Re universal credit?

Ames

I thought universal credit could only be claimed by childless people when in a live service area. I suspect that huckster is right and she is on IS not UC.

sleepyjones

Apparently not, I think the plan is for UC to be all-encompassing, replacing all other benefits?

Universal Credit will replace the following benefits:

Child Tax Credit
Housing Benefit
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Working Tax Credit

If you currently receive any of these benefits, you can't claim Universal Credit at the same time.

guidance on eligibility :
If you have children
You can make a new Universal Credit claim if any of the following apply:

have 2 children or fewer and you live in a "full service" area
received Universal Credit in a "full service" area in the previous 6 months and your payments have stopped - it doesn't matter how many children you have
received Universal Credit in a "live service" area in the previous 6 months and your payments ended because of your earnings - it doesn't matter how many children you have
You can't claim if you've 3 or more children and you've not claimed Universal Credit in the last 6 months. You can apply for Child Tax Credit instead.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

joesoap1264

sleepyjones wrote: »

Just dug out a letter from my UC claim from last year, when I had to sign on for a few months :

Standard Allowance : £317.82
Housing Element : £350.01
Total : £667.83

My rent was £425 per month, so I also faced a shortfall in what they offered me, I guess that's standard practice.

Obviously my figures will be different to hers as she has a child (I'm a single guy, living alone), I don't know anything about child credits/benefits and all that kind of thing.

They can also deduct "Loans, advances, deductions, overpayments or third party payments"

When you sign up for UC it can take up to 6 weeks for your first payment, UC do offer you an Emergency / advance payment to get you by over the 6 weeks so this might explain an Advance, if there is one.

Looking at the rates table, it looks like she *should* be receiving :

Personal Allowance : £251.77
Housing Element : could be anything
Child Element : £231.67

So, to me, it all looks good, I don't she's misleading you (assuming the £20 off personal allowance is a repayment of some kind)

There's a wee "Check what you should get" type service here :

I didn't realise you got less at age under 25, so I wouldn't necessarily think she was deliberately saying she didn't know anything about the amount going up (at 25).

As far as payment dates, everyone's is different ... they don't just pay everyone on the same date. They take the date you first apply, add 7 days that you don't get "paid for", then your "Assessment period" runs from that date (7 days after you've "signed up") ... so If I signed up for Universal Credit on the 10th of a month, my assessment period would be the 17th month - 16th of the next month, my UC payment would be a week later (ie the 24th of every month). It doesn't matter how many days are in the month, I guess they've done the maths and it all works out since some months have 30 days, some have 31, one has 28.

To me, it all checks out, I don't think she's being dishonest with you, it's hard to ask or receive help so she might just be embarrassed about an advance if that is the case ... 6 weeks with no income is hard, I think they only allow a year to pay it back though so if she's had UC for over a year then that might not be the case ... she could be repaying an overpayment (where she was maybe paid twice one month by accident).

thanks very much sleepyjones, much appreciated.
All you have said seems to fit, her UC payments, although I have not seen her forms.
I think she will have had an advance, because, your figures match hers, except the rent.
I will ask her.
I told her about the over 25 rule, she said she did not know, which I accept, the extra will pay her rent shortfall of £65.
I told her to check it out, by phoning them, as I would be making enquiries on her behalf, for her benefit, not mine.
I know it may come over as I do not believe her, but, I have just cause:(
I appreciate all the advice, that is why I chose this route, someone who has had the experience of it.
The Gov website is very vague at times.
I used the calculator and got the right figures.
Just needed clarifying.
I only want what is best for her and child, nothing else.
Thanks again, all of you.
More happy now.
:beer::beer:

joesoap1264

Don,t know what has happened, gone from joe 134 and 9 years user, to joesoap 1264,to newbie?
Had to send for new password earlier, after #8 post,after clearing history,must have done something wrong??
Any advice please?

BorisThomson

joesoap1264 wrote: »

Don,t know what has happened, gone from joe 134 and 9 years user, to joesoap 1264,to newbie?
Had to send for new password earlier, after #8 post,after clearing history,must have done something wrong??
Any advice please?

Looks like you registered two separate accounts in 2009! Neither accounts are new and both have a posting history. joe134 will be registered with a different email address.

sleepyjones

joesoap1264 wrote: »

I know it may come over as I do not believe her, but, I have just cause:(

No bother Joe, I don't think anyone's judging you (or her), it's none of our business, we're just here to help (mostly)

dscaj1

Could the £20.00 difference be for Child Benefit? She could be getting the 231.00 payment plus a £20.00 payment for child benefit making £251.00

joesoap1264

BorisThomson wrote: »

Looks like you registered two separate accounts in 2009! Neither accounts are new and both have a posting history. joe134 will be registered with a different email address.

Thanks Boris, trying that, with my gmail address which I also cannot use, password trouble again, I have had to try and reset that now.!
Having to wait for that?
Do not use it .
All I did was clear my history off my iPad, first time for years, and had to re log in, using my aol e mail address,but would not accept my P w, so reset it, and came up as joesoap, which I had totally forgotten about.
Tried with my gmail, but until I can log into that, cannot change joe134 PW?
Any tips how to get back to joe 134.
It has confused me some.
Not hard to do :-)
Wouldnt mind, badger has just given me another badge!as joe134!
Not the thirteenth is it!

joesoap1264

dscaj1 wrote: »

Could the £20.00 difference be for Child Benefit? She could be getting the 231.00 payment plus a £20.00 payment for child benefit making £251.00

Doubt it, because it would then be £271, plus , I think child benefit comes separately, from Newcastle.

Not sure about that.

joesoap1264

sleepyjones wrote: »

No bother Joe, I don't think anyone's judging you (or her), it's none of our business, we're just here to help (mostly)

Cheers sleepy, I know, I usually come on here and give help, seems odd when shoe is on the other foot.

It will get sorted.:beer::beer: