September 2019: Touchbase edition 137

Question 1

UK State Pension payments for people in European Economic Area (EEA) states or Switzerland

Accepted Answer

Update: living in the EEA or Switzerland from
1 January 2021

Read the latest guidance on how State Pension uprating may be affected from
1 January 2021 if you live in the EEA or Switzerland.

The UK leaving the EU will not affect UK pensioners’ entitlement to continue getting the UK State Pension if they live in European Economic Area (EEA) states or Switzerland. Payments will automatically continue after 31 October into their bank account.

Uprating will also continue for 3 years in EEA states and Switzerland. This means that the UK State Pension is increased using the triple lock. The triple lock ensures that the State Pension goes up by 2.5%, the rate of inflation or average earnings – whichever is highest.

Brexit Business Readiness Events are also now underway across the country. These provide the opportunity to meet government advisers and to find out what actions your business needs to take to prepare.

Question 2

Claims to Universal Credit can be made without a National Insurance number

Accepted Answer

Claimants without a National Insurance number should not delay their Universal Credit application to obtain one. Their claim to Universal Credit will start the National Insurance (NI) number application process.

Once the conditions of entitlement to Universal Credit are established, an application for a NI number will be prioritised by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

This means eligibility can be established and also makes it possible to pay an advance of Universal Credit.

Claimants who have a NI number should have it ready at the point of applying for Universal Credit.

Question 3

Universal Credit managed payments to landlords

Accepted Answer

Landlords who want to set up a managed payment should first discuss the matter with their tenant, who will have access to their own information on their online account.

Tenants can share the information from their account with their landlord or other representative if they wish, as this contains information about housing payments made.

The landlord must not:

request login details from the tenant
make disclosing login details or allowing access to the tenant’s online account a condition of the tenancy

If more help is needed, the claimant can request this:

through their journal
through their work coach
by contacting the service centre by telephone

For more information, see the Universal Credit landlord engagement newsletters.

Question 4

Universal Credit improvements to appointment information

Accepted Answer

We have made improvements to communications to Universal Credit claimants. This will ensure that when claimants are asked to attend interviews the reason for the interview and the consequences of failing to attend are clear.

The outcome of every appointment is now recorded in the claimant’s journal. Where appointments are booked to verify evidence, the purpose of the appointment and details of the specific evidence required will be made clear.

Question 5

Will the retirement you get be the retirement you want?

Accepted Answer

DWP has launched its new retirement planning campaign to coincide with Pensions Awareness Week. The campaign encourages people to be prepared. Whilst the State Pension is a good foundation, it’s important to consider other ways to save, and save more where they can.

There are a number of online tools to help, including:

Please help us encourage people to get to know their pension and start planning to get the retirement they want – we have materials for advisers, stakeholders and employers in our toolkit.

Question 6

Funeral Support Payment introduced in Scotland

Accepted Answer

On 16 September 2019, Funeral Support Payment replaced Funeral Expenses Payment in Scotland.

From this date, people who want to apply for financial help to pay for a funeral must make a claim to Social Security Scotland. DWP will no longer be able to process their Funeral Expenses Payment claim.

More information on how to apply for Funeral Support Payment is available on mygov.scot.

Question 7

Warm Home Discount Scheme goes live for winter 2019 to 2020

Accepted Answer

The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides certain households at risk of fuel poverty with a one-off £140 discount on their electricity or gas bill.

People who get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit will receive a letter by mid-December 2019 which will tell them whether the discount will be applied automatically by their energy supplier, or if they need to contact the Warm Home Discount Team by 28 February 2020 to confirm their eligibility.

A limited number of discounts are available for other low income households. People who think they may be eligible should contact their energy supplier for further information and to make a claim.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is available in England, Scotland and Wales.

Question 8

‘Fire It Up’ apprenticeships campaign

Accepted Answer

The Department for Education’s apprenticeships campaign Fire It Up is focussing on wider audiences including those with learning difficulties or disabilities.