Universal Credit

Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It’s a monthly payment to help with your living costs as well as a housing payment to cover your rent.

It was introduced in 2018 and has replaced the following six benefits:

Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based)
Employment & Support Allowance (Income Related)
Income Support
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Housing Benefit

So what’s different?

Claims are made online.
Your housing costs will be paid to you instead of direct to ateb and you will need to pay your rent to ateb every month when you receive your Universal Credit payment. If you are worried about making these payments yourself, you can request your housing payment to be paid directly to us. This is known as an APA (Alternative Payment Arrangement) and there are certain reasons to be eligible.
You will need to make a claim for Council Tax Reduction separately.

More information is available online here

Talk to your Money Solutions Team Clayton, Cheryl, Sharon, Jess and Lee for advice and support with making a claim, getting online and paying your rent.

Team photo