Guidance

August 2019: Touchbase edition 136

Updated 9 March 2020

Changes to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ministers

Recent changes to the DWP ministerial team have meant that some areas of work have moved.

Find out more about our ministers.

Jobcentre Plus opening times and benefit payments for Monday 26 August

Jobcentre Plus offices and phonelines in England, Scotland and Wales will be closed on Monday 26 August.

To make sure people receive their payments on a day when Jobcentre Plus offices are open, some benefits due to be paid on Monday 26 August will be paid early on Friday 23 August.

Read more information about payment dates.

Changes to Universal Credit

Bank account changes

The Universal Credit system has been changed to improve payments to claimants with children. From now on, whenever a new household registers for Universal Credit, we will tell them that the payments should be directed to the bank account of the main carer.

Childcare costs

If a claimant reports childcare costs later than the assessment period in which they are paid, they can be considered for reimbursement when, with good reason, they are not able to report those costs within their assessment period.

How to contact a Universal Credit claimant’s case manager

Did you know that you can directly contact a Universal Credit claimant’s case manager on their behalf, if you have their permission?

You should have the following information about the claimant before you call:

• the telephone number the claimant has registered with Universal Credit
• the first line of their address
• their postcode
• their date of birth
• permission from the claimant for you to act for them

For information about getting a claimant’s permission to contact a case manager on their behalf, read Universal Credit consent and disclosure of information.

Support available for EU Settlement Scheme applications

The EU Settlement Scheme opened on 30 March 2019, making it easy for EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members to get the UK immigration status they need.

Guidance on how to apply is available in 26 European languages, and applicants who need further support can contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre.

A community leader toolkit has been developed to provide organisations with information to help reassure and support EEA and Swiss citizens in applying. The Home Office has also made up to £9 million available to 57 grant-funded organisations across the UK to help vulnerable or at-risk EEA citizens to apply.

Find out about organisations working in your area.

Support for survivors of domestic abuse

A range of support services are available through the jobcentre for survivors of domestic abuse. Support services include:

• help opening a new claim as a single claimant, or moving someone’s claim to a different jobcentre
• access to same day advances for those needing urgent payment
• private rooms to discuss sensitive issues in the majority of our jobcentres
• support with housing and associated costs for people who have had to leave their home, including help finding alternative, temporary accommodation
• links with a network of local and national charities and organisations to ensure people can access the expert help they need

Every jobcentre has a dedicated domestic abuse point of contact. They have been trained to identify and support the needs of anyone experiencing domestic abuse.

Find out more by watching a short video about jobcentre support for victims of domestic abuse.

Working Chance help to hire

Working Chance is a charity that acts as a recruitment consultancy for women leaving the criminal justice and care systems.

The charity:

• helps women become work-ready and matches them to suitable vacancies in companies of all sizes, sectors and industries
• works with employers and offers in-work support for women to thrive in their roles
• provides training and advice for companies hiring ex-offenders

Clive Schlee, CEO, Pret A Manager, says:

Working Chance is the most professional and successful agency we use. Hiring ex-offenders will enrich your company and strengthen your brand.

If you would like support with recruitment, contact natasha@workingchance.org.

Child Maintenance Service self-service website

The Child Maintenance Service self-service website offers a quick and easy way for employers and clients to access and share information about child maintenance cases.

Employers can use the website to:

• view and make payments
• complete, upload and amend payment schedules
• update company details
• view and send messages

Clients can use the website to:

• view statements and make payments
• upload a document
• update personal details
• view letters and send messages

Watch the DWP – How To… videos for more information on how to use the website.

Consultation on measures to reduce health-related job loss

The government is consulting on measures to reduce ill health-related job loss.

Each year more than 100,000 people leave their job following a period of sickness absence lasting at least 4 weeks. The proposed reforms in the consultation aim to reduce this number by:

• improving incentives, obligations and support for employers to keep disabled people and those with health conditions in work
• widening access to good quality occupational health provision

You can help shape future plans by responding to the consultation by 7 October 2019.

Volunteering and claiming benefits

DWP has published new guidance on volunteering and claiming benefits. The guidance helps claimants to make informed decisions on volunteering and explains:

• how many hours you can volunteer
• what happens if you get a health or disability benefit
• what expenses you can claim

Find out more about how to volunteer.

‘Your competitors probably are’… Disability Confident

A summer campaign is encouraging organisations to join the Disability Confident scheme.

The campaign, which started with a series of adverts in newspaper business sections, highlights the competitive advantages of being an inclusive employer. It’s received great backing from a range of businesses, disability organisations and government departments and we would appreciate further support.

If you’re already a member, you can support the campaign on social media and other channels using these graphics and suggested tweets.

Post Office card account update

DWP usually pays benefits into a bank, building society or credit union account. People who cannot open or manage one of these standard accounts can have their benefits paid into a Post Office card account. This service is coming to an end. Over the coming months, DWP will write to Post Office card account users, including parents and guardians of people who are under 16 who have their benefits paid into a Post Office card account, to encourage them to switch to a bank, building society or credit union account.

We will introduce a new payment service for those who cannot open a standard account.

News round-up

Record number of disabled people benefitting from workplace funding

Social Security Advisory Committee: appointment of interim chair

University? Traineeship? First Job? What’s your post-exam plan?

People experiencing homelessness set to benefit from new jobcentre support

Update on the future of DWP jobcentres

Bereaved families to receive funeral payments quicker

Wages overtake inflation for 16th month in a row – fastest real terms growth since 2015

Lowest paid set to receive sick pay for the first time

Rudd: Working with global partners we can improve women’s prospects in the workplace

Terminally ill benefit claimants deserve a fresh and honest evaluation of the way the system supports them

Thousands of pensioners to benefit from PIP assessment overhaul