Important news about Universal Credit
Being paid early for Christmas can affect members’ Universal Credit payments. Early pay can make it seem like they’ve received twice as much pay as normal, because two pay packets fall within one Universal Credit assessment period, reducing the amount of Universal Credit they will receive. However, employers can help to reduce the risk of this by reporting the usual pay date to HMRC, rather than reporting the earlier pay date.
If the employer cannot report pay on the usual date, members can ask the Department for Works & Pensions (DWP) to reallocate one of the salary payments to a different Universal Credit assessment period, but they may need to provide additional information or evidence and the DWP may not be able to make the change in time for their next Universal Credit payment. Members can contact the DWP through their Universal Credit Journal to request this.
Winter Fuel Grant opening on 24 January 2024.
The Winter Fuel Grant Programme will open on 24 January 2024.
We expect demand to be high and as it is a restricted fund, we can only accept 2,000 applications. Members are encouraged to check the information below ASAP to identify if they are eligible to apply and then be ready to apply as soon as the link to the applications goes live at 8:30am and 5:00pm on 24 January 2024.
Remember once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Full information will be communicated nearer the date.
Please be aware that if due to access needs, you have any members who are unable to apply online, they can call UNISONdirect 08000 857857.
Raising Money for There for You
In addition to branch donations [please remember to always provide your branch code so that we can send a thank you acknowledgement and certificate to display in the workplace]; and branches playing the UNISON Lottery
We are excited to announce that some of our more enthusiastic colleagues are finding other great ways to support UNISON’s charity including:
- Congratulations and a big thank you to our colleagues who participated in the Cardiff Half Marathon on 1 October, they raised a magnificent £3,230 for There for You.
- Congratulations also go to our colleagues in Northern Region who undertook a sponsored walk on 23 November, they raised a marvellous £2,650 for There for You.
We hope all involved had a good time raising the money and on behalf of the members that your efforts will help, we would like to say a really big thank you.
If there is a There for You fundraising event going on in your branch or region, you tell us thereforyou@unison.co.uk and we will tell everyone.
The branded There for You collection buckets are now available and are in the process of being distributed to the regions: so now every time you have an event, you can rattle that bucket and raise funds for us.
Free There for You promotional materials available from the online catalogue: Welfare Archives – UNISON Shop
The following items have recently been updated and are now available to order from the UNISON online catalogue:
- The There for You General Booklet for Members
https://shop.unison.site/product/there-for-you-unison-welfare-general-booklet/
- The Help with Energy Costs Booklet
https://shop.unison.site/product/help-with-fuel-costs/
- The Budgeting Tool and Benefits Checker Card
https://shop.unison.site/product/there-for-you-benefits-checker-and-budgeting-tool-business-card/
- The UNISON Lottery Poster with QR code for Members to Sign Up
https://shop.unison.site/product/lottery-poster/
- The Branch Welfare Officer Guidelines
https://shop.unison.site/product/branch-welfare-officer-guidelines/