From 27 June 2018 tenants in Aberdeenshire and Moray may be eligible for Universal Credit when making a claim for benefits.

For tenants in Aberdeen City, this will be 31 October 2018.

Universal Credit is a benefit that replaces Income Support, Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance, Income based ESA, Housing Benefit, Working tax and Child tax credits.

This is initially for new claimants to benefits, those with a change of circumstances and those with existing Universal Credit claims only.

Housing costs are paid through Universal Credit for those eligible instead of Housing Benefit.

Claimants of the benefits Universal Credit replaces will be migrated to Universal Credit from 2019. Notification will be sent by DWP when this commences and as it affects you.

If you have any spare bedrooms you must still claim Discretionary Housing Payments from your Local Authority to cover these. Any Council Tax Reduction must still be claimed through your Local Authority.

To find out which benefit you may be eligible for you can check online at https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Alternately you can call our Tenancy Sustainment Coordinator for advice and assistance :- Dawn Chalmers 01224 548013

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