GPs and dental practices can’t tell who is eligible for free treatment under Universal Credit – meaning some claimants are going without, Left Foot Forward can reveal.

People are being denied prescriptions and dental care because practices do not know whether Universal Credit claimants are eligible for free treatment, according to evidence seen by Left Foot Forward.

 

Under the current welfare regime, those on certain benefits – such as Jobseekers’ Allowance – receive free NHS prescriptions and dental treatment, Healthy Start vouchers and other government-funded support.

 

But the Conservatives’ Universal Credit scheme wraps several benefits into one. While the principle has broad cross-party support, dental practices and GPs are now unsure who is eligible to receive free treatment.

 

Those on working tax credits, for example, are not eligible for free treatment – but practices have no information on whether UC claimants are receiving the tax credits element of UC, in which case they’re ineligible, or the JSA element.

 

The confusion is leaving people already on the margins either having to fork out for dental care and prescriptions themselves – leaving them out of pocket – or going without treatment altogether, according to reports from the single parents charity Gingerbread and seen by Left Foot Forward.

 

The problem stems from the fact that the administration system hasn’t caught up. There is no way on NHS forms to make it clear how to declare that individuals are on UC – whereas for existing benefits, such as income support or JSA, there are specific boxes to confirm eligibility.

 

One single mum in touch with Gingerbread has incurred fines because of the changes in health assistance under UC. She has received a letter from the NHS informing her that she owes money for dental treatment and a prescription, explaining that they have fined her as a result. She says she was never fully informed how UC would affect her NHS support – and is currently unable to pick up a prescription given to her GP because she can’t afford to pay. She says she will only be able to get this essential prescription when she receives her next payment.

 

Daisy Srblin, Policy Officer at Gingerbread, told Left Foot Forward:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances---------Universal Credit work allowances----------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal credit is a new benefit that is gradually replacing working tax credit and child tax credit as well as some other means-tested benefits. ... If you have been claiming tax credits and start to claim universal credit in the same tax year, your tax credit award will stop

--------------DWP WILL TELL YOU THE OPPOSITE.BEWARE

 

THEY WANT EVERYONE TO WORK.they dont want you to be sick ill or disabled.and will do anything to get you to do there bidding.

 

Justine Sara They're like a stuck record job centre jobsworths!! Everything is all about 'WORK'! I'm registered disabled and made a point of reminding them. Fell on deaf ears they're not interested.

 

Justine Sara Makes me laugh, they call sick notes 'FIT NOTES' now lol They really are something else aren't they!

 

they are mostly temps now.so there jobs easily took from them if dont do as there bosses demand.plus they dont know all they should..there not there long enough to learn.and could end up sitting where you are.the claimants side of desk.------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal Credit triggers

What changes in circumstances might trigger a move to Universal Credit?

The government’s current plan is that existing benefit claimants will be moved over to Universal Credit at some point between July 2019 and March 2022, as part of its 'managed migration'.

anyone who has a change of circumstance before that point will be moved earlier via 'natural migration'. This group of people will also lose their right to transitional protection.

In general, natural migration could be triggered if entitlement to your current benefit ends (prompting a need to claim a new one) or you become entitled to a different or extra benefit. It shouldn't happen when you make changes to benefits you are already claiming.

First, a word of warning

If you decide to switch from legacy benefits to Universal Credit we suggest you seek advice before doing so. It is not just the amount of money you may be entitled to that could change.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADVANCE PAYMENT

 

You can phone the Universal Credit helpline to ask for an advance payment any time up to 1 month plus 1 week after you apply for Universal Credit. It's best to ask as soon as possible. Remember that once you claim Universal Credit it will take at least 5 or 6 weeks for you to get your first payment

When you first claim Universal Credit you will not be paid any money until 5 weeks after you submit your claim, you will then be paid monthly.

 

You can ask for an advance payment of your Universal Credit if you are in financial hardship while you wait for your first payment, for example, if you can’t afford to pay your rent or buy food.

 

You will need to pay back your advance a bit at a time from your future Universal Credit payments, or by other means if you no longer get Universal Credit, for example, from your wages or other benefit you may be getting.

. You can call the Universal Credit helpline or speak to your work coach. The Universal Credit helpline adviser will need to speak to you and your partner if you have a joint Universal Credit claim.

 

You’ll need to:

 

provide your bank details so that the Universal Credit helpline adviser can arrange payment if the advance is agreed

have had your identity checked

We will usually let you know on the same day if you can get an advance.

Universal Credit live service

Telephone: 0800 328 9344

Textphone: 0800 328 1344

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

 

Telephone 0800 328 5644

Textphone 0800 328 1344

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

 

. Cost of repayments

The Universal Credit helpline adviser assesses whether you can afford to repay the advance. If they agree to the advance, they will tell you over the phone:

 

how much you can have

the monthly repayment amounts

when the first repayment is due

How the advance is repaid

Deductions are made from your monthly Universal Credit payment. The first deduction is made on the day you get your first payment and you’ll have up to 12 months to pay back the advance.

 

You can ask for your repayments to be delayed for up to 3 months if you can’t afford them. This is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

Get a Budgeting Advance

You can get what is known as a ‘Budgeting Advance’ to help pay for emergency household costs (for example buying a new cooker or for help getting a job or staying in work).

 

A Budgeting Advance is a loan, and you’ll need to repay it through your regular Universal Credit payments – your payments will be lower until you pay it back.

 

If you no longer get Universal Credit you will need to repay by other means, such as from wages or other benefit you may be getting.

 

You’ll be told how much your payments will be reduced by.

 

What you’ll get

The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to:

 

£348 if you’re single

£464 if you’re part of a couple

£812 if you have children

How much you can get depends on whether you:

 

can pay the loan back

have any savings over £1,000 (we will reduce the loan amount we offer to you by £1 for every £1 you have in savings over the £1000 threshold)

How the Budgeting Advance is repaid

Deductions are made from your single monthly Universal Credit payment. The first deduction is made on the day you get your next payment.

 

You will have to repay the Budgeting Advance within 12 months.

 

If you move from Universal Credit to another benefit the deductions will usually continue from your payments until the advance is paid off.

 

If you move off benefits you will receive a letter telling you how much you owe. The letter will ask you to contact DWP Debt Management Contact Centre to arrange your repayments. It is important that you do not ignore this letter. If you don’t make payment arrangements, the DWP can recover the amount you owe by either:

 

contacting your employer (where you have one) to arrange for deductions to be made from your earnings, or

asking an independent debt collection agency to collect this money on our behalf (you should deal directly with the independent debt collector to arrange repayment)

Eligibility

To get a Budgeting Advance, you must have:

 

been getting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for 6 months or more, unless you need the money to help you start a new job or keep an existing job

earned less than £2,600 (£3,600 jointly for couples) in the past 6 months

paid off any previous Budgeting Advances

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal Credit advances

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-advances

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------Sign in to your Universal Credit account

https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Housing costs and Universal Credit

https://www.gov.uk/housing-and-universal-credit

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal Credit work allowances

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Budgeting Loans

https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits

---------------------------------------------------------------------

help with dental costs.

-----

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x65w99NOAc&feature=share

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Health conditions, disability and Universal Credit

https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------Self-employment and Universal Credit-------------------------------------------------------

https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit

----------------------...........................................................................................

Housing costs and Universal Credit

https://www.gov.uk/housing-and-universal-credit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If your Universal Credit is stopped or reduced

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/problems-with-your-payment/if-your-payment-is-stopped-or-reduced/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal Credit: childcare guide

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-childcare/universal-credit-childcare-guide

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How will universal credit affect tax credits?

https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/tax-credits-and-benefits/tax-credits/how-will-universal-credit-affect-tax-credits

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What if I want to make a new claim for tax credits?

In postcode areas where the UC full service is in place, most people can no longer make a brand new claim for tax credits. If you already get working tax credit and want to claim child tax credit or vice versa, you are not affected by UC yet as this is not treated as a brand new claim to tax credits. You can contact HMRC to have the other elements added to your claim.

 

In full service areas, brand new claims for tax credits can no longer be made unless:

 

You (or your partner) have reached state pension credit age

You (or your partner) are responsible for three or more children and (broadly) you have not claimed UC in the last six months

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal Credit if you’re caring for someone

If you’re a carer for someone in your household who is severely disabled you may be able to get the ‘carer’s element’ as part of your monthly Universal Credit payment.

 

How much is it?

The carer’s element is £156.45 a month.

 

Who gets it?

You should be caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week. You don’t have to be claiming Carer’s Allowance to get the carer’s element.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------NHS Prescriptions and Universal Credit-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12vSM2UqmwU

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apply for a direct payment of rent

https://directpayment.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal Credit: different earning patterns and your payments (payment cycles)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Universal Credit and your claimant commitment

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-claimant-commitment-quick-guide/universal-credit-and-your-claimant-commitment

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------