Changes to welfare benefits for refugees

1. Recent changes to
welfare benefits for
refugees
LEEDS ASYLUM SEEKERS SUPPORT NETWORK
NOVEMBER 2015

2. Welfare Reform Act 2013
Universal Credit (2015) – being rolled out in Leeds Feb 16 (tranche 4)
The Benefit Cap (2015) – already in place
Housing Benefit (under occupancy) (2015) – already in place
Council Tax Reduction (2015) – replaced Council Tax Benefit already in place
Personal Independence Payment (2015) – replaces Disability Living Allowance –
being rolled out in Leeds from February 15 (for claims finishing July 15 onwards)
already in place
In addition to this
Local Welfare Support Scheme (2011)- “designed to help families and single
vulnerable people under exceptional pressure to get help with food, fuel, travel
and removal costs and basic household goods” – already in place

3. Universal Credit
Is designed to take 6 different benefits
1. Income based job seekers,
2. Income related employment and support allowance,
3. Income support,
4. Child Tax credit,
5. Working Tax credit and
6. Housing benefit
And merge them into a single Universal Credit

4. Key changes
Currently Universal Credit
Frequency Weekly, fortnightly, in
arrears
Monthly, in arrears (although
with some exceptions)
Payment
arrangements
Separate household claims
into separate accounts
Combined single payment to
a household into a single
account
Housing benefit Can be paid to Landlord Paid directly (with some
exceptions)
Application Offline and online Online only
For more detailed information, the Universal Credit toolkit [link] brings together
lots of info, describing the whole process start to finish.

5. How will people be affected

6. Key messages
Benefits law changes, and they are complicated.
The best way you can help is to get someone to see a specialist benefits advisor,
asap.
If you do not feel confident in what you are doing, don’t do it.
If you are helping someone to complete an application for any benefits:
- keep a record of what you have said,
- what you have done,
- when it took place, and
- where possible, keep a copy of any form submitted.

7. Resources
Local
Leeds CAB - 0113 223 4400
Get online in Leeds – where to get free internet access (not just free wifi)
Online
Benefits and Work – Guides on how to claim benefits. Register to save
preferences/info.
Citizens Advice Bureau – Overview of all rights and entitlements
Money Advice Service – All aspects of finance and credit online, including
budgeting and goal setting. Register to save preferences/info.
Turn2Us – Benefits and Grants – including online calculators and tools. Register
to find grants/save preferences/info