Preparing for Universal Credit
There are some practical steps that claimants will need to take in preparing for their Universal Credit claim.
An individual who may need to claim or has been asked to claim Universal Credit should always seek assistance from a benefit advisor prior to making a claim. This will ensure that you are correctly making the claim and do not suffer any unnecessary hardship.
If you have been advised to claim Universal Credit, you can receive a benefit check from our Welfare Rights Team by calling 0121 569 3158.
There are other practical steps you can take to prepare you for Universal Credit:
Universal Credit Roadshows
Income Management and Welfare Rights are running Universal Credit roadshows in libraries across the six towns of Sandwell to raise awareness of Universal Credit managed migration and to help customers prepare for the move.
The aim of the roadshows is to help customers prepare for moving to Universal Credit and will focus on:
- Helping customers get online and creating an email account
- Advise on how to set up a transactional bank/building society account where customers can receive their Universal Credit payment
- How to set up and use a My Housing account on My Sandwell to review rent and service charges as these details are required when making a claim
The dates of our roadshows can be found here:
Budgeting advice
As Universal Credit is paid monthly, you may need to make changes to the way you budget. You should contact your local Citizens Advice for support and advice with budgeting.
You can also request personal budgeting support from your Jobcentre Plus work coach when you claim Universal Credit.
Building a credit on your rent account
As it may be five weeks until your first Universal Credit payment, this may put you into rent arrears. The Council’s tenancy conditions state that customers should pay their rent on time. To prepare for Universal Credit you should start making small, affordable payments towards your rent account to build a credit on your account.
This credit will protect you from falling into rent arrears should you have a change of circumstances or receive a migration notice which requires you to claim Universal Credit.
Setting up a bank account
To receive your Universal Credit payments, you will need a bank or building society account for your payments to be made in to. If you do not have a bank or building society account then you should visit Money Helper for information on how to set up a basic bank account.
This may help you with managing your finances to ensure you will be able to pay your rent.
Verifying your claim
When a claim for Universal Credit is made you will be required to have an evidence appointment where you confirm your identity. You will then be assigned a work coach and will agree your claimant commitment. This is the contract between you and Universal Credit.
You may need to provide information to confirm your identity such as a driving license, passport or a birth certificate.
Depending on your circumstances you may need to provide extra information such as a tenancy agreement, wage slips or confirmation of child benefit for any dependent children you may have.