A MAJOR change to Universal Credit is set to affect thousands of people within weeks.
They face tougher rules, and if not followed, it could result in payments being reduced or stopped altogether in the worst case.
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Around 115,000 people on Universal Credit will be moved from the “light touch” work group to the “intensive work search” regime.
This means they will be expected to have more meetings with work coaches and increase their search for work or take on more hours.
Anyone who doesn’t follow the stricter rules could face sanctions.
Claimants can lose some or all of their benefits if they don’t follow the rules set out in their claimants commitment, but the most severe consequences are for repeat offenders.
Payments can be slashed for a number of reasons, like turning down a job offer or failing to update information like moving house or how many hours you work.
The exact terms of looking for work or increasing hours depends on your circumstances and is detailed in your claimant commitment.
This is a document where you agree to certain terms when making a claim for Universal Credit.
For instance those looking after children or with caring responsibilities are not expected to have to work, or look for work, for as many hours.
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Something known as the Administration Earnings Threshold (AET) marks if you’re in the “light touch” work group to the “intensive work search” regime.
Those currently earning below £355 a month, or £567 for couples, are in the intensive work search group.
That includes people who earn nothing at all while on the benefit.
The amount will rise to £494 a month, or £782 for joint claims, taking thousands more people out of the light touch group and into the stricter work search group.
You will then be expected to increase your work search from next month.
How to check if you’re affected
Those affected by the change will be contacted by the DWP in due course.
The new thresholds will take effect from September 26, according to government documents.
Those in the light touch regime and earning over the threshold are not required to search for work or take on more hours.
If you’re in the intensive work search and earning below this threshold then you will have a certain number of hours that you are expected to look for work.
How many hours that is will depend on your circumstances, including childcare commitments and any health conditions.
Details of which group you are in and the work search requirements should be detailed in your claimant commitment.
A claimant commitment is an agreement between you and the government outlining what you will do to get Universal Credit payments.
You can find it by logging into your Universal Credit account online.
Searching for work can include can range from applying for jobs, and creating job profiles online, to registering with an employment agency.
People in the work search group are also expected to see a work coach more often, compared to the light touch group where it’s voluntary after initial contact.
How to challenge a sanction
If you think you’ve been sanctioned unfairly, the first thing you must do is check the level of sanction and for how long your money has been reduced.
You’ll then need to contact the DWP for a “mandatory reconsideration” if you think they’ve made the wrong decision.
Citizens Advice says you should have been told:
- Why you’ve received a sanction
- The level of sanction you’ve been given
- How long the sanction will last
- How much money will be taken away from your Universal Credit payment
- The date the sanction decision was made
You should include as much supporting evidence as possible to support your claim.
This could include new medical evidence, reports from specialists, or bank statements and payslips.
For most benefits, you have one month from when you were notified about the sanction to apply for a “mandatory reconsideration”.
However, it is still worth applying for one should you have missed the deadline for a good reason, such as being in hospital.
If you disagree with the decision of your mandatory reconsideration you can appeal to a First-Tier tribunal.
Claimants have one month to do this, although this is extended to 13 months for exceptional circumstances.
You’ll need to download and fill in the SSCS1 form from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website.
The form will ask for you:
- Name and contact details
- National Insurance number
- Reasons for appealing
Send this, along with the outcome of your mandatory reconsideration of which you should have received two copies, to:
HMCTS Appeals Centre, PO Box 1203, Bradford, BD1 9WP.
The DWP will be asked to respond to your appeal within 28 days.
You can get advice and support for appealing a decision for free from organisations like Citizens Advice and Benefits and Work.
