Utility arrears
If the client owes money to their current mains gas or electricity supplier, the company can request that an amount is deducted from the client’s ongoing UC payments for normal usage amount and arrears. This is to prevent disconnection of service. It stops when the arrears are cleared, if the client has a prepayment meter, they can only take an amount for arrears.
For UC, the amount deducted for arrears of gas, electricity and water is 5 per cent of the standard allowance. For IS, income-based JSA, income-related ESA and PC, an amount can be deducted each week and paid to the supplier in instalments – usually once a quarter.
1Sch 9 para 6 SS(C&P) RegsThe amount allocated for normal usage is set by the supplier and cannot be more that 25 per cent of the client’s standard allowance and child element unless the client agrees in advance.