Danger!   Universal Credit is coming!   You are at risk!

If you currently claim any welfare benefits such as Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance,Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Housing Benefit, then your benefit is changing.

From October 2013 any new claims for the above list will only have one application called Universal Credit for which the Department of Work & Pensions assure us that this new benefit will simplify the process and will ensure no interruptions to payments which happened when switching benefits previously (really??).

All existing claimants will have to change by April 2014.

These changes are happening NOW! If you are in receipt of a benefit then you need to find out more information.  Contact Stirling Council Welfare Advisors/ Money Advisors today to find out how this affects you.

Be afraid!  Be very afraid! These changes are coming. DON'T IGNORE IT, SEEK HELP!

 New Housing Benefit rules could cause homelessness to rise by 40,000.

It may have been said in the National Press, but the new changes for Housing Benefit being proposed by the current coalition UK Government pose a real threat to thousands of households.  Although the full details are not yet available about the plans, what has taken place so far, has been leaked by a leading MP in the Government as of "serious concern" that thousands will lose their homes because of restrictions to the amount of Housing Benefit being awarded.

Currently, Housing Benefit pays for your rent as a whole or in part if you are in receipt of State Benefits or have a low income.  What is being proposed is that Housing Benefit is restricted to that of the average wage, so if you have a large house, with a large family and pay a high rent, then you could find your Housing Benefit restricted.

Already in England and Wales, and some Inner Cities, landlords are prempting legislation and asking that vulnerable tenants leave their home, because of the proposed changes.

Contact your MP in respect of this matter by voicing your concern at the proposals to restrict Housing Benefit.  Dont give up your home until you are absolutely sure of your rights as a tenant, particularly about Housing Benefit as any changes proposed may not come into force until 2013.