Universal Credit Data Collection

This survey aims to capture the impacts of Universal Credit on housing associations on a monthly basis.

The information provided by members to the SFHA has been invaluable in giving us evidence to put before both the UK and Scottish Governments, as part of our lobbying on your behalf; we have also been able to use the evidence you provide in our submission to parliamentary committees which in their turn can hold their respective governments to account.

The more evidence we can gather the stronger is our case. Regular returns build a vivid illustration of trends and flag up concerns which it is in the DWP’s own interest, as much as their stakeholders, to consider.

The roll out of the Universal Credit Full Service will have a profound impact on your rent income management – both in terms of the upsurge in the caseload and the more complex variety of individual cases. If there is evidence that the system is not working well it is vital we draw attention to this – which is why we need and ask for your help and cooperation each month.

We would be grateful if you could fill this in as a snapshot of your current position as at 30th June 2017. This survey will close at 5pm on Friday 25th August.

Following progress with the Universal Credit roll-out and following member feedback, we are trialing some new questions as of Aprils survey. We realise not every question works for everyone as each association has different ways of collecting and reporting data. Please fill in what you can and if something doesn't work for you, please do let us know and we can incorporate your feedback into our next survey review by emailing Janine Mckenna at jmckenna@sfha.co.uk

An area we would really like to find out more about it cash collection rates. However it has been difficult to find a way of collecting this that works for every member. What do you think is the best way to collect this information? Tell us below or email us if you haven't already.

Thank you for all the effort you put into completing these surveys.

1. Contact details

Please provide your details below: *This question is required.

Name

Job title

Organisation

Email address

Universal Credit Claimant Numbers

2. How many of your tenants are currently on UC (with housing costs) as at 30th June 2017?

On live service?
On full service?

3. The DWP is supposed to notify you of new claimants.

How many new claims in June, were you notified of by:

Space Cell	Live service	Full service
DWP	DWP: Live service	DWP: Full service
Other	Other: Live service	Other: Full service

4. Of your new UC claimants in June, can you say how many were in arrears before their claim?

On live service
On full service

5. For new claimants that received their first payment in June how many of these claims managed to include housing costs?

On live service
On full service

6. The DWP aims to notify landlords of all new claimants within 7 days of receiving verification of a rent liability from the claimant. Of your new claims during June, how many of these notifications took longer than 7 days?

If you have cases in where notification exceeded the 7 day target time, which you would like the SFHA to raise with the DWP, please send details to jhewer@sfha.co.uk. This question requires a valid number format.

Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) / Managed Payments to Landlords (MPTLs)

7. Total number of MPTLs in place for your Housing Association/Co-Operative overall to June 2017?

On live service
On full service

8. Number of MPTLs requested during June?

On live service
On full service

9. Number of MPTLs granted during June?

On live service
On full service

10. How many MPTLs were discontinued/stopped in June?

On live service
On full service

Rent Increases

11. How many MPTLs have still to be adjusted following a rent increase in 2017?

On live service
On full service

12. Total number of 3rd party deductions for your Housing Association/Co-Operative in place as at June 30th? This question requires a valid number format.

Third party deductions for rent arrears

13. Have you asked the DWP for any 3rd party deductions in June?

14. If so how many?

On live service
On full service

15. How many applications submitted for 3^rd party deductions were granted during June?

On live service
On full service

Arrears

16. To date, for tenants on UC, on live service

How many are in arrears?
How much do they owe in total?

17. To date, for tenants on UC, on full service:

How many are in arrears?
How much do they owe in total?

18. For any other tenants not on UC

How many are in arrears?
How much do they owe in total?

Comments / feedback

19. Taking into account notifications, APA requests and 3rd party requests, do you think the live service from the DWP to landlords is:

Getting better
Staying the same
Getting worse

20. Taking into account notifications, APA requests and 3rd party requests, do you think the full service from the DWP to landlords is:

Getting better
Staying the same
Getting worse

21. If applicable, on a scale of 1-4 (where 1 is very poor and 4 is excellent), how would you rate the DWP's live service?

22. If applicable, on a scale of 1-4 (where 1 is very poor and 4 is excellent), how would you rate the DWP's full service?

23. Do you have any comments to make about the DWP service centre?

Please utilise the space below to provide feedback on the service received from:
the DWP telephony service;
the escalation line and;
the email address into the service centre.

Please also provide any feedback on the housing verification process;
the new claim notification letters;
and the APA and third party deduction process.

24. Supplementary question:

We would like to know the best way to ask members about their cash collection rates. This has prooved a difficult question to ask as members collect and hold data in different ways.
What do you think is the best way to ask for cash collection rates?

25. Any other comments regarding this survey, the DWP or its operations?

Universal Credit Data Collection - as at June 30th