Universal Credit - do i have to reapply if i lose my job after one week

Totkin86 · 31 May 2016 at 10:57PM

My friend's been on Universal credit for the last seven months after quitting her job due to depression. Last week she managed to get a new job and has just this morning informed the Job Centre that she has a new job. Then later in the afternoon her new workplace informed her that they wouldn't be requiring her services anymore and have terminated the contract after six working days (the reason stated was that they believe she wasn't suitable for the role).

She's currently very upset with the situation and i'm just wanting to know what her situation is going to be with regards to going back onto Universal credit. Can she just jump back on the credit system? Does she have to reapply from scratch, and is there any other assistance she can get? She was pretty close to the poverty line as it was and she's worried that she's going to lose her flat if she can't make rent this month.

Thanks in advance.

Mersey_2 · 31 May 2016 at 11:08PM

No - that's the point of Universal Credit.

The claim does not close - as JSA did - when a claimant starts work.

Totkin86 · 31 May 2016 at 11:22PM

Thanks for that. Sorry if it seemed a stupid question. It's just I had no idea how benefits worked nowadays and she was freaking about it. This will hopefully give her some relief.