Universal Credit and the 53-week year

Wed, 08 May 2024 15:28:03 Z

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that customers who receive Universal Credit will need to pay an extra week’s rent in March 2025. This is despite Curo campaigning alongside the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, to ask the DWP to change a rule behind the additional payment.

The payment is due because in a normal year Universal Credit pays for 52 weeks of rent. There are 52 Mondays in a normal year, meaning 52 weekly charges. But every five to six years, there are 53 Mondays in a year instead. 2024/25 is one of those years. The issue is that Universal Credit payments only recognise 52 weeks of rent. Customers on Universal Credit will need to pay this extra week themselves.

If you receive Universal Credit, please contact us. Our Money Advice team has access to grants and funds that can help you pay for this extra week. Don’t wait until next year, get in touch now so that we can find you a solution and put your mind at rest. Call us on 01225 366000, or email: customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk.

Could you be eligible for an energy saving home upgrade?

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:56:58 Z

You may be able to get free or low cost energy-saving upgrades to your home thanks to a government scheme.

Making your home more energy efficient is not only good for the environment, but also means smaller energy bills, and a healthier living environment.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy scheme designed to help reduce fuel poverty, and make homes more eco-friendly. The scheme asks energy suppliers to install energy-saving measures, such as insulation, in homes that meet certain criteria to make them more energy efficient. It’s aimed at low income and vulnerable households, living in some of the least energy efficient houses.

If you’re a social housing tenant and your home has an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G then you might be eligible for help with insulation or installing a heating system for the first time. You can use the energy performance certificate register to find your home’s energy efficiency rating.

The next steps

If you think that you’re eligible, you can contact your local authority or an energy supplier to see if they’re taking part in the scheme. It doesn’t have to be your energy supplier. There’s a list of suppliers that are taking part on the Ofgem website.
An energy assessor will then visit your home to look at how energy efficient it is, and will then recommend any improvements that can be made.
You’ll be able to discuss the recommendations, then decide if you want to go ahead.
Before any work to your home begins you’ll need get permission from Curo. We’ll ask you to complete a consent form and return it to us for consideration. Please allow up to 30 days for us to get back to you.
Once we’ve agreed to the upgrades, work can begin. Qualified installers will come to your home to carry out the work. When it’s completed, Curo will inspect the changes to make sure that they meet our standards.
Enjoy your more energy efficient home!

Curo News

Universal Credit and the 53-week year

Could you be eligible for an energy saving home upgrade?