losing money on universal credit - advice?

sangie595

I'm not sure if it's started yet, and I'll be honest that I'm not sure I'd have much confidence in it either... But the new health and work programme is supposed to be designed to support people with disabilities into work. Can't hurt to ask - you are where your are now, so maybe it might help? Nothing to lose trying.

I found this link https://www.gov.uk/work-health-programme

Chrysalis

I think benefits wise you screwed, I be surprised if there is a way to move you back, and if its true the premiums are removed then JC staff will now be powerless. Whether there is any (viable) legal recourse for been misled by the advisor I dont know.

pmlindyloo

I would definitely consider making a complaint.

See this link :

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/problems-with-benefits-and-tax-credits/complaining-about-the-service-you-ve-received-benefits-and-tax-credits/

CAB may help you do this or contact your MP.

Alice_Holt

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I would definitely consider making a complaint.

See this link :

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/problems-with-benefits-and-tax-credits/complaining-about-the-service-you-ve-received-benefits-and-tax-credits/

CAB may help you do this or contact your MP.

Completely agree.

Please do contact your MP.
You should then at least get a considered response from the DWP.

I'm afraid Chrysalis is correct in saying that you will be unable to return to legacy benefits, once on UC you stay on UC.
As poppy says UC does not have the disability premiums of the legacy benefits.

WillowCat

On the offchance that the original poster is in a live service area that has not yet rolled out to full service, they will in fact be able to make a claim for legacy benefits.

This has been the case since 1st Jan this year, and will end when the area rolls out full service.

Alice_Holt

WillowCat wrote: »

On the offchance that the original poster is in a live service area that has not yet rolled out to full service, they will in fact be able to make a claim for legacy benefits.

This has been the case since 1st Jan this year, and will end when the area rolls out full service.

Yes.
Good point (and one I hadn't thought about).

If this is the case the OP will need to time the closing his UC claim carefully (he needs to do this before reclaiming JSa), i.e in the first day(s) of the a new UC period - in order to minimise the period for which no benefit is received.
However, I'm not sure how many live service areas now remain.

huckster

Really important to act on a complaint/referral urgently to have your benefit claim looked at by a decision maker.

If you were encouraged to go on to UC, when there was no change in circumstances that required natural migration from legacy benefits to UC, then DWP can review this. With managed migration that will happen when legacy benefits are transferred gradually over to UC, DWP are offering protection for 2 years (?) so that people are not worse off.

Either the UC service centre or Job Centre work coach can raise a refer to decision maker referral, so your case can be looked at. Probably better if your JC work coach did this, so they can explain what happened. If there was no change in your circumstances or break in benefit claims, then it should be pretty obvious there is an issue that needs to be fixed.