Millions of people across Scotland, including here in West Dunbartonshire, face a bleak winter.
They’re worried about the cost of food, their energy bills, keeping their home warm, mortgage costs and the cost of living in general.
To add to these problems, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is now implementing the “managed” migration of Tax Credit (TC) claimants to Universal Credit (UC).
This could prove to be a challenging process for people who have been in receipt of TC for many years as they are forced to move from a straightforward paper-based system operated
by HMRC, to the online, real-time UC journal process.
They will also enter the world of conditionality and potentially sanctions should they fail to maintain their journal.
Although DWP is offering assurances Job Centre staff will take a light-touch approach, UC claimants will be expected to seek better paid work and/or ask employers for better pay or increased hours.
If they haven’t already, Tax Credit claimants will soon receive a letter (the Migration Notice) from DWP advising their Tax Credit claim is being closed and explaining the process for
claiming Universal Credit.
Tax Credit claimants will have three months from receipt of the Migration Notice to lodge a Universal Credit claim and secure transitional protection.
Tax Credit claimants should be clear – their Tax Credits claim will stop.
It is being replaced by Universal Credit.
There is no other option other than to allow your TC claim to be closed.
There is a period during which TC claimants who apply for UC will have transitional protection.
Claimants applying for Universal Credit before they receive the Migration Notice or after the three-month deadline will lose any transitional protection.
Tax Credit claimants who do not make an application for Universal Credit will lose entitlement which may also affect Social Security Scotland payments (e.g Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant, etc.)
It’s a stark message and we estimate over 1,000 households in West Dunbartonshire could be affected by this change – adding further financial pressures to those already struggling.
Child Poverty Action Group research on earlier pilots shows around 30% of TC claimants did not apply for UC during the migration period which would result in a significant loss for some households.
We fear local people will not understand or will find the UC claim process complicated and/or journal management too cumbersome.
If you have received a Migration Notice telephone us on 0800 484 0136 or contact us via our website www.wdcab.co.uk
Worried This Winter?
Millions of people are worried about their energy bills, keeping their home warm, and the cost of living this winter.
West Dunbartonshire Citizens Advice Bureau is taking part in the nationwide “Worried This Winter?” campaign run by the Citizens Advice network in Scotland.
If anxious about your bills and keeping your home warm – seek advice.
Last year WDCAB helped 5,448 people and unlocked £1.65m in client financial gains and debt write-offs through things like social security payments, employment entitlements, and benefits in-kind.
Check out our online information pages and interactive self-help tools to see how to boost income or cut costs at www.cas.org.uk/worried