News

Increase to Universal Credit payments from this week

This week, the changes to Universal Credit announced last month by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in the Autumn Budget came into effect. These changes see the dreaded Universal Credit taper (how much an individual’s Universal Credit gets reduced by for every pound they earn) reduced from 63 pence to 55 pence, allowing millions of working Brits in receipt of the benefit to keep more of their earnings.

Chancellor reforms Universal Credit

In Wednesday’s Budget, one of the major announcements from the chancellor was that the Universal Credit taper will be reduced from 63% to 55% in a bid to help those full-time workers keep more of their earnings.

Government announces £65m support package for vulnerable renters

Over the weekend, the government announced a new £65m support package to help vulnerable renters who have fallen into rent arrears during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s to be provided during the winter months and distributed directly to landlords through local councils, who will decide the best way to use the funding to support households behind on their rent.

Loss of £20 UC uplift could increase risk of eviction

From 6 October, 6.2 million people in receipt of Universal Credit will have their benefit cut by £20 per week, an uplift which was introduced by the Government at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. This will not only see many people plunged into further poverty and struggle to pay basic bills such as rent and electricity, but also cut the amount of any Third-Party Deductions being made to repay debt such as rent arrears. This could potentially leave more people at risk of eviction, says Caridon Landlord Solutions.

Notice periods return to pre-Covid lengths from 1 October

The Government has confirmed that the emergency measures introduced as part of the Coronavirus Act 2020, requiring landlords to provide longer notice periods when seeking possession of residential property, will come to an end on 30 September.

24 Months to pay back advances on Universal Credit payments

Around six million people across the UK are currently receiving Universal Credit, a financial benefit payment provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) intended to help those out of work or on a low income with daily living costs.