Helping hand for planning ahead
Q. I am looking to make an enquiry about Universal Credit and the savings and earnings threshold limits for benefits.
I am thinking of cashing in a personal pension with a lump sum and a weekly payment of £100. I have also been told that if I was in receipt of housing costs within Universal Credit then I would not be required to look for work under the Universal Credit claimant commitment.
A. Universal Credit is a means tested benefit, as were the legacy benefits of jobseekers allowance and employment and support allowance and housing benefit. This means that if you have savings of over £16,000 this would exclude you from these benefits.
Certain benefits like employment and support allowance and jobseekers allowance also have a contributionbased element where they can be claimed for set periods of time if eligible.
The Department of Work and Pensions disregard savings below £6000. If you have between £6000 and £16,000, £4.35 is deducted from your benefit under savings and capital for every £250 or every part of £250.
Your pension would be classed as unearned income and taken into consideration for the purposes of Universal Credit.
If you tried to deprive yourself of the capital by giving money away or spending it on a holiday, for example, it would be classed as deprivation of capital and you could be sanctioned or disentitled to the benefit if the department of work and pensions felt you were deliberately trying to remain on the benefit or claim a benefit if the threshold was reached.
At the beginning of your universal credit application you would have signed a claimant commitment to look for work and your work coach would determine the steps you needed to take to look for work.
The housing element of universal credit is only paid to a tenant with a tenancy agreement and would depend on a number of factors, including the rent, the number of bedrooms and is it a council home or private let property.
The client was advised that receipt of housing benefit or housing element of universal credit would not entitle him not to look for work under UC.
It would be advisable to contact your UC work coach to clarify your claimant commitment because generally unless the DWP determined you are unfit for work then you would be required to look for work. The DWP could ask you to work full-time.
These rules will only change once you reaches state retirement age which would be 67 in your case.
Q. I have been the victim of a domestic crime. The Procurator Fiscal is defending me but I want to drop the bail conditions against the accused. I also want to withdraw my witness statement.
I have researched the questions myself and had the answers ready but I
A. The Procurator Fiscal would decide to prosecute the case based on the evidence and whether it would be in the public interest to pursue this case.
If the PF is defending you then you would be better to contact them directly and they would be able to answer your questions.
If you are feeling threatened by the accused or upset by the thought of making a court appearance you can discuss this with the PF too, it is understandable.
The PF will also be able to give advice on Legal Aid and it should be based on your own income. Please be aware that a warrant could be issued for your arrest if you failed to attend court as a witness.
Bail conditions on the accused were set by the police and courts and a court decision was needed to alter the bail.
Q. I am due to take my state retirement pension later this year. How can I find
A. You can find out how much pension you are likely to get by requesting a State Pension Statement.
A State Pension Statement will give you an estimate of the state pension you may get when you reach your state pension age, based on your national insurance contribution record as it stands when the statement is produced. This amount is likely to change if you have further qualifying years in the future.
The estimate will include any additional state pension and graduated retirement benefit if appropriate.
It will be based on your contribution record only, unless they ask for it to be based on that of their late or former husband, wife or civil partner as well.
The statement will also explain how further qualifying years may affect the amounts shown.
If you are at least four months away from state pension age you can request a state pension statement online, by post or by telephone from the future pension centre.
If you are less than four months but more than 30 days away from state pension age you can get a statement only by post or by telephone.
You can download a State Pension Statement application form, BR19, or apply for a State Pension Statement online at www.gov.uk.
You will need to register, or be registered, with the Government Gateway in order to make an online request. Alternatively, you can apply by telephone or post to: Future Pension Centre Department for Work and Pensions The Pension Service 9 Mail Handling Site A Wolverhampton WV98 1LU
Tel: 0800 731 0175 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm). Textphone: 0800 731 0176 Website: www.gov.uk/futurepension-centre
Q. I have received a letter from the First Tier Tribunal Scotland, Housing & Property Chamber for a property that I left three years ago.
I rented the accommodation for a total of two years. I have been pursued for three months’rent for not giving the correct notice period as stated in my
A. It would be really useful if you have kept any documents pertaining to the rent agreement and the tenancy. This is so that you can check to ensure that this information is correct as you may need to appeal the letter.
When you leave a property you will have to give the notice which is outlined in your tenancy agreement UNLESS you have made a personal agreement with your landlord/lady or letting agent.
If you do not give the correct notice then legal proceedings can be started against you and the First Tier Tribunal Scotland Housing and Property Chamber can rule that your landlord is owed the money and enforce the payment.
If you do not pay then it may affect your credit rating. If you feel that you do not owe this as the contract is wrong then you can appeal it. PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone /e-mail advice Monday to Friday from 9am until 3pm.