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The LITRG and the advice and technology charity LASA have launched a web tool to help people check whether they can claim universal credit and tax credits in their postcode area.

Introduction: Revenuebenefits project

In 2012, the LITRG launched the award winning website www.revenuebenefits.org.uk. Funded by HMRC, the website is aimed at giving advisers detailed information about HMRC products including tax credits and child benefit. More recently it has launched a new section covering the transition to universal credit.

Universal credit

Since 2013, universal credit has been rolling out and will eventually fully replace working tax credit, child tax credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance and housing benefit.

The roll-out is progressing very slowly by postcode area. To complicate matters further, two different systems are running alongside each other, and the rules about who can claim universal credit are different under each. As the full (digital) service rolls out, HMRC will no longer accept tax credit claims for people under state pension credit age in those areas. It can be very confusing for both claimants and advisers to understand the position and also how existing claimants will be affected.

Eligibility check

To help people check whether they are eligible to submit a claim for universal credit in their post code area as well as the status of tax credit and other benefit claims, www.universalcreditinfo.net has been created (see Useful Links below) –  a web tool provided as part of the Revenuebenefits project. Simply enter a postcode and the tool will tell you:

• whether you are eligible to make a claim for universal credit in that postcode and, if so, the conditions for claiming
• future universal credit plans for your area
• whether you can currently claim tax credits and other benefits in your area
• what universal credit means for existing tax credit claimants
• links to detailed information about universal credit and moving from tax credits to universal credit
• details of independent local advice organisations in your area.

Other advice agencies and websites can make use of a widget which allows you to add the postcode tool on your own website.

Feedback

Feedback on the tool is welcome and can be submitted via the web tool website.

More detailed information about the roll-out of universal credit can be found on www.revenuebenefits.org.uk

Useful links

Universal credit postcode web tool
Transition to universal credit section of revenuebenefits.org.uk