May 2019: Touchbase edition 134
Updated 9 March 2020
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Spring bank holiday Jobcentre Plus opening times and benefit payment dates
Jobcentre Plus offices and phone lines will be closed on Monday 27 May.
To make sure people receive their payments on a day when Jobcentre Plus offices are open, some benefits due to be paid on Monday 27 May will be paid early on Friday 24 May.
Read more information about payment dates.
Changes to Universal Credit
Universal Credit has been changed so that:
- social rented sector tenants whose rent changed in April received a system prompt on their Universal Credit account asking for their new rent details – once submitted, claimants’ Universal Credit awards will be revised to reflect the rent changes
- claimants reporting a change to children will see their currently declared children on their account, which they can edit – this improves accuracy and makes it easier to report changes
- eligible European Economic Area claimants who have been granted permanent residency will receive faster payments
Defined benefit pension scheme trustees: practical tips to manage risk
Good risk management is an important characteristic of a well-run pension scheme, and an important part of a trustee’s role.
To help trustees plan effectively, the Pension Protection Fund has published a guide for trustees. The guide includes simple, effective steps to help trustees of defined benefit pension schemes lessen some of the risks resulting from employer distress.
We encourage all trustees and scheme advisers to read and act on the information in the guide.
Work and Health Programme – call for signposting organisations
The Work and Health Programme (WHP) is the Department for Work and Pensions’ flagship employment programme in England and Wales. It helps people with disabilities, early access groups and the long-term unemployed into sustainable employment.
To ensure the WHP is accessible to everyone who is eligible, we approve signposting organisations to identify, refer and support people they think will benefit from the WHP but may have limited contact with Jobcentre Plus.
If you are interested in becoming a WHP signposting organisation, email whp.enquiries@dwp.gov.uk.
Childcare Choices
Are you aware of the government’s childcare offers?
An infographic is available to help parents in England understand which offers are applicable to them. Working parents who receive Universal Credit can claim back up to 85% of childcare costs for children under 17. Universal Credit customers in England can use their 15 or 30 hours free childcare in addition to Universal Credit childcare costs.
Parents across the UK can visit the Childcare Choices website for information on eligibility and applications.
Access and download the Childcare Choices communications toolkit to help promote the offers on your channels.
Industrial Injuries Advisory Council public meeting
Thursday 11 July 2019, 10am to 3:15pm
Hilton Leeds City, Neville Street, Leeds, LS1 4BX
The meeting will provide an opportunity for members of the public, their representatives, and people with a professional interest in occupational diseases, to learn about the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council’s work and ask questions.
The meeting will include:
- an explanation of the council’s role in making recommendations to ministers about the industrial injuries scheme
- presentations and discussions about the council’s work in the past year
- an opportunity to contribute views and ideas on the council’s future work
Read more information and joining instructions.
Workplace pension campaign partners with Gogglebox
Research shows that our workplace pension campaign has built strong awareness of the benefits of the workplace pension. To build on this we needed to increase understanding that saving into a workplace pension is the normal thing to do.
That’s why we have partnered with Gogglebox, a reality TV programme featuring a number of British families who react to television programmes from their homes. People across the country can now see people like them talking about pensions on some of the most famous sofas in Britain.
To find out more, visit Gogglebox talks pensions.
Find a job service shortlisted for prestigious industry awards
Find a job, which allows employers to post job adverts and jobseekers to view and apply for jobs, has been shortlisted for 3 industry awards.
The service, one of the government’s busiest digital services, has been nominated for:
- Best Use of a Digital Solution in the National Paperless Awards, which recognise government transformational excellence
- Digital Public Service Innovation in the Digital Leaders Awards
- Best Public Sector Project in the National Technology Awards, which celebrate pioneers of new technology
News round-up
New poverty statistics developed to help government target support
UK employment rate at joint record high
Record employment is not enough – jobseekers need the chance of better work
The Future of the Labour Market
From jail to a job: women take bold steps with forward thinking charity
Growing demand for Disability Confident employers
Trustees to mitigate the effect of unequal GMP’s on pension income