Universal Credit and homeless people

Advice for homeless people publication: added links to about reporting a change of circumstances, and help with housing costs if renting from a private landlord. And added information on Universal Credit and Housing Benefit help with housing costs.

Removed references to Post Office accounts, Verify and COVID-19 in both publications.

Added Carer Support Payment (Scotland only) to the list of other benefits that someone may be able to claim.

If you apply for a Universal Credit advance on or after 12 April 2021, the time you must usually pay back the advance has been extended from 12 to 24 months. The most that can normally be taken from your Universal Credit payment to repay a debt has changed from 30% to 25% of your Universal Credit Standard Allowance.

Removed the wording 'You will not get a sanction if you cannot keep to your Claimant Commitment because of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.

Updated appendix 1 – acceptable identity document list.

Changed the maximum amount of repayment of a Universal Credit advance from 40% to 30% of the claimant's Universal Credit standard allowance.

Updated guidance on applying for an advance. You can now apply for an advance through your online account, by asking your Jobcentre Plus work coach or by calling the Universal Credit helpline. You will now need to verify your identity at a jobcentre first. Clarified examples in the quick guide of claiming Universal Credit and what the work coach will do.

Added information about Universal Credit and hostels and updated attachments.

Updated attachments to include information about 'Help to Claim'.

'Help to Claim' information added to the Universal Credit for homeless people attachments.

Removed references to Universal Credit live service.

Removed references to Universal Credit full service and live service.

Added translation