6
Universal Credit: Are you verified?
We know how important it is to avoid any delays when dealing with Universal Credit and other such
claims. GOV.UK Verify is the new way to prove who you are online and help you avoid any delays:
• It gives safer, simpler and faster access to services like checking the information on your driving licence or
renewing your passport
• It’s fast and simple because you can do it online, without going anywhere to prove your identity in person,
or waiting for something in the post.
• It should only take between 5 and 15 minutes to verify your identity the first time you use it
• You can use it to check your state pension and claim Universal Credit just
Search GOV.UK Verify for more details.
Not online yet? Black Country Click Start could help? Call the team on
07976 943295 or contact your local UK Online centre.
Universal Credit survey
Thank you to all of those customers claiming
Universal Credit (UC) who responded to the survey
we issued over the summer about the benefit. The
results were very interesting:
• We had an 11% response – thank you!
• The majority of people (40%) waited 5-6 weeks for
their first payment
• All of the respondents went without either food,
heating, paying rent or paying other bills while
they waited for their first payment
• A staggering 80% of people had borrowed money
while they were waiting
• But two thirds of people hadn’t asked for or had
any help with budgeting or debt advice
• We asked what top three things could Accord do
to help and they were:
1 Help with managing money and budgeting
2 Our staff being more understanding when delays
occur
3 More communication about UC from us
We are taking these ideas forward and are listening
to the ways in which we can make your lives easier
should you be experiencing Universal Credit
delays.
Gilbert
fulfils his
dream!
Gilbert Mathlin has been an Accord customer for
many years, successfully living independently
thanks to the support of Accord’s Learning Disability
Support Service in Birmingham.
Gilbert recently celebrated his 80th birthday. When
asked how he wanted to celebrate his birthday, his
only wish was to go to the theatre to see Miss Saigon.
So accompanied by his dedicated Support Worker,
Sharon Gethfield, we arranged his wish to come true!
Service Co-ordinator, Claire Moore said:
“Gilbert has been in our service for over twenty
years. He is a true gentleman and very much
valued by our team. Gilbert really wanted to
see Miss Saigon to celebrate his 80th Birthday
but didn’t want to go on his own so was over
the moon when a way was found for his support
worker Sharon to go with him! I’m really proud
of the impact this service makes to the lives of
local people living with learning disabilities.
It allows them to maintain independent and
fulfilled lives”.