UC Claim. No Phone & Housebound Disabled?

Ghostrider000

Long story short. Is there any way to Claim Universal Credit that does not involve having a phone or visiting a Jobcentre?

The long story, I have extensive all body neuropathy, I live with constant all body stiffness and significant pain all day every day. Any and all bodily movements, regardless how tiny take an excessive amount of concentration and effort to perform, and exacerbate pain levels rapidly.

My speech is unreliable and erratic at best, impossible at worst, and for that reason I don't have a phone, nor do I want to have to spend the money on a phone, as I would never use it.

I am virtually housebound as by the time I have managed to walk as far as the outside door a combination of elevated pain levels and the ridiculous amount of energy expended to achieve it makes it impossible to go further.

Using a wheelchair or travel by car etc are also out of the question as even the slight movements these unavoidably have quickly elevate my pain levels as well. They help, but more than 1/4 mile and I'm in agony, and my nearest Jobcentre is 25 miles away.

Having a face to face meeting with someone from the DWP, CAB etc is of no help either as talking is talking, with the same consequences, wherever it occurs.

I am perfectly capable of filling in an online or paper application form, but it seems the DWP have entirely discontinued these options, unless someone here can tell me different.

Or do I really have no choice but to go to the expense and hassle of buying and activating a phone to be able to claim, only to have it lying there doing nothing until the provider cancels the number through lack of outgoing call/text use?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

p00hsticks

Have you found this page to indicate what options might be available to you ?
Get help with benefits and pensions if you have accessibility needs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It does indicate that if you struggle to use a phone then communication by e-mail is a possibility, but doesn't make it obvious how you arrange that - you may need to make an initial phone call or write to them to request it. 

Brie

You need to get an advocate who can do things on your behalf.  How you manage to arrange that is a problem though unless you can get someone to visit you in your home.  Perhaps a friend, relative or someone from a charity related to your condition can help.

Spoonie_Turtle

Relay UK can bypass the need to talk on the phone.  (It doesn't need an actual phone for you to use it.)
… ah, it's the first option given on that gov.uk link, good-o.

huckster

Citizens Advice help to claim service

Contact us about applying for Universal Credit - Citizens Advice

peteuk

As your online I assume you have Wi-Fi at home, if so you've an active landline, so no need to go buy a mobile just a cheap land line phone.

Although you will get text and emails re: appointments etc you can read the emails on your computer, equally a lot of phones have a speaker capacity, so no need to hold a phone for the duration of the call. 

Have you looked at PIP.

There will be an expectation of you to look for and gain employment whilst claiming UC, however given your medical condition this would be ignored, how you get to that point I am not 100% sure so hopefully someone more clued up will be able to assist you, 

poppy12345

peteuk said:

There will be an expectation of you to look for and gain employment whilst claiming UC, however given your medical condition this would be ignored, how you get to that point I am not 100% sure so hopefully someone more clued up will be able to assist you, 

When claiming UC you are classed as a job seeker until a decision made on your work capability assessment. A work coach does have discretion to either reduce or turn off work commitments while you wait. 

To start that process of they would need to report their health condition, provided by a fit note. 

KxMx

peteuk said:

As your online I assume you have Wi-Fi at home, if so you've an active landline, so no need to go buy a mobile just a cheap land line phone.

Although you will get text and emails re: appointments etc you can read the emails on your computer, equally a lot of phones have a speaker capacity, so no need to hold a phone for the duration of the call. 

Have you looked at PIP.

There will be an expectation of you to look for and gain employment whilst claiming UC, however given your medical condition this would be ignored, how you get to that point I am not 100% sure so hopefully someone more clued up will be able to assist you, 

It's becoming more common to have internet only and no landline service. 
I renewed my Broadband last year, provider offered Internet only, so I took them up on it and my active (but not used) phoneline was disconnected. 

peteuk

KxMx said:

peteuk said:

As your online I assume you have Wi-Fi at home, if so you've an active landline, so no need to go buy a mobile just a cheap land line phone.

Although you will get text and emails re: appointments etc you can read the emails on your computer, equally a lot of phones have a speaker capacity, so no need to hold a phone for the duration of the call. 

Have you looked at PIP.

There will be an expectation of you to look for and gain employment whilst claiming UC, however given your medical condition this would be ignored, how you get to that point I am not 100% sure so hopefully someone more clued up will be able to assist you, 

It's becoming more common to have internet only and no landline service. 
I renewed my Broadband last year, provider offered Internet only, so I took them up on it and my active (but not used) phoneline was disconnected. 

Digital phone £20-£30 (I get expensive if claiming benefits) but could be a life line and enable you to connect to other things.   Just a thought.

born_again

Given Op's condition. They must have some engagement with healthcare providers & I would have thought regular appointments in relation to this & the medication required.
So wonder how they manage these?

As they have a computer, Zoom would allow a call to be made. But there will be ID checks that need to be done.

Spoonie_Turtle

born_again said:

Given Op's condition. They must have some engagement with healthcare providers & I would have thought regular appointments in relation to this & the medication required.
So wonder how they manage these?

As they have a computer, Zoom would allow a call to be made. But there will be ID checks that need to be done.

Depends, could just be a yearly review all via an online form. 

I haven't spoken to a Dr about my very disabling condition (currently mostly bedroom-bound, one step up from bedbound) since about 2019, and even then it was because I wanted something on my medical record, rather than them reviewing or there being anything they could do to help.  The last time I spoke to a specialist / secondary care provider about it was when they discharged me from the service that diagnosed me.

You might be surprised at how many of us are severely disabled and basically left to fend for ourselved with no medical input once there's nothing more they can do for us.