Claiming Universal Credit & going on hoilday

mickaveli2001

Teahfc wrote: »

The partner of a guy I employ is staff at JCP locally and looks for little tell tail signs of " holidays" so if you in the sun for your holiday I suggest you keep covered up or hope the UK has a heat wave at same time ��

Sunbeds?


Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it. Those who are seeking employment or who have had a horrendous year after being laid off, could deserve a little break

red_devil

exactly the rules are outdated and need changing!

NYGiants

mickaveli2001 wrote: »

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it. Those who are seeking employment or who have had a horrendous year after being laid off, could deserve a little break

No one is stopping them having a break, it just shouldn't be subsidised by the taxpayer who himself (or herself) might also need a little break..

mickaveli2001

I don't mind using my taxes to ensure the unemployed get a little break too, but tax payers should also get a break

red_devil

anyone ever find out the answer.

Mersey_2

There was a similar discussion on the Rightsnet forums by a couple of welfare law experts.


They're in touch with DWP HQ when they find errors or gaps in the regs or IT for UC.


It seems they forgot to create a reg re holidays in the UC sanctions' Regs (one exists in the DWP handbook for JSA claimants who are permitted two periods of holiday pa of upto 7 days in each case in the same way they are permitted periods of sickness pa whilst clamping JSA).


So, in short there is no 100% answer as of yet for UC.


However, a claimant who had a holiday paid for before becoming unemployed did win in his appeal of a conditionality sanction (actually a formal appeal wasn't necessary as the DWP conceded at mandatory reconsideration stage).

NYM

Doesn't this Regulation cover holiday entitlements?

Regulation 11

red_devil

thats goobledegook, can anyone explain in laymans terms please.

What happens if you holiday and dont jobsearch because you cant or want a break.

Is it sanction of part of the money or all of the money you receive including the housing element.

NYM

Under Universal Credit a claimant can go abroad for a period of a month for any reason, a longer period of up to six months temporary absence abroad is also allowable for reasons of medical treatment. However, if a claimant chooses to go on holiday in Great Britain or abroad they must continue to carry out the work-related requirements as set out on their Claimant Commitment.

No allowances are made within the conditionality regime for claimants going on holiday. For example claimants within the All Work-Related Requirements Group with no restrictions on their availability will still be expected to be immediately available to attend a job interview or take up an offer of employment, even if this means cutting short a holiday. They are also required to attend their normal appointments and failure to do so will incur a sanction.

Being on holiday would not be considered by a DWP Decision Maker as good reason for not carrying out any work search or availability requirements.

Regulation 11 of the Universal Credit regulations 2013 sets out that a person on Universal Credit is able to leave the UK for a period not exceeding a month (or not expected to exceed a month). This can be extended in certain exceptional circumstances. However, this provision does not exempt a claimant from work related requirements as set out on the Claimant Commitment

FOI Request

red_devil

I get that about the sanction but is it a part of your payment or all of it including the housing element thats what seems to be so hard to find out. Do you lose all your UC for the month or just a part of it?