Social Security Experience Panels: Universal Credit Scottish choices

Respondents' Experience of Universal Credit Scottish Choices

Awareness and uptake of Universal Credit Scottish choices

Respondents were asked about their awareness of the Universal Credit Scottish choices. Of the 57 respondents who had experience of Universal Credit, more than a quarter (28 per cent) had heard of Universal Credit Scottish choices, almost two thirds (63 per cent) said that they hadn't and less than ten said they weren't sure. It should be noted that the Universal Credit Scottish choices have been available to somepeople in receipt of Universal Credit since 4 October 2017, so not all respondents to this survey will have been able to experience them. Statistics on numbers of people being offered and accepting the Universal Credit Scottish choices has been reported separately.^[1]

56 respondents told us whether or not they had chosen to take up one of the Scottish choices. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents had chosen to take up one of the Universal Credit Scottish choices on offer, and more than one in five (21 per cent) respondents had chosen to take up both. Some respondents described the positive impact that these choices had for them and positive experiences of accessing these:

"I find it less stressful to have payments made directly to landlord and to receive my Universal Credits payments twice monthly"

"I had heard of these options before claiming Universal Credit so asked for more information from my work coach and the changes were applied faster than either of us expected"

More than three in five (64 per cent) of the respondents who had opted to take up one or more of the Scottish choices, had also said that they either had not heard of the Universal Credit Scottish choices, or were not sure if they had. This could suggest that they were unaware that the options that they had been given were only available to them because they live in Scotland.

Of those who had chosen to take up one or more of the Universal Credit Scottish choices more than half (52 per cent) said it had helped them to manage their household finances better, more than two in five (44 per cent) said that it hadn't. Less than 10 respondents said that they weren't sure if it had.

Payments made directly to landlords

Of the 56 respondents who told us which choices they had opted for, almost two in five (39 per cent) said they had chosen payments to be made directly to landlords.

"I think direct to the landlord is the best way… people on the breadline will too easily dip into it if needs arise. It's hard but protect your roof at all costs."

Others also said that they would have liked to have had this option:

"Personally I would have preferred payments sent to my landlord as I ended up in debt, also being paid monthly left me in debt. I was never offered any other choice."

"I would prefer it paid straight to Landlord so that if there were issues it would come straight from DWP and I wouldn't get into trouble."

Others said that they would not trust the DWP to make direct payments.

"I would not trust the DWP to pay directly as so many others have not had it paid even though they thought it was and been threatened with eviction"

Twice monthly payments

More than a quarter of the respondents (27 per cent) said they had chosen twice monthly payments. A number of others commented that they had not been offered this choice but would find it helpful, or that they had requested it but that it did not happen. Some also described problems with making monthly payments last to cover bills like rent.

"Getting money monthly is a nightmare and very hard to budget for that length of time. I was never told about twice monthly payments or being able to have the rent element paid directly to landlord etc."

"Universal Credit pay my rent at the end of the month when my rent is supposed to be paid on the first of the month"

"The amount of Universal Credit is far too small to be able to budget for a four/five week period."

However, a small number of respondents found this option confusing or said they would like the option but that it wouldn't work with their finances:

"I was confused up until recently the difference between 'twice monthly' and 'fortnightly'. When I was asked originally when registering I was sure I was asked if I wanted to be paid Fortnightly or Monthly."

"Being one of the first people put on Universal Credit I did not have a choice of payment dates but earlier this year I did try and alter the payments to twice monthly BUT my second monthly payment would have put me 6 weeks in arrears so it was not workable and I declined to use it. The process in trying to do it was quick and efficient."

Others described issues around payments dates and assessment periods which unfortunately are not within the scope of the responsibilities devolved to the Scottish Government on Universal Credit:

"The system does not reconcile with all monthly dates when payment is due to account for weekends and holidays nor allow for monthly top ups due to private landlord."

Respondents who didn't take up the Scottish choices

Less than 10 respondents said they were offered these choices but didn't choose either. Reasons for not taking up these options included being used to receiving monthly payments when receiving a salary or confidence in their ability to budget for regular bill payments.

More than half (54 per cent) of respondents said they hadn't been offered these choices. Some also commented on the lack of information available to them generally, including not having the options explained to them, or having to request these options when speaking to advisors before they were offered.

"The adviser at the Job Centre in [town] (on my weekly meetings) did not advise this. I found out myself and have also found many other people in this town are unaware of the fortnightly payment and direct payment to landlord"

"Getting money monthly is a nightmare and very hard to budget for that length of time. I was never told about twice monthly payments or being able to have the rent element paid directly to landlord etc."