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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Access to justice and advice sector issues  →  Thread

Universal Credit Transition Fund of £10m

Mkfiftyeight
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Benefit Advisor, HARC East Sussex

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Total Posts: 49

Joined: 7 December 2018

Is anyone aware of any update to the announcement on 1 November 2019 about the Universal Credit Transition Fund of £10 million?
 
The fund was meant to be available from April 2020, it is now March.  To be fair there was a general election, announcement about extending completion of implementation by nine months and various other things going on. 

There seems to be little if any public information, even the PQ answered on 17 February 2020 by Will Quince (Universal Credit: Vulnerable Adults) only mentions what was already known about “help to claim” . No mention of his SofS’s announcement.

“Secretary of State Therese Coffey has today (1 November 2019) announced a £10 million Universal Credit Transition Fund for outreach programmes to help vulnerable people make Universal Credit claims.
The fund will be available to partner organisations across the UK, including charities, from April 2020. It will aim to help vulnerable people, including disabled people, care leavers and those with mental health issues, claim Universal Credit as a route into work. It will support innovative ideas for engaging with vulnerable people early, helping them to make timely claims to the new benefit…...”

shawn mach
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According to this doc, the application window is still open:

The grant funding will be available during the 2020/2021 financial year up to 31 March 2021 ...

If you wish to apply you must complete this application form and send it to your local Jobcentre Plus Service Leader ... we are unable to consider application forms received after the closing date: 31 March 2020.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/872940/universal-credit-transition-fund-partnership-opportunity-v-1-2.odt

 

Mkfiftyeight
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Benefit Advisor, HARC East Sussex

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Total Posts: 49

Joined: 7 December 2018

Many thanks, saw the application details.

One of our local JCP managers also sent a copy to us.

shawn mach
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Update (31 March 2020):

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Universal Credit Transition Fund application process has been temporarily suspended.

Further information will be provided to applicants where possible.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-partnership-opportunities-with-jobcentre-plus

shawn mach
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From the new DWP Touchbase -

Our priority at this time is to ensure people get their benefit payments and to protect vulnerable people who need our support most. We also recognise that organisations may not be in a position in the current circumstances to proceed with an application or mobilise a new project.

If you have already submitted your application we will hold this on record, provided you are content for us to do so, in the event we are able to progress with the process later in the year.

More: Touchbase (3 April 2020)