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Universal Credit Help/advice needed!!!!
AustinB2018
Posts: 2 Newbie
Sorry for the huge paragraph. New to this so please bare with me. I'm currently having huge problems with UC and would like some advice please
I was originally claiming ESA and housing benefit, I went for a work capability assessment and was put in the Work Related Activity Group in April 2017 for 12 months. However in November 2017 I moved into a new property . I attempted to make a claim for housing benefit however it was rejected by the council and I was told I should claim the housing element of UC. I was also told my claim for ESA would have to be closed. Something I did not want. I was assured by people working at both ESA & UC that I had nothing to worry about and that I would still be on the same amount and that the only difference is it would be paid monthly.
So I opened a universal credit claim. On the 14th of December I was told by UC it would have to go to decision maker over my work capability. Despite being told previously this would not happen. Ever since then UC have given me nothing but problems.
Since the 14th December I was told decision makers had until the 20th January to come to a decision. However I rang up at the beginning of January to check on the progress. The man told me the form had not been filled in and not even been sent off to decision makers!!!! He then said he would escalate it and if I rang at the end of week there would be a decision made.
I rang at the end of that week to be greeted by a rude person saying the previous advisor was wrong to tell me that as no decision had been made. She then went on to say if I rang back the following Monday I could put another escalation in place because of the inconvenience. So I rang back as advised on the Monday to be spoken rudely to again and treated me like I was thick and said it wasn't possible to put 2 escalations in. I rang again a few days later. Only to be told they have until the 20th January for a decision. She said she would put another escalation in....which is strange as I was told you couldn't have 2 in at the same time..
I then rang on Friday the 19th. This time I spoke to a manager, she said there was an escalation in place and nothing further can be done until the 20th had passed and to ring back on Monday 22nd Jan if I hadn't heard anything. Not only that, she also said it was submitted on the 14th December !!!!so why on earth did someone tell me at the beginning of January it hasn't been submitted!!!
So I ring UC back on Monday the 22nd January. She said it was indeed 2 days overdue a decision. She then shocked me by saying because the decision isn't a 'payment blocker ' that it ISN'T possible to escalate it!!! So I explained to her 2 people had put escalations through and even a manager confirmed there was a n escalation . The advisor sounded shocked and said if an advisor attempted to put an escalation through it would come back pretty much instantly because it's not something you can escalate!!! I feel I have been messed about and treated terrible.
I got my first payment at the beginning of January. Because it's with a decision maker my payment has been severely impacted. Despite being assured back in November this wouldn't happen. I've been told there is no time scale and it's when they have made up their mind weather I can remain on the allowance I was on. Which angers me because they could have said this week's ago. It is now exactly 6 weeks since it went to decision maker. I didn't even have to wait that long when I went for my work capability assessment.
The whole experience is really starting to get to me. I don't understand why I've been misinformed so much. Any suggestions on how I should deal with this would be appreciated. I'm considering making a complaint but I feel it will be pushed to one side. I just can't get my head round the lies that have been told.
Thanks for reading and sorry it was so long!
I was originally claiming ESA and housing benefit, I went for a work capability assessment and was put in the Work Related Activity Group in April 2017 for 12 months. However in November 2017 I moved into a new property . I attempted to make a claim for housing benefit however it was rejected by the council and I was told I should claim the housing element of UC. I was also told my claim for ESA would have to be closed. Something I did not want. I was assured by people working at both ESA & UC that I had nothing to worry about and that I would still be on the same amount and that the only difference is it would be paid monthly.
So I opened a universal credit claim. On the 14th of December I was told by UC it would have to go to decision maker over my work capability. Despite being told previously this would not happen. Ever since then UC have given me nothing but problems.
Since the 14th December I was told decision makers had until the 20th January to come to a decision. However I rang up at the beginning of January to check on the progress. The man told me the form had not been filled in and not even been sent off to decision makers!!!! He then said he would escalate it and if I rang at the end of week there would be a decision made.
I rang at the end of that week to be greeted by a rude person saying the previous advisor was wrong to tell me that as no decision had been made. She then went on to say if I rang back the following Monday I could put another escalation in place because of the inconvenience. So I rang back as advised on the Monday to be spoken rudely to again and treated me like I was thick and said it wasn't possible to put 2 escalations in. I rang again a few days later. Only to be told they have until the 20th January for a decision. She said she would put another escalation in....which is strange as I was told you couldn't have 2 in at the same time..
I then rang on Friday the 19th. This time I spoke to a manager, she said there was an escalation in place and nothing further can be done until the 20th had passed and to ring back on Monday 22nd Jan if I hadn't heard anything. Not only that, she also said it was submitted on the 14th December !!!!so why on earth did someone tell me at the beginning of January it hasn't been submitted!!!
So I ring UC back on Monday the 22nd January. She said it was indeed 2 days overdue a decision. She then shocked me by saying because the decision isn't a 'payment blocker ' that it ISN'T possible to escalate it!!! So I explained to her 2 people had put escalations through and even a manager confirmed there was a n escalation . The advisor sounded shocked and said if an advisor attempted to put an escalation through it would come back pretty much instantly because it's not something you can escalate!!! I feel I have been messed about and treated terrible.
I got my first payment at the beginning of January. Because it's with a decision maker my payment has been severely impacted. Despite being assured back in November this wouldn't happen. I've been told there is no time scale and it's when they have made up their mind weather I can remain on the allowance I was on. Which angers me because they could have said this week's ago. It is now exactly 6 weeks since it went to decision maker. I didn't even have to wait that long when I went for my work capability assessment.
The whole experience is really starting to get to me. I don't understand why I've been misinformed so much. Any suggestions on how I should deal with this would be appreciated. I'm considering making a complaint but I feel it will be pushed to one side. I just can't get my head round the lies that have been told.
Thanks for reading and sorry it was so long!
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Comments
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So can you confirm if you have been paid anything by UC or is it 'just' the WRAG component that you haven't been paid?0
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Yes I was paid by Universal Credit. My payment was affected because not only have I just been paid the basic rate and not the WRAG component, they also got the housing element payment wrong too.0
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AustinB2018 wrote: »Yes I was paid by Universal Credit. My payment was affected because not only have I just been paid the basic rate and not the WRAG component, they also got the housing element payment wrong too.
As far as I am aware you should have the WRAAG component added to your UC claim but you may be called for a WCA, particularly as your award is due to come to an end.
There is some information here with some 'law' that you can quote.
http://www.youreable.com/forums/showthread.php/17765-Migration-from-ESA-to-Universal-Credit-the-facts?p=133915&viewfull=1#post133915
Whether this is going to help you I am not sure since this is already with a decision maker (why I am not sure).
Keep checking back here as, hopefully, someone with more direct experience will be able to help.0 -
pmlindyloo wrote: »As far as I am aware you should have the WRAAG component added to your UC claim but you may be called for a WCA, particularly as your award is due to come to an end.
Not to sure this is right?
They chose or were forced to move to UC so no premiums will be added at all.
SDP at £62+ lost
SG etc at £52 lost
Check your postcode below to make sure your in a full service area rather than a limited live area?
https://universalcreditinfo.net/
I assume you move to another local authority that was a full service area otherwise I see no need to change from ESA?0 -
Not to sure this is right?
They chose or were forced to move to UC so no premiums will be added at all.
SDP at £62+ lost
SG etc at £52 lost
Check your postcode below to make sure your in a full service area rather than a limited live area?
https://universalcreditinfo.net/
I assume you move to another local authority that was a full service area otherwise I see no need to change from ESA?
I think you misunderstood my post.
I was not talking about premiums which I agree would be 'lost' if naturally migrated to UC. I was talking about the WRAG component which should automatically be carried forward on a UC claim.
This is verified by the link.0 -
Can someone please advise me regarding universal credit 'disability element'. I have not been awarded this even though I am restricted on the hours I can work due to medical reasons. I was previously in receipt of WTC. But came off that when my last job ceased and I had to claim jsa again.
I started a new job in Oct 2017 and was advised I had to claim UC. I now have over £700 pound rent arrears plus council tax, water arrears.
Can I appeal this decision or top up my income with other bens. I am in receipt of PIP.
I:eek:0 -
Lesley_Simkins wrote: »Can someone please advise me regarding universal credit 'disability element'. I have not been awarded this even though I am restricted on the hours I can work due to medical reasons. I was previously in receipt of WTC. But came off that when my last job ceased and I had to claim jsa again.
I started a new job in Oct 2017 and was advised I had to claim UC. I now have over £700 pound rent arrears plus council tax, water arrears.
Can I appeal this decision or top up my income with other bens. I am in receipt of PIP.
I:eek:
To claim the equivalent of disability tax credits in UC you have to go through the work capability assessment process which is the same one used for ESA to decide whether someone can work or not.
Once you claim UC you can't move back to the old benefits.
I don't know what the procedure is for starting the assessment process, hopefully others will know or you could contact CAB.
ETA you'd be better off starting a new thread so more people see your question.Unless I say otherwise 'you' means the general you not you specifically.0 -
Put your postcode in here and see if your a full service UC area or not?
https://universalcreditinfo.net/0 -
There's no disability elements or premiums on UC.Lesley_Simkins wrote: »Can someone please advise me regarding universal credit 'disability element'. I have not been awarded this even though I am restricted on the hours I can work due to medical reasons. I was previously in receipt of WTC. But came off that when my last job ceased and I had to claim jsa again.
I started a new job in Oct 2017 and was advised I had to claim UC. I now have over £700 pound rent arrears plus council tax, water arrears.
Can I appeal this decision or top up my income with other bens. I am in receipt of PIP.
I:eek:0
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