you're getting Universal Credit.
One of the following must also apply:
- You had no income or net earnings of £435 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period.
- You had no income or net earnings of £935 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period, and had a child element included in your award or had limited capability for work or work-related activity.
It's worth noting that if you're in a couple, the net earnings applies to your combined income.
To prove you qualify for free prescriptions, you must bring a copy of your Universal Credit notice when going to get your prescription.
Some health forms don't have a tick box for Universal Credit, so the GOV.uk website recommends ticking the box for Jobseeker's Allowance instead.
Advance payments
We've seen how some families have been plunged into debt during the five-week wait for their Universal Credit payment.
That's why The Sun has been calling for this time frame to be cut to just two weeks as part of its Make Universal Credit Work campaign.
The DWP has also announced it has changed its rules around payments and people's salaries.
Brits can now have a salary payment manually moved to a different assessment period.
From November, if a worker is paid twice in the same month, the benefits system will register one in the following assessment period to stop them from being left out of pocket.
The rule change comes after the Court of Appeal found that the "irrational and unfair" system pushed four single mums into poverty and forced them to rely on foodbanks.
In the meantime, families who are struggling this winter and beyond can apply for an advance loan.
You can borrow up to 100% of your estimated payment to see you through the transitional period, but remember - you will be expected to pay it back.
The money is interest-free but repayments will come out of your Universal Credit payments for up to a year until the full amount has been reimbursed.
Make sure you'll be able to afford to pay the repayments before considering an advance payment.
You can apply for an advance payment in your , through your Jobcentre Plus work coach or by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Hardship payments
If you've been sanctioned, you might qualify for a hardship payment.
A sanction is where you've had your Universal Credit payments stopped or reduced if you've failed to meet your responsibilities or what you’ve agreed in your "claimant commitment".
But if you've been sanctioned you might qualify for a hardship payment to cover the costs of rent, heating, food or hygiene needs.
According to charity Citizens Advice, the hardship payment is roughly 60% of the amount you were sanctioned by in the last month.
Like the advanced payment, you'll need to pay a hardship payment back through your Universal Credit payments.
To apply, contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Find out more about how you can appeal unfair benefit and Universal Credit sanctions.
Alternative payment arrangement
Your landlord might be able to apply for an alternative payment arrangement (APA) if you're falling behind on your rent.
The type of help you could get includes:
- Getting your rent paid directly to your landlord.
- Getting paid more frequently than once a month.
- Receiving split payments, if you’re part of a couple.
You'll need to talk to your work coach at the JobCentre Plus to apply for an or email [email protected] to share your story.
