PAULINE Lyons, Wheatley Group’s Money Advice Lead, on how GHA and the other partners in Wheatley Group, have been preparing for the arrival of Universal Credit.

UNIVERSAL Credit (UC) is the biggest shake-up to the benefits system in living memory.

At the start of September, it arrived in Glasgow.

GHA, along with the other partners in Wheatley Group, has been doing all it can to prepare.

GHA, like all Wheatley’s social landlords, has a range of advice and support services to help tenants struggling to make ends meet – brought into sharper focus now UC has arrived.

READ MORE: It’s here! New benefits system rolls out across Glasgow - what to expect

Staff have been helping tenants get online, manage their money and open a bank account – some of the biggest issues people face under UC. 

Wheatley has 23 welfare benefits advisors – around 20 of whom are in Glasgow. 

Advisors are here to help tenants work their way through Universal Credit – and claim all the benefits and tax credits they’re entitled to. 

People have to wait up to five weeks, sometimes longer, before receiving their first UC payment. 

We can offer lots of support to help tenants get through this period. 
People who are struggling can get including access to food parcels through our Eat Well programme, and free recycled furniture through our Home Comforts service.

READ MORE: It’s here! New benefits system rolls out across Glasgow - what to expect

Another major change under UC is that rent is no longer paid directly to the landlord. 

Many of our tenants don’t have experience of budgeting from a single monthly payment – and this presents a serious challenge.

Our My Money service, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund, gives tenants high-quality money advice, debt support and access to affordable credit such as low-cost loans.

Our fuel advisors give tenants advice on cutting their gas and electricity bills.

We also have schemes which help tenants and their families into employment, training and further education.

Claims for UC have to be made online, so we’ve been helping tenants get access to the internet. 

UC is a major change – and we’re here to help people cope.