Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update from DWP

If you would like to visit their website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

Funeral Expenses Payments (FEP) Claims

Anyone requiring support with Bereavement or FEP, should contact the Bereavement Service on 0800 731 0469 or download a FEP claim form from gov.uk until further notice.  

Protected Eligibility to Childcare

Temporary measures now in place will ensure critical workers are still eligible for childcare offers if their income has changed due to coronavirus. The Government has announced that any working parent usually eligible for 30 hours free childcare or Tax-Free Childcare will remain eligible if they fall below the minimum income requirement due to COVID-19. Subject to Parliamentary approval, parents who are critical workers will also remain eligible for these entitlements if their income has increased over the maximum threshold during the COVID-19 pandemic. A press release can be found on gov.uk

Claiming Access to Work (AtW)

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, customers can still get help from AtW if they have disability or a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for them to do their job and they need to work from home. Customers cannot claim help from AtW if they are no longer working. If they already have an AtW award, they can start using it again when they start working again. DWP is prioritising making grants for new claims from critical workers and people due to start work within four weeks. Further guidance is contained in the Access to Work Factsheet on GOV.UK

Pension Credit Online Service

DWP have introduced a new service so pensioners can now apply for Pension Credit online. This will supplement the existing telephone and postal claim services. It will enable customers to make a claim without having to leave home to post forms or wait to get through on the phone – helping them also to adhere to social distancing and shielding measures. To ensure security for customers any personal information will be sent direct to DWP. DWP will also only pay people into the verified account that they get their State Pension paid into.

Benefit Cap

The latest quarterly Benefit Cap statistics have been released on GOV.UK.

Headlines as follows:

·       79,000 households had their benefits capped

·       33,000 had Housing Benefit capped

·       46,000 had UC capped

·       1,200 more households had their benefits capped compared November 2019

UC Claim Numbers

More than 135,000 new claims were made to UC on 30 and 31 March 2020. Of the eligible claims, more than nine out of ten have been paid in full and on time. Since the pandemic began, around 1.8 million claims have been made to Universal Credit and almost 700,000 advance payments made to people.

Applying for Direct Rent Payments: Rollout of New Process

Currently if a Landlord or Letting agent (in GB) who is not on the Landlord Portal wants to Apply for Direct Rent Payments (ADRP) and / or Rent Arrears they must submit a UC47 form. This form will soon be replaced by a new, simplified form ‘Landlord Application for Direct Rent and/or Arrears Payments’ which again will be accessed via gov.uk

This new process has been in Beta and is now preparing for full rollout later this week.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)

From 4 May HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) began contacting customers who may be eligible for SEISS. Those who are eligible are able to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average trading profits up to a maximum of £7,500 (equivalent to three months’ profits), paid in a single instalment. Alternatively customers, or their agents, can go online and check eligibility for SEISS. The claims service will open on 13 May and is being delivered ahead of the original timetable. Further information available on GOV.UK.

Those working reduced hours due to coronavirus or those being furloughed by their employer will not have their tax credits payments affected if they are still employed or self-employed. These customers do not need to contact HMRC about this change.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

Bounce Back Loans are helping thousands of small firms get finance quickly at a low, affordable rate and with a 100% government-backed guarantee.

More than 69,000 Bounce Back Loans worth over £2 billion were approved during the first 24 hours of the scheme.

Webinars for SMEs

The Department for International Trade is hosting a series of coronavirus (COVID-19) webinars, free for SMEs across the UK. The webinars, led by around 100 expert leads, will offer practical advice to SMEs and focus on issues businesses trading internationally are facing.

Rough Sleepers Taskforce

A specialist taskforce has been created to lead the next phase of the government’s support for rough sleepers during the pandemic. Spearheaded by Dame Louise Casey, they will work with councils on plans to ensure rough sleepers can move into long-term, safe accommodation once the immediate crisis is over – ensuring as few people as possible return to life on the streets.

Programme to Provide Meals – England

A £16m programme will provide millions of meals over the next 12 weeks and be delivered through charities. At least 5,000 frontline charities and community groups in England will benefit, including refuges, homeless shelters and rehabilitation services. It will cover rural areas as well as cities, targeting those who are struggling to get food.

Funds to Move Women Away from Crime – England and Wales

£2.5 million is being made available to community services across England and Wales which support women at risk of being drawn into crime. The funding will help cover core costs such as wages, rent and bills. By tackling the root causes of offending these services will help divert women away from criminality and out of prison wherever possible.

Support for Vulnerable

£76 million package of support to ensure the most vulnerable in society get the support they need during the pandemic has been announced. This funding will support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery as well as ensuring vulnerable children and young people continue to get the help they need.