Roll out to Universal Credit now means Doncaster claimants should not lose money

Doncaster residents who apply to move onto Universal Credit will not automatically lose benefit payments when they do, the Government has said.
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From Wednesday July 22, if someone’s existing claim of income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support ends due to them applying for Universal Credit they will receive a payment worth up to two weeks of their legacy award.

This one-time payment, known as a run-on, is aimed to help people during their first assessment period, and does not have to be paid back.

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The Government say It will be paid automatically to eligible claimants when they claim Universal Credit for the first time, so they don’t have to contact the Department for Work and

St Leger HomesSt Leger Homes
St Leger Homes

Pensions to receive it. It will not affect the amount of Universal Credit they receive.

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It will be paid automatically to eligible claimants when they claim Universal Credit for the first time, so they don’t have to contact the Department for Work and Pensions to receive it. It will not affect the amount of Universal Credit they receive.

UC combined six legacy benefits into one monthly payment and was praised for simplifying the system.

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But critics have said many people have waited weeks for payments and others have lost out on what they were previously claiming.

Latest figures show that 5,041 in Doncaster are now on UC but 66 per cent - or 3,345 residents are in rent arrears.

Approximately 7,500 tenants are expected to be affected by Universal Credit (UC) over a four year rollout period.

St Leger and the council are now owed around £1.36 million - an increase from £1.08 million from the same 5,041 residents since the last figures were published in March.

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Minister for Welfare Delivery, Will Quince said: “This one-off payment will provide additional support as claimants move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit. It doesn’t have to be paid back and won’t affect their UC award, so is welcome extra cash in pockets.”

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