The government is introducing a number of changes to the way your benefits are administered and calculated.
We will provide updates about these changes as they become available, as some of the changes are yet to be finalised by the government.
Universal Credit was introduced in Brighton & Hove for people living alone making new claims for Jobseeker's Allowance in December 2015 and is due to be introduced for new claimants in the city between October 2017 and January 2018. You do not need to do anything - the Jobcentre will tell you if you need to apply for Universal Credit.
Read our guidance on Universal Credit in Brighton & Hove (PDF 133KB) for information about what you can do.
The three previous changes to welfare payments affecting people in Brighton & Hove were:
Our benefit changes update (PDF 1..08mb) gives information and guidance on these three changes..
The government introduced the Benefit Cap in Brighton & Hove from August 2013, and Disability Living Allowance for new claimants was replaced by Personal Independence Payments in June 2013.
From April 2013, Council Tax Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit 'under-occupation' rules were introduced for people renting from a council or housing association, and changes were made to Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants.
It is important you continue reading this page if you are in receipt of any of the following benefits:
Benefit Cap (from August 2013, changing from November 2016)
The government introduced a maximum total benefit entitlement, which includes how much you are given to help pay towards your rent, in Brighton & Hove from August 2013. From November 2016, the government reduced the rate of the cap to £384 a week for couples or single parents with children, and £257 a week for single people.
Find out more about the Benefit Cap.
Local Housing Allowance frozen (from April 2016)
In April 2016, the government froze the Local Housing Allowance rates for four years. This means that the rates will stay set as they are now until 2020. Local Housing Allowance is the amount paid in Housing Benefit to people renting in the private sector depending on the size of their household.
Find out more about the Local Housing Allowance rates in Brighton & Hove.
Disability Living Allowance for working age people to be replaced by the Personal Independence Payment (from April 2013)
The government is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with Personal Independence Payments (PIP). From 10 June 2013, new claims for people aged between 16 and 64 in Brighton & Hove moved to PIP, with other people claiming DLA affected switched later unless their condition changes, they turn 16 or they reach the end of their existing DLA award. At some point, people of working age (16-64 years) receiving DLA will be written to by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and asked to submit a new application for PIP. If claimants don’t respond, their benefit could stop.
Council Tax Reduction (from April 2013)
The government abolished the national Council Tax Benefit system in April 2013, with councils introducing local Council Tax support systems to replace it. The government is also reducing the grant to help people pay Council Tax, which leaves shortfalls in the funds available to help low income households. Brighton & Hove's replacement Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2013.
The council needs to review the scheme every year to consider if changes need to be made. Due to the reducing government grant, there is a shortfall of at least £4.1 million to help low income households in Brighton & Hove pay their Council Tax in 2017/18.
Following consultation in autumn 2016, changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017/18 were agreed in December 2016.
Find out more about the Brighton & Hove Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
Housing Benefit under occupation changes for council and housing association tenants (from April 2013)
From 1 April 2013, the government introduced a 'size criteria' which limits how many bedrooms 'working-age' people living in council or housing association properties receive Housing Benefit for. If you have more bedrooms than the government say you need, your benefit will have been reduced. The rules for calculating your 'working age' have now changed and are worked out on a sliding scale. If you are unsure if you are 'working age', you can work out if you are treated as pensionable age, via a calculator at www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator.
Find out more about benefit changes for council and housing association tenants.
Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants (from April 2013)
The government no longer administers Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants through the DWP. In its place, the council is running our replacement Local Discretionary Social Fund scheme, which came into operation from 1 April 2013.
Find out more about changes to the Local Discretionary Social Fund.
Introduction of Universal Credit to replace working-age benefits (from 2015)
The government is revising the current benefit structure and replacing a range of working-age benefits with a single streamlined payment known as Universal Credit. Universal Credit began in some areas in April 2013 and is being introduced nationwide gradually. The benefits that will be replaced by Universal credit are:
- Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
- Employment Support Allowance (income related) or Incapacity Benefit
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit.
Universal Credit was introduced in Brighton & Hove for people living alone making new claims for Jobseeker's Allowance in December 2015. It is being introduced from 4 October 2017 for people living in BN3 postcode, from 29 November for people living in BN2 postcodes and 17 January 2018 for people living in BN1 and BN41 postcodes. From these dates, people already claiming other benefits may also be moved onto Universal Credit if their circumstances change.
You do not need to do anything - the Jobcentre will tell you if you need to apply for Universal Credit.
There are a number of organisations offering support getting online and advice on budgeting in the city - find out more about Universal Credit support in Brighton & Hove.
If you are a council tenant and are told to claim Universal Credit, please let the Income Management Team know so they can support you with your payments.
Universal Credit will be paid monthly, in arrears to one member of the household. For further information on Universal Credit, please visit the Department of Work and Pensions website or go to gov.uk/universal-credit.