Guidance

October 2018: Touchbase edition 130

Updated 9 March 2020

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Employer guide to Universal Credit

An employer guide to Universal Credit is now available on the Understanding Universal Credit website.

The guide explains:

• how Universal Credit can help employers
• what employers, HR and payroll staff need to know about Universal Credit
• how employers can support employees who get Universal Credit

Workplace pension campaign

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) workplace pensions campaign, ‘You Work, Your Pension Works’, is back on television encouraging people to think positively about saving for their future.

The campaign also supports existing and new employers to comply with the law by enrolling eligible employees into a workplace pension. Three new advert campaigns will be released to target the retail, wholesale and hospitality sectors.

Look out for the television and digital advertising, and help spread the word by liking, commenting on and sharing updates on DWP’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages using #YourPension.

Post Office card accounts

DWP usually pays benefits straight into a bank, building society or credit union account.

If someone can’t open or manage one of these accounts, DWP may pay their benefits into a Post Office card account.

DWP is working with a small number of people who use Post Office card accounts to find out:

• how people who use these accounts can be supported
• if any people using these accounts can move to a bank, building society or credit union account

Email wendy.ryan@dwp.gsi.gov.uk for more information on Post Office card accounts.

Help to Save scheme opens

Help to Save, a savings account which allows certain people entitled to Working Tax Credit or receiving Universal Credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over 4 years, is now available to everyone who meets the eligibility criteria.

The government-backed account is easy to use, flexible and secure – how much is saved and when is up to the account holder.

People who want to open an account can apply online or through the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) app.

More information about Help to Save

Warm Home Discount Scheme goes live for winter 2018 to 2019

The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides certain households at risk of fuel poverty with a one-off £140 discount on their electricity or gas bill.

People who get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit will receive a letter by mid-December 2018 which will tell them whether the discount will be applied automatically by their energy supplier, or if they need to contact the Warm Home Discount Team by 28 February 2019 to confirm their eligibility.

A limited number of discounts are available to other low income households. People who think they may be eligible should contact their energy supplier for further information and to make a claim.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is available in England, Scotland and Wales.

Minimum wage webinars for employers

Interns, apprentices and people on work placements are more likely than other employees to be paid less than the National Minimum Wage.

This is often because of common employer errors, including:

• not counting training as working time
• paying the wrong apprentice rate

HMRC has published a series of 10 minute webinars to help employers avoid these errors.

News round-up

Appointment of 3 non-executive directors completes new Single Financial Guidance Body’s board

Youth unemployment down 50% since 2010

Department for Work and Pensions Director of Communications appointment