Am I entitled to Universal Credit?

Batman_100

Hi there.

Just been told by my employer that I'm being made redundant tomorrow.

I'm 25 years old and currently living at home with my parents with no housing costs.

I haven't been on the dole since UC replaced JSA in my area last year so I'm not 100% sure how the new system works.

Is entitlement to UC worked out on a per person basis like JSA was, or is it done on a per household basis like tax credits?

If it is worked out on a per household basis I doubt I'll be entitled to anything at all as my Dad earns £40,000+ a year.

Also, my Mum has told me that if I'm not eligible for UC, I will still need to go to the job center to sign the unemployment register otherwise the government may start questioning where I'm finding the money to live on if they've got no record of me working or claiming benefit. I've never heard anyone mention this before so I'm wondering if it's correct as my Mum is only going on her experience of working in a social security office in the 1980's and I imagine the system has changed quite a lot since then.

I would be grateful if anyone could offer some advice.

NYM

Read this link and it may answer any questions you may have.

TURN2US - UNIVERSAL CREDIT

Darksparkle

For info, a household for tax credit purposes is you and any partner you have. Not you and your parents.

Mersey_2

Yes, it sounds as if you should be entitled to UC. Although remember, it's a means-tested benefit, so you may still be entitled to contributions-based JSA instead. There are around 7 other reasons why you may not satisfy the Gateway conditions for UC (the most obvious being if self-employed or pregnant when you apply online), but these do not apply to yourself. The claim is all online as you probably know, so that should direct you to either JSA (c-b) or UC, but the gateway interview at the Jobcentre will determine/finalise the claim. I disagree with your Mum, but can see why she'd think that (it might become a Q should you eg not claim for 6 months and then apply in 2017). [It's mainly people with partners working full-time - ie those who aren't entitled to JSA - who sign fortnightly just in order to receive NI Credits]