18/12/2017 - Permalink

Are you ready for Universal Credit?

Related topics: Housing / Partner organisations

News from our partners – Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing

Do you currently claim Housing Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credits or Income Support?

And are under the age of 65 (working age)? If so Universal Credit will affect you from May 2018.

What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is a monthly payment which replaces all of the above benefits. It is paid direct to you to help with living and household costs.

The payment is made to you in arrears which means you will go without receiving a payment for up to five weeks.

How do I apply?

You have to apply online.

If you don’t have Wi-Fi access at home, or a laptop or computer, Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing (STAR Housing) has put together a list of places you can get free access to a computer/Wi-Fi:

Oswestry Community Hub has computers you can use and run a free 1:1 IT help session every week. It’s open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9.30am until 5pm, Wednesdays 9.30am until 6pm and Saturdays 9.30am until 4pm.

Oswestry and Borders Food Bank runs drop-in Universal Credit Sessions every Tuesday from 12.30pm until 2.30pm.

Gobowen Central has computers available to use for free. It’s open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am until 1pm and then from 2pm until 5pm, Wednesdays from 10am until 1pm and then 2pm until 3.30pm and Saturdays from 10am until 1pm.

St Martins Community Centre runs a drop-in session every Tuesday from 10am until 2pm.

Bridgnorth Library Hub has computers you can use. It’s open Mondays from 9.30am until 6pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30am until 5pm and Saturdays from 9.30am until 3pm. There is also a free 1:1 IT help session on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm until 2:30 and 2:30 until 4pm.

Shifnal Library has free access to computers. It’s open Mondays from 2pm until 6pm, Wednesdays from 10am until 1pm and from 2pm until 6pm, Fridays from 10am until 1pm and 2pm until 6pm and Saturdays from 9.30am until 1pm.

Red House in Albrighton is open from 2pm until 4pm with an open drop-in session with IT support on Thursdays.

Victoria Hall in Broseley has drop-in sessions every Friday from 10am until 11.30am.

Broseley Library. Access to computers is on Mondays from 4pm until 6pm, Thursdays from 9.30am until 1pm and from 2pm until 6pm, Fridays from 2pm until 5pm and Saturdays from 9.30am until 1pm.

The Severn Centre in Highley. Access to computers is from Monday to Thursday from 9am until 9pm and on Fridays from 9am until 7pm.

Much Wenlock Library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am until 1pm and then from 2pm until 5pm.

What do I need to do?

To check that you are ready, please answer the following questions;

  • Would you be able to manage five weeks without any benefit payments?
  • Do you have an email address?
  • Do you have a bank account that is in your name and is suitable for Direct Debits?

If the answer is no to any of these questions, give your local rents team a call;

  • Oswestry – 01691 677230
  • Bridgnorth – 01746 335310

They are trained on Universal Credit and can help you through the process.