DHSS Advice needed :(

J4k

Hello People,

I'm looking for some advice on what to do.

Brief history:

Signed onto Universal Credit Mid July 2016, I was Advised that I could claim benefits if working up-to 30 hours a week, so that I would not be worse off for working, but if I went over thirty hours I would sign off and go onto working tax credits.

The Day after signing on, I got a Job interview, and accepted the Job, Contracted at 16 hours per week. Although I sometimes went over this amount, still was not thirty hours a week.

Cut to January 2017 and After much messing about by UC, ie "losing paperwork etc", I'm still not in receipt of anything, and my overdraft is empty (was living off this).

I contacted my Adviser about having to give up work and she seemed thrilled that I would be returning to sign on.

I just don't know where to turn, if it was as easy as getting a second Job I would have by now, but employers around here don't want to share.

Thankyou for reading and appreciate any positive input.

J

pmlindyloo

What are your living arrangements?

Do you rent? Is this why you think you should be getting some UC?
If you think you are entitled to some housing costs then
put your details into the benefit calculator on https://www.turn2us.org.uk and see what you should be getting. Then keep telephoning them to get it sorted.

If you are liable for council tax reduction then you should be informing the council of a change of circumstances.

J4k

Hi pmlindyloo,

I rent private, if I was in social housing I wouldn't be concerned, and let them sort themselves out, and I Live alone, I have already been told what I am entitled to, it just seems they don't want to pay out, knowing full well I will run out of money before they have to.

Under Universal Credit, the council play no part in this, for rent and council tax Allowance.

The benefits adviser told me not to pay council tax as it all went through UC, this was also wrong and left me in arrears, which I have now brought up to date.

With regards to telephoning them, I just get the standard response of "You're claim is being processed, we will be in touch" & the option of "They can suspend my claim while they investigate", If I wish.

I just get the impression they want me back in the Benefits system full time. All their blurb + TV interviews state I wont be worse off for working, and UC adapts to what your earnings are.

I'm not a young person, and finding work is getting increasingly difficult.

J

missbiggles1

J4k wrote: »

Hello People,

I'm looking for some advice on what to do.

Brief history:

Signed onto Universal Credit Mid July 2016, I was Advised that I could claim benefits if working up-to 30 hours a week, so that I would not be worse off for working, but if I went over thirty hours I would sign off and go onto working tax credits.

The Day after signing on, I got a Job interview, and accepted the Job, Contracted at 16 hours per week. Although I sometimes went over this amount, still was not thirty hours a week.

Cut to January 2017 and After much messing about by UC, ie "loosing paperwork etc", I'm still not in receipt of anything, and my overdraft is empty (was living off this).

I contacted my Adviser about having to give up work and she seemed thrilled that I would be returning to sign on.

I just don't know where to turn, if it was as easy as getting a second Job I would have by now, but employers around here don't want to share.

Thankyou for reading and appreciate any positive input.

J

Do you mean that your job hasn't been paying you?

J4k

Hi missbiggles1,

No, My Job pays fine, best company ever, that's the crux of why I don't want to give up employment with them. It's just the hours are not sufficient to sustain me, and I took the job on the basis of the benefits system making up the short fall as advised at the time.

I was using my overdraft to top up my wages until the benefits kicked in, but they have not. I was originally told it would take six weeks to sort out.

J

pmlindyloo

J4k wrote: »

Hi pmlindyloo,

I rent private, if I was in social housing I wouldn't be concerned, and let them sort themselves out, and I Live alone, I have already been told what I am entitled to, it just seems they don't want to pay out, knowing full well I will run out of money before they have to.

Under Universal Credit, the council play no part in this, for rent and council tax Allowance.

The benefits adviser told me not to pay council tax as it all went through UC, this was also wrong and left me in arrears, which I have now brought up to date.


With regards to telephoning them, I just get the standard response of "You're claim is being processed, we will be in touch" & the option of "They can suspend my claim while they investigate", If I wish.

I just get the impression they want me back in the Benefits system full time. All their blurb + TV interviews state I wont be worse off for working, and UC adapts to what your earnings are.

I'm not a young person, and finding work is getting increasingly difficult.

J

All I can suggest is that you either contact CAB and ask them to chase up your payments for you or contact your local MP to do the same.

Seems very strange that such a long time has passed since you have received any money. Have you resent the lost paperwork?

J4k

Hi pmlindyloo,

Already contacted CAB and was told "Sorry, there is nothing they can do", I will contact my local mp and see if that helps.

Yes, I was very fastidious, every-time they said they haven't received this, that and the other, I was able to prove them wrong, and still sent in the duplicate paperwork, forms etc.

J

pmlindyloo

J4k wrote: »

Hi pmlindyloo,

Already contacted CAB and was told "Sorry, there is nothing they can do", I will contact my local mp and see if that helps.

Yes, I was very fastidious, every-time they said they haven't received this, that and the other, I was able to prove them wrong, and still sent in the duplicate paperwork, forms etc.

J

Did you telephone CAB or have a face to face?

I am disappointed to hear that they were unhelpful. They should be able to telephone on your behalf and find out what the delay is and get the payment actioned asap if they have all the information needed.

Mmmm..

Have no idea how useful the helpline is but it might be worth calling.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/universal-credit-payment-errors/

Good luck!

McKneff

People ask me why we have food banks. This is a prime example as to why.
This is not a criticism of you op, but theven system.

It never used to take this long to sort benefits out .

Sambella

McKneff wrote: »

People ask me why we have food banks. This is a prime example as to why.
This is not a criticism of you op, but theven system.

It never used to take this long to sort benefits out .

I've been reading up a lot on UC . So much paper work posted by claimants goes missing that it seems deliberate.

I was actually reading the plans for UC in N Ireland which will begin in September 2017. There will be approx 4 UC service centres throughout NI and various job centres will close, my nearest JSA will become a social fund, funeral expenses kind of place rather than a job centre. A mail opening centre will be based in Limavady. Yes! A mail opening centre, makes no sense to me that one unless these mail openers are to scan and upload mail onto the system which given government IT systems will fail regularly. What do they do with these documents after they have been scanned, if that is how it works, are they kept or are they shredded?

There will be protection in NI for a time against some of the cuts but they won't last forever. 4 years max is what it has been set at.

Thankfully I have no need of any of this but with public service job cuts ongoing here until December 2019 who knows what the future holds hence my interest in the subject.

NeilCr

J4k wrote: »

Hi pmlindyloo,

Already contacted CAB and was told "Sorry, there is nothing they can do", I will contact my local mp and see if that helps.

Yes, I was very fastidious, every-time they said they haven't received this, that and the other, I was able to prove them wrong, and still sent in the duplicate paperwork, forms etc.

J

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Did you telephone CAB or have a face to face?

I am disappointed to hear that they were unhelpful. They should be able to telephone on your behalf and find out what the delay is and get the payment actioned asap if they have all the information needed.

Mmmm..

Have no idea how useful the helpline is but it might be worth calling.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/universal-credit-payment-errors/

Good luck!

Would be useful to know when and how the OP contacted CAB and why they said that. From the first post it looks like it may be recent - many CABs are going to be closed or running on limited resources over the Xmas/New Year period.